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In South Florida, a Broward County jury has ordered the North Broward Hospital District to pay the Lauderhill family of 8-year-old Darian Brown $35 million for medical malpractice. Darian sustained irreversible brain damage because of medical errors that took place during his birth at Broward General Medical Center.

On January 10, 2000, when Denise was still pregnant with Darian, her doctor noticed during a routine checkup that Denise’s heart rate was beating unusually fast. She was admitted to the hospital and began pre-term labor three days later. Medical staff managed to stabilize Denise and the baby, but the next day, at around 2:40AM, their condition grew worse.

The Brown’s lawsuit alleges that nurses were negligent because they waited two hours before calling Denise’s doctor. The doctors, who did not deliver Darian until 7am that morning, are accused of failing to delivery the baby in a timely manner.

As a result of his birth injuries, Darian is profoundly mentally impaired, is unable to make decisions, cannot walk or feed himself, and will require lifelong specialized care. The $35 million jury award will allow his parents, Denise and David Brown, to hire 24-hour care for Darian and buy a van with a wheelchair lift. To support Darian and their other three young children, David has had to work the night shift, so Denise could work during the daytime.

Birthing Malpractice
Medical errors that occur prior to, during, or after delivery can cause serious and permanent injuries to a baby. Birth injuries can be caused by a number of medical malpractice errors, such as failure to diagnose/treat the mother’s high blood pressure, failure to deliver the baby in a timely manner, failure to perform an emergency C-section, errors involving forceps delivery or vacuum extraction, and errors that prevent a baby from getting enough oxygen.

Please contact our South Florida medical malpractice law firm to discuss your case.

Lauderhill family with brain-damaged son wins $35 million malpractice verdict, Sun-Sentinel.com, June 19, 2008
Medical Malpractice & Childbirth, Wrongdiagnosis.com

Related Web Resources:

Birth Injuries

Broward Health
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In Florida, Estero resident Patricia Nicola is suing the National Audubon Society for injuries she suffered during a slip and fall accident at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples.

Nicola says she slipped after stepping on mud or brown feces that was on a damp boardwalk while taking pictures of nature on December 8, 2007. She hurt her right shoulder after skidding several feet and falling.

Nicola alleges that the National Audubon Society should have cleaned the boardwalk to make sure that it was safe for walking. She also claims that the boardwalk should have been maintained with a skid-resistant surface and warning signs should have warned people of the slippery conditions.

Nicola is seeking compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, significant and permanent loss of a key bodily function, medical costs, related bills, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, lost wages, and aggravation of a previously preexisting condition.

Her Florida slip and fall lawsuit alleges that the National Audubon Society either knew or should have known about the unsafe condition and owed visitors a duty of care to reasonably maintain, inspect, repair, and operate the sanctuary and warn of any potential hazards.

Slip and Fall Accidents
A common kind of premises liability accident, slip and fall injuries are often painful and costly for the injured person. A slip and fall condition results when a person slips or trips on liquid or debris on the ground, or because of another unsafe condition, and falls. Common kinds of slip and fall injuries include broken bones, dislocated hips, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Poorly lit hallways, broken steps, uneven flooring, and wet or greasy floors, and steep staircases without handrails, are some scenarios where slip and fall accidents have been known to happen.

In South Florida, one of our slip and fall accident attorneys can meet with you during a free consultation to discuss your legal options.

Slip-and-fall suit says woman felled by bird poop on Corkscrew boardwalk, Naplesdailynews.com, June 14, 2008

Premises Liability, Justia

Related Web Resources:

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary,

National Audubon Society
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In Florida, Pompano Beach resident Marie Anderson is suing the city of Ft. Lauderdale for wrongful death. She claims that police officers would not help her husband, who had been shot, and he bled to death.

In October 2006, Chad Randall was at a barbecue in Ft. Lauderdale when a stray bullet struck him. He was placed in an SUV and was on his way to the hospital when someone saw police and tried to flag them down.

Anderson says that police refused to help Randall, and instead, patted down the occupants of the SUV and ran a check for warrants. Four of the men who had tried to save Randall say it took 1-2 hours before help finally came. A spokesperson for the police department, however, says that any allegations that police would not contact EMS immediately are not true.

Randall leaves behind his wife, and their 6 and 7 year old children. Randall and Anderson were childhood sweethearts.

Wrongful Death Survivors
In Florida, surviving family members of a person killed because of another’s negligence may be able to file for wrongful death compensation. Husbands, wives, sons, daughter, and others that were dependent on the deceased for services or support are considered “survivors.”

Damages recovered for wrongful death may include:

• Lost wages (income and benefits the decedent would have earned)
• Loss of support and services
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of parental companionship
• The decedent’s medical and funeral costs

Surviving family members have two years from the time of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Our Florida wrongful death firm has helped many Florida families obtain their recovery. We have law offices in Miami, Port. St. Lucie, and West Palm Beach.

Woman claims police let husband bleed to death in SUV, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 13, 2008

Related Web Resource:
Wrongful Death, Justia Continue reading

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In St. Lucie County, the female passenger who was ejected from a motorcycle during a motor vehicle crash on Friday has died from her injuries. Elizabeth Williams, a 40-year-old Vero Beach resident, and driver Nicholson Pierre were riding a motorcycle on US 1 when a jeep, driven by Charles Curtis, pulled in front of them.

The motorcycle hit the Jeep’s front bumper, and Williams and Curtis were both thrown from the motorcycle. Pierre was also treated for injuries. He has been charged with failing to yield.

According to the Insurance Information Institute’s Web Site:

• There were 4,810 motorcycle fatalities in 2006.
• Approximately 104,000 motorcyclists were involved in motor vehicle collisions during the same year.
• Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the passengers of other motor vehicles.

Motorcycle injuries are usually catastrophic injuries and can include traumatic brain injuries, severed limbs, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, helmet injuries, paralysis, coma, severed limbs, and wrongful death.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Driver inexperience
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Failure to yield
• Driver inattention

In South Florida, our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you file a claim for personal injury compensation from a negligent motorist or the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle. We will work with accident reconstructionists and medical experts to get you the maximum recovery. If we are unable to negotiate a settlement, we will file a Florida motorcycle crash lawsuit and go to court.

Vero Beach woman dies from accident injuries, TCPalm.com, June 11, 2008
Motorcycle Crashes, III.org

Related Web Resource:

Motorcycle Accident Statistics Continue reading

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In South Florida, Dr. Gunwant Dhaliwal, the physician named as a defendant in several sex abuse lawsuits, has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery.

The 46-year-old internist, who has medical practices in New Port Richey, Holiday, and Spring Hill, has denied all the abuse allegations and says the women are just trying to get money from him.

Dhaliwal has been sued four times in Hernando and Pasco County, and there have been nine complaints about him made to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office over the past eight years. Several of the complaints were filed after the statute of limitations expired.

One woman, Danielle Turner, told police that Dhaliwal touched her inappropriately on February 12, 2007 after she was hired to work at his New Port Richey office. Another woman, patient Marissa Satinoff, says Dhaliwal inappropriately touched her during a medical exam. In Hernando County, patient Tammy King filed a Florida sex abuse lawsuit after she says that the doctor fondled her on February 6, 2007.

Sex Abuse
While acts of sex abuse are punishable by law, a sex abuse victim also has the right to file a sexual abuse lawsuit against the perpetrator for injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages.

In many cases, there may not be sufficient physical evidence to prove that someone was molested or touched inappropriately by a doctor, a teacher, a counselor, a priest, a relative, or a stranger. Some sex abuse victims can repress their memories for years.

Our Florida sex abuse lawyers know how to investigate and prove that you are entitled to compensation, and we are sensitive to your challenges even as you courageously pursue recovery from the responsible party.

Dr. Charged in Fondling Case, Tampabay.com, June 3, 2008
Pasco doctor accused of fondling patients, ABCActionnews.com, June 3, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Job Seeker Says Doctor Fondled Her, TBO.com, June 11, 2008
Gunwant Dhaliwal, Walk In Clinics Continue reading

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A judge in California has ruled that convicted murderer Scott Peterson will stand trial for the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Dennis Rocha and Sharon Rocha, the parents of his dead wife, Laci Peterson Dennis and Sharon had hoped that Peterson’s conviction was enough to conclude the civil lawsuit, but the Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Roger Beauchesne ruled otherwise.

Laci Peterson was pregnant when she disappeared from her home on December 24, 2002. In 2005, Scott was convicted to death for the murders of Laci and their unborn son Connor, whose bodies were found in the waters of the East Bay in April 2003.

Laci’s parents are asking for unspecified damages. It is unlikely that Scott would be able to pay a judgment, but Dennis and Sharon want to make sure that their son-in-law never makes a penny if he decides to sell his story. Two made-for-TV programs and several books have already been published about the Peterson murders.

Florida Wrongful Death
In Florida, the immediate family members and heirs of a person killed in an accident or crime that was caused by another person’s negligence, carelessness or reckless actions, can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party.

Our South Florida wrongful death law firm can investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and determine whether you have grounds for recovery. Florida wrongful death law allows family members to claim compensation for loss of companionship, love, moral support, financial support, services, and other damages.

In Florida, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is not a lot of time to conduct a thorough investigation of your case, interview key witnesses, gather evidence, and build a case against the negligent party or parties, so it is important that you speak with an experienced Florida wrongful death attorney right away.

Scott Peterson likely faces second trial in wrongful death case, Miami Herald, June 6, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Wrongful Death Statute

Laci Peterson TImeline, CourtTV.com Continue reading

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In Broward County, Florida, Marie Arsenault-Langlois, a 38-year-old pregnant woman from Pembroke Pines, lost her 17-week-old unborn baby when the car she was riding in was struck by another motor vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, Miami Gardens resident Renee Greene, failed to stop at a stop sign.

Arsenault-Langlois was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where she was treated for serious injuries. Her baby was declared dead. The Broward Medical Examiner’s office pronounced cause of death to be intra-uterine demise resulting from blunt force trauma from an auto accident.

Although Florida’s mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP) provides all drivers with $10,000 coverage for medical costs for auto accident injuries, this amount often does not cover all medical expenses and recovery costs for serious personal injuries. It certainly cannot compensate for the death of a loved one.

With offices in Miami, Port St. Lucie, and West Palm Beach, our Florida car accident lawyers will work with medical experts to assess the immediate and long-term effects of your injuries. If your loved one was killed in a car crash, we know how to prove negligence. Our motor vehicle crash lawyers have an excellent track of getting the necessary results-whether through negotiation or a jury verdict.

Causes of driver negligence that can lead to serious car accident injuries:

• Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign • Speeding • DUI/DWI • Driver fatigue • Failure to pay attention to the road, motorists, and pedestrians • Driver negligence • A defective or poorly maintained motor vehicle

Contact one of our Florida personal injury law offices to schedule your free consultation.

Pembroke Pines woman loses unborn child in crash, Sun-Sentinel, June 5, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Motor Vehicle Insurance, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

What To Do After a Car Accident
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In Florida on Saturday, two Florida teenagers died when their bicycles were struck by motor vehicles in two separate accidents.

17-year-old Justin White, a Masaryktown resident, died at 9pm when a 1998 Ford pickup crashed into his bike near State Road 50. An hour later, 17-year-old Scott Avery, was killed in a hit and run accident in Brooksville. The driver, Spring Hill resident Leo Salvato, was later apprehended.

According to the Helmets.org Web site:

• 85 million people ride bicycles in the United States.
• 773 bicyclists died in 2006..

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a bicycle accident that was caused by a careless driver or another negligent party, you should contact our South Florida bicycle crash law firm immediately.

Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries for pedalcyclists. Injuries may include, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, road burns, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

It is important that drivers pay attention when on the road. While it may be easy to keep an eye on cars, trucks, and buses, motorists must remember that they share the roads with motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists-the ones that are most susceptible to serious injuries when they become involved in a motor vehicle crash.

Common causes of bicycle accidents caused by other motorists or negligent parties include:

• Driver inattention • Drunk driving • Speeding • Driver inexperience • Motor vehicle failure or defect

You may be entitled to personal injury compensation for your injuries, medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.

Teen boy’s death on bicycle puzzles mother, Tampabay.com, June 3, 2008
Hundreds Mourn Death of NCTHS Student, 2TBO.com, June 1, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Bicyclinginfo.org

Bicycle Safety Facts & Statistics, Federal Highway Administration
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The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has issued the following findings regarding crimes at South Florida malls.

From 2003 through 2007:

• There were over 22,000 reported crimes at 13 shopping malls in Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, and Broward County.
• 508 of these crimes were violent crimes.
• A suspect is not apprehended or identified in 75% of all violent shopping mall crime cases.
• In four out of five violent crime incidents at South Florida shopping malls, there were no security cameras or the equipment was broken or did not capture any helpful footage.
• Most shopping mall crimes occur during the day.
• Women are more likely to be targeted for robberies than men.
• The most common places for shopping mall crimes to happen are in mall garages and parking lots.
• Security is usually better in the mall than in the parking areas.
• The most common crimes are car thefts and shoplifting, including purse snatching.
• Mall robbers frequently work in teams.

Former Town Center mall security head Michele Poling says that many shopping mall companies do not properly staff their parking lots. Many mall security members don’t carry weapons and are trained to call police in the event that a crime occurs.

Premises Liability
Shopping mall owners and managers are supposed to ensure that all the proper safety and security measures are in place to prevent store patrons and employees from becoming victims of property crimes or violent crimes. When failure to implement these measures results in rape, murder, robbery, kidnapping, assault, gunshot injuries, and other serious crimes, the shopping mall owner, the security company, and others can be held liable through inadequate security lawsuits if their negligence allowed the crimes to happen.

Throughout South Florida, our Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, and Miami premises liability lawyers can help you explore your legal options. We represent clients that were seriously injured because a property owner allowed an unsafe condition to exist on a premise.

Crime can strike fast at South Florida malls, TCPalm.com, May 20, 2008
NBC 6 Analysis Finds Which S. Fla. Malls Are Safer Than Others, NBC6.com, April 30, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Inadequate Security News, Justia.com
Mall security must become priority in South Florida, Sun-Sentinel.com, May 22, 2008 Continue reading

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In Florida, the passengers of a driver known as a “habitual drunkard” are suing the Banana Boat restaurant and bar in Boynton Beach for serving driver Brian Licitra too much alcohol prior to their 2004 drunk driving accident.

Licitra has already settled his personal injury lawsuit with the restaurant that served him alcohol. Now Evol Ho-Sang, Alissa Deming, and David Holotanko are also suing the Boynton Beach restaurant for allowing Licitra, “who was visibly intoxicated,” to leave the restaurant drunk.

All three plaintiffs sustained serious injuries in the drunk driving accident caused by Licitra. One of the plaintiffs, Alissa Deming, says she had just met Licitra and did not know he was a “habitual drunkard,” which is why she got into the car with him.

The Florida Department of Corrections says that Licitra was convicted of a Felony DUI and served time in prison before his release in 2007.

Florida law holds bars responsible for serving alcohol to habitual drunkards.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a Florida car crash, our South Florida motor vehicle law firm can help you explore your legal options and determine who is liable for your injuries.

Common causes of car accidents that can be grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death claim include drunk driving, negligent driving, driver inexperience or inattention, a defective automobile or auto part, and debris on the road. In certain instances, there may be more than one liable party, such as when alcohol is served to a minor at a party and that person is killed or injures someone else during a drunk driving accident.

Drunk driving accidents and other serious car accidents can result in serious injuries, including broken bones, massive internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. You have a right to compensation from all liable parties.

DUI felon’s 3 passengers sue bar over 2004 crash, PalmBeachPost.com, May 27, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Impaired Driving Facts, CDC.gov
768.125 Liability for injury or damage resulting from intoxication, The 2007 Florida Statutes Continue reading

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