The bill (S2316) would require personal injury lawyers and others who offer their services to wait one month before writing to accident victims. Those who violate the law would face criminal charges, including possible prison time.

The bill, which was approved 6-0, is scheduled for a vote in the full Senate Monday.

Three of measure’s sponsors – State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Union) and Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex) – practice personal injury law.

“Over my 30 years of practice, I have seen some things that shock the conscience,” said Bramnick.

Scutari said writing to victims immediately after a disaster or accident “gives the profession a bad name.”

“I think most good personal injury attorneys do not include this kind of practice because it’s unsavory,” he said.

Violating the measure would be a third degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Although nobody voted against the measure or testified against it, some did raise concerns. Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) and Todd Sidor, Director of Government Affairs at the New Jersey State Bar Association, both said it may run into constitutional roadblocks.

The state Supreme Court has jurisdiction over how attorneys practice law, including advertising, Sidor said.

Carroll, who voted yes on the legislation, suggested amending it so remove the criminal penalties for the offense, and to instead make it an ethics violation.

“I’m increasingly convinced that although I’ll this bill today it probably could use some amendments to take it out of the criminal statutes,” he said.

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The claims in question were filed from January 2001 to early February 2009. The case recently settled according to court documents (PDF). Under the settlement, claimants are entitled to 60 percent of the difference between the amount of the medical bills submitted to Farmers and the amount paid by Farmers. If you think you’re covered by the settlement and haven’t received the paperwork in the mail, you can get a claim form online.

Farmers says it settled the suit ”to avoid the burden and expense of continued litigation.” There’s speculation that Farmers settled to avoid a blockbuster jury award. Given the nationwide reach and eight-year claims period involved in the suit, who knows how much a jury could have awarded the class?

This is especially relevant when you consider Farmers’ previous experience with class action lawsuits over its PIP coverage. Earlier this year, a jury ordered Farmers to pay about $9 million on claims that it underpaid PIP claims, again, because of the process it used to determine how much to pay.

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A lawsuit filed in White Plains today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York says Newburgh-based Larkin Axelrod Ingrassia & Tetenbaum and one of its partners violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by twice refusing to let a client enter its law offices with her German Shepherd service dog, Reuters reports.

The suit says Lauren Klejmont uses the animal to help her get up when she falls and assist her with tasks such as picking up dropped items, according to the Associated Press.

It alleges she was told she had a choice of leaving the dog at home or meeting with her lawyer in her car.

“The notion that a law firm and a partner in the firm would so flagrantly violate such a clear and well-established law, as was alleged in this case, is disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in a written statement. “Of all people, lawyers should know better.”

The firm declined to comment when contacted by the AP because it had not yet received the complaint in the case.

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Some of the Tacoma personal injury matters the firm handles include:

-   Medical Malpractice Cases

-   Construction Site & Workplace Injuries

-   Wrongful Death Matters

-   Motor Vehicle Collisions

-   Maritime Accidents

-   Nursing Home or Elder Abuse Cases

We also help those who have  suffered catastrophic injuries such as paralysis, quadriplegia, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns and chemical exposures, and electrical injuries.

Contingency Fee Representation: Since the cost of legal services are always a major concern, Rob offers legal services on a contingent fee basis.

A contingent fee is simply a fee based on a percentage of the recovery, which is paid at the conclusion of the case.  If there is no recovery there is no fee. Typically, there is no money up front.

Call 1 (800) 282-4878 for a free consultation. Visit the Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyers

The personal injury lawyers at the Auburn, Washington law firm of Kornfeld Law focus on representing clients who have suffered a personal injury caused in a motor vehicle collision.

The Auburn WA law firm represents clients who have suffered serious injuries involving motor vehicle accidents including:

• Auto Accidents
• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bus Accidents
• Pedestrian Injuries
• Wrongful Death
• Uninsured/Under-Insured Motorist Claims
• Bike Accidents

The Personal Injury firm handles a variety of personal injury matters including:

-   Auto Accident & Car Wreck Claims

-   Slip & Fall Matters

-   Motorcycle Accidents

-   Bicycle Accidents

-   Truck Accidents

-   Bus Accidents

-   Boating Accidents

Contact the Kent Washington Auto Accident firm today at 425-228-6662 for a free consultation

The South Bend Personal Injury Attorneys at Blackburn and Green have over 60 years of combined legal experience, representing accident victims throughout the Midwest.

Over the years, the Indiana injury firm has tried many jury cases- both large and small – for clients.  The firm handles all personal injury matters including:

• South Bend Auto Accidents
• South Bend Truck Accidents
• South Bend Motorcycle Accidents
• Wrongful Death Matters
• On The Job Injuries
• Slips & Falls
• Injuries To Children
• Other Related Injuries

Blackburn & Green – South Bend, Indiana Office
1450 University Drive Court
Granger, IN 46530

Phone: (574) 277-7711
Fax: (574) 277-8101

The product recall was issued after discovering that under an array of circumstances, the safety will not stop the gun from firing, which poses a serious injury risk to the user and bystanders.

“This recall involves all Browning 800 Mag Air pistols, which are black and measure 18 inches by 7 inches. The Browning logo and ‘800 Mag’ are printed on the top of the air pistol’s barrel block,” reported the CPSC.

Consumers are advised to contact Umarex USA for instructions on how to return the air pistol for a free repair. Until the gun is repaired, consumers should store the unloaded firearm in its open or uncocked state.

For more information about the nationwide product recall, consumers can contact Umarex USA toll-free at (866) 503-3389 anytime, or visit their website at www.umarexusa.com

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The defective Scoot ‘n Zoom children’s riding toys were manufactured in the United States; distributed by Radio Flyer, of Chicago, Illinois; and sold at Walmart and other retailers, and online at Amazon.com and Target.com, from August 2010 through August 2011. The recalled toys were sold for about $20.

The recalled Scoot ‘n Zoom riding toy can tip over, allowing a child to fall forward while riding. This poses a fall hazard to young children. To date, the firm has received reports of ten incidents with six injuries, including three where teeth were loosened or removed, and three with chin lacerations that required stitches.

The riding toy is described as being constructed of red molded plastic with black wheels. The toy is 19 inches in length, 11 inches in width, and 13.5 inches in height. Model number 711 is molded on the toy’s underside. Toys affixed with a yellow UPC sticker underneath the product with model number 711B are not involved.

Radio Flyer advises consumers to immediately take the recalled Scoot n’ Zoom toys away from children and to contact it for either a free replacement or refund. Radio Flyer can be reached, toll-free, at 1.800.621.7613 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Central Time (CT), Monday through Friday, or at is website: www.radioflyer.com.

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An 8-year-old boy from Maine overdosed on painkillers after he sucked on a discarded medicine patch, rendering him unconscious and barely breathing, said MSNBC. Doctors found the fentanyl patch stuck to the roof of his mouth, said Thomas Clemence, a registered pharmacist at Central Maine Medical Center, wrote MSNBC. The boy survived.

Safety experts now warn parents, grandparents, and caregivers to exercise caution with the wide variety of transdermal patches whose popularity and options are growing, said MSNBC. Drug patches deliver pain medications, nicotine, nitroglycerin, motion sickness drugs, and birth control, to name just some. Children find the patches or are even exposed to them from hugs with family members when the patches can transfer, as well as in unsecured locations and the trash.

“Even after they’re used, after 72 hours, there’s still a residual drug that can be left in the patch and can be dangerous for a child,” noted Clemence, who reported the Maine accident to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), said MSNBC.

Clemence told MSNBC about one ISMP case in which a mother found her 4-year-old boy dead after having overdosed from a medicine patch. Government data reveal that four other children died and six were hospitalized since 1997 after being exposed to just the fentanyl transdermal patch; three other children were exposed, but the issues were not reported, said MSNBC. Information was derived from the federal Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) adverse events reporting system. Clemence warned that drug patches be secured in the same way that other drugs are kept: Away from children.

According to data from Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, in 2010, at least 60 different drugs were sold transdermally for 22 million prescriptions, said MSNBC. Fentanyl transdermal patches were the most frequently used and accounted for about 4.7 million prescriptions in 2010, noted MSNBC.

Fentanyl Transdermal System patches are indicated for persistent, moderate-to-severe chronic pain that requires continuous, opioid administration for an extended time. Highly addictive, fentanyl is 80 times more potent than morphine, and is a Class II substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration, meaning it’s associated with a high potential for abuse and fatal overdose. Direct exposure to fentanyl gel may lead to serious adverse events, including respiratory depression and possible overdose, which may be fatal. In 2005 and 2007, the FDA issued safety warnings about how to appropriately use and discard fentanyl patches, said MSNBC.

The FDA advises that potent drug patches be folded, sticky sides facing, and flushed, while less dangerous patches be folded, sealed in a childproof container, and disposed of in the trash, wrote MSNBC. Clemence reminds caregivers that the patches are still powerful after use; caregivers should check themselves after showering or changing clothes to ensure the patch has not come off and should keep track of the patches. “It should be a one-for-one exchange .. and there should be knowledge of what happened to the one that was removed,” he added, wrote MSNBC.

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