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- Construction Site Accidents
- The number of workplace accidents in the U.S. averages over 5 million a
year. Construction site cases are generally the most serious because of the
extremely hazardous nature of the work involved, often involving work above
ground.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisong (Rental Property)
- Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas which has been dubbed "the
silent killer." Exposure may occur in a diverse array of settings, including:
defective residential gas furnaces, mobile home heaters, space heaters,
automobile exhaust and inadequate ventilation systems. The severity of
injuries is usually a function of exposure. Slight involvement often leads to
fatigue and headaches, with increasingly higher doses linked to hypoxic brain
injury, coma and death. Carbon monoxide's insidious nature mandates awareness,
adequate warnings and safe design principles among those manufacturers whose
product use entails a risk of exposure.
- Construction Defects (Housing)
- Most "construction defect litigation" has arisen in the context of large
public projects, commercial buildings or multi-family condominium, town home
or apartment complexes. The pervasiveness of defective construction in new
home building has been well documented by the media. Moreover, the last two
years have seen at least four "bad house" verdicts in excess of $1 million,
with one verdict of $32 million. In fact, there have been "construction
defect" cases for as long as there have been courts, and there are a
surprising number of decisions in this area. The demand for housing fuels the
problem. To fulfill the demand, many general contractors, who are
entrepreneurs rather than artisans/tradesmen, have entered the field. These
builders frequently employ unskilled and overworked subcontractors. To add to
this dangerous mix, building components (e.g., claddings, windows) have become
more complex, requiring greater attention in selection and installation. At a
time when coordination of the trades has become more critical, many general
contractors are less experienced and more remote, increasing delegation and
reducing supervision. While the volume of home construction has inspired
fierce competition which further encourages builders to cut corners,
governmental inspection has decreased because of lack of funding. The
combination of all these factors is a potent recipe for substandard
construction and the resulting explosion in "construction defect" cases.
Our firm is ready to handle these cases. If you have been the victim of
a bad builder, contact us.
- Electrical Accidents
- Thousands of people are electrocuted annually as a result of contact with
power lines or other power sources. The number of deaths and crippling
injuries from such accidents has been increasing. Electrocution is now the
fifth leading cause of work-related deaths in the United States, with over 50%
of the total occurring in the construction industry. If you or a loved
one has suffered an electrical injury, contact us.
- Environmental Injury (herbicide and pesticide)
- Dioxins, many PCB's, contaminants of many chlorophenols, and dibenzofurans
share a similar mechanism of action in their toxicity. This means medical
evaluation and problems caused are very similar for many POPs (persistent
organic pollutants) varying primarily by the degree of potency. TCDD (which is
one type of dioxin but is often referred to as "dioxin") is generally
considered to be the most toxic chemical substance known to man. Toxic
exposure to these chemicals is measured at the parts per billion or parts per
trillion level with health effects of primary concern related to the following
areas: reproductive, gynecological, immunological, liver, dermatological,
peripheral and central neurological, and oncological disorders (particularly
soft tissue sarcomas, lymphomas and leukemia). Prominent
defendants have included Dow, Monsanto, Hercules, Diamond Shamrock, Georgia
Pacific, ITT, Champion, Vertac, and Rhone-Poulanc. Pentachlorophenol has been
used in wood treatment, dioxin has been found in herbicides (i.e. Agent
Orange) sprayed on right-of-ways, and PCB's have been most prominently used in
electrical transformers. Other sources of exposure include incinerators, many
paper mills where paper pulp is bleached, and most general hazardous waste
landfills.
- Inadequate Security
- Our firm handles cases for individuals who are victims of crime where a
third party owed a legal duty to take reasonable measures to protect the
individual from the criminal acts of others. We seek civil remedies on behalf
of crime victims. Typically, claims are directed against the owners of various
premises, including apartments, hotels and motels, malls and shopping
centers, parking facilities, hospitals, schools, convenience stores, ATM's,
banks, retail stores, and other commercial establishments. Claims also
frequently involve common carriers such as bus companies and cruise lines.
Injuries suffered by victims include significant physical injuries, shooting,
stabbing, sexual assa ults,
death, and psychological problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and major depression. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a
crime on the property of a third party, contact us for help.
- Railroad Crossings
- Perhaps the most dangerous property in the country is found at railroad
crossings. Railroad/highway crossing and derailments have caused
substantial personal and property damage. Traumatic injuries are common in
crossing cases. Additionally, hazardous and
ultrahazardous materials are often transported by the railroad and, in the
event of crossing crashes and derailments, these materials often cause
substantial risk. Railroad/highway crossing and derailment matters have caused
substantial, traumatic and long term damages for many years. The railroad has
consistently denied any responsibility and fought all attempts at liability.
- Warehouse Stores
 Frequently
warehouse stores (Walmart, Sams, Costco, etc.) store goods high above the
floor on metal racks that are unsafe. When merchandise falls, it often
falls fatally injuring a customer. If you have been the victim of
something other than falling prices at a Wal Mart or similar store, contact
us.- Swimming Pools
- Swimming pools are another ultrahazardous condition on personal property.
Unmonitored and ungated, these are an attractive nuisance that claims the
lives of hundreds of children every year. We represent clients who have
lost family members in unmonitored pools. Contact us for consultation.
- Dangerous Conditions
- rock or sand piles, holes, caves, sink holes, quicksand, and other
dangerous conditions on property are all areas where we represent individuals
with personal injury.
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