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Are you facing surgery? Your doctor has probably told you that the risks are low. He may have warned you that there is a ten percent chance of infection associated with the procedure, a five percent chance of serious effects like cardiac arrest, and a less than one percent chance of death. But, did he…

One person was killed and four others were critically injured in a car crash that occurred on I-40 in Haywood County on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.  All of the injured and killed are thought to be from the Millington Tennessee area.  News of the incident came from the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The report also indicates…

Harrison Kothari was a two-year-old with a sunny smile when he was diagnosed with a benign cyst near the top of his spine. Harrison underwent routine surgery to remove the cyst. Everything was going well when Harrison fell ill. Harrison’s condition quickly deteriorated. On December 1, 2010, Harrison died from a rare form of meningitis…

A study from 2012 published in Health Affairs shows that doctors are often not honest and truthful with their patients.  Moreover, many physicians fell that it is acceptable to mislead or withhold information.  The study was careful to state that “the vast majority of physicians completely agreed that physicians should fully inform patients about the…

James Heflin decided to take a large amount of cash from IberiaBank, formerly Pulaski bank, in March of 2007, fearing that the economy could not be trusted.  When he arrived at home, he was robbed and severely beaten.  The attackers came back at a later date and stole more money ($390,172.63) at gunpoint.  The robbery…

Does your car have a secret past? The auto review website CarGurus conducted a study of 2.5 million vehicles that were sold on its website in 2012. After looking at the vehicle history report for each car, CarGurus found that sixteen percent of vehicles listed on the site had an accident history. This is one…

Every medical procedure has its risks. You’re not a doctor, but given enough information, you are able to weigh the pros and cons of a procedure and make an educated decision about whether a treatment is right for you. This is the premise behind informed consent. “Informed consent” is a legal and medical term that…

If you or a loved one suffered from meningitis after receiving tainted medication, you have a right to be angry. No one can undo your suffering, but a Tennessee drug injury lawsuit can help you and your family obtain accountability and justice as well as compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, permanent disability and…

Does your mind ever wandering as you drive? I know I do. Although I try to focus on the road, my thoughts naturally drift to my workday to-do list, errands I need to run, and even to what I’d like for dinner that night. I’m not using the phone; I’m not texting, but I’m still…

As more Memphians embrace bicycling, a Connecticut family’s tragedy reminds us of the ever present danger bicyclists face. Jose Campos, was riding his bicycle in September 2008 when he was hit by a van owned by the hotel corporation LaQuinta Inn and Suites.  Campos was not wearing a helmet and suffered a serious head injury…

Next time you pass a fully loaded 18-wheeler, consider this: chances are good that the driver has a sleep disorder. Australian researchers have found that 41 percent of Australian truck drivers suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterized by interruption in breathing during sleep. Pauses in breathing can last up to ten seconds…

Damages are important in a legal malpractice lawsuit for two reasons.  First, damages are a required element in bringing a legal malpractice suit.  To put it simply, if you have no damages, you do not have a legal malpractice lawsuit. Secondly, even if you do have damages, the amount of damages must justify bringing a…

An oil refinery worker has died after being exposed to propane and hydrofluoric acid at a Valero plant in South Memphis. The Tennessee workplace accident happened at 9:20 a.m. on Monday, December 10.Two workers at Vakero’s alkylation unit were injured when a sight glass on a pump ruptured exposing the workers to a mixture of…

The Christmas bells are jingling and the inflatable snow men are popping up in front yards. Will we get snow this year?  I don’t know, but I do know that if we get wintery weather, we’ll get Memphis car wrecks. The safest choice is always to stay home during a winter storm, but sometimes you…

One popular gift this holiday season will appear relatively harmless (albeit hairy, slobbery, and mischievous) upon opening: the gift of a puppy.  While most purchasers do not fully comprehend the responsibility attached to raising and training a puppy, even fewer consider the ramifications their new pet could expose them to.  In Tennessee, pet owners could…

A Georgia mattress manufacturer has issued a recall for 1500 mattresses sold in Georgia and surrounding states after the mattresses failed to meet federal flammability standards.  American Mattress Company, an Atlanta company, manufactures renovated, or rebuilt, twin, queen, and king size mattresses, and mattresses with built-in Bunkie boards.  The mattresses have a yellow tag that…

There are inherent risks to almost all types of medical procedures.  In Tennessee, a doctor is required to give the patient certain information before providing treatment.  More specifically, the doctor must give the patient enough information about the medical condition and about the risks associated with treating the medical condition so that the patient can…

Cerebral palsy (CP) is usually caused by an injury to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth. When the injury to the brain causes confusion, disorganization, or overactivity in the way that brain signals are transmitted, a child may suffer from seizures or involuntary brain activity. Nearly half of children with CP suffer seizures;…

Air travel is a pain. You deal with long airport waits, baggage searches, pat downs, security scans, crowded seasons and few amenities have taken the glamour out of airline travel. In fact, for many, air travel is both inconvenient and expensive. Now a European airline executive has a new idea for cheap flights. Michael O’Leary,…

Atlanta, GA – This past summer, three babies died either during, or shortly after, delivery at South Fulton Medical Center.  A lawsuit has recently been filed in Atlanta based on the alleged actions of the Medical Center’s personnel.  The lawsuit alleges that personnel failed to recognize the signs of early labor, needlessly delayed a caesarian…

     The holiday season is a time that people surround themselves with loved ones, so it is no surprise that nursing homes experience an influx of visitors during December.  While you should look for signs of nursing home abuse and neglect every time you visit your loved one, the holidays are an especially good…

Big trucks pulling two trailers.  Truckers call them doubles, twins, or twin combos.  Operating a double can be tricky even for the most experienced driver.  And drivers undergo specialized training to learn to safely maneuver these big rigs.  Right?  Think again! The Tennessee Department of Safety Trucker’s Handbook reports that according to a National Transportation Safety…

A disabled U.S. military veteran is suing United Airlines and Air Serv Corporation for injuries sustained when he was mistreated by airline personnel. Former Marine Corps Sergeant Joseph Smith is a disabled veteran who suffers from paralysis and traumatic brain injury. But, Sgt. Smith doesn’t let his disability slow him down. Two years ago, on…

Safety measurement system chages are coming to the Compliance Safety Accountability program (CSA) this month. The most noteworthy is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) addition of a new Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC), which will regulate transportation of hazardous materials. Hazardous material, or hazmat, is a name used to describe material that…

On November 13, 2012, the U.S. Senate gave the final Congressional approval to the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA), legislation that will strengthen protections for federal workers acting as whistleblowers. The law is designed to protect government employees who expose fraud, waste or other wrongdoing in government agencies from retaliation by their supervisors. The bill…