Posted on September 8th, 2010
A jury in Mississippi returned a $131 million verdict against Ford Motor Corp in a wrongful death lawsuit.
According to Jasper County Circuit Court records, the family of Brian Cole have been awarded $131 million from the automaker after Cole was killed in a rollover accident in his Ford Explorer SUV. Cole was a minor league baseball player and was being considered for the New York Mets at the time of the accident.
Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said the company was not at fault in the accident: “This was a tragic accident and our sympathy goes out to the Cole family for their loss, but it was unfair of them to blame Ford.”
Evans claimed Cole was driving over 80 miles per hour without a seat belt at the time of the crash. Attorneys for Cole’s family, however, maintain that he was buckled in when the crash occurred. “His belt was still buckled after the accident was over but he was thrown from the car,” Cole’s family attorney Tab Turner said.
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, please contact a Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyer of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., by calling 610-667-7511.
Posted on September 2nd, 2010
The family of a man in Texas, who was killed using a railcar elevator, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against he machine’s manufacturer.
According to court documents filed Gregg County, Texas, Jacquelin Ferguson has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the deceased Eric John Ferguson against Compton Enterprises Inc. The lawsuit contends that Eric John Ferguson received fatal injuries while he was using a Compton railcar elevator on July 17. Ferguson was killed when he was swept into the transloader.
The lawsuit claims that the transloader was dangerous, as it was unguarded and contained no kill switch or emergency cut-off device. The defendants are accused of defective design, defective manufacturing and defective marketing. The suit also alleges failure to warn and negligence.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for conscious physical pain, emotional pain, torment and suffering, medical expenses, and funeral expenses.
Losing a loved one is always a terrible experience. In many cases the grief can be compounded by knowing that a loved one’s death could have easily been avoided. Under the Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Act, you may be entitled to certain kinds of compensation if you have lost a spouse, parent, or child to an act of negligence. For more information contact the Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 610-667-7511.
Posted on August 27th, 2010
The mother of a 30 year-old woman who died at Edensburg Center because of a drug overdose has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Pennsylvania.
According to court documents, Marlene Thrower, of Pittsburgh, claims negligence by the center’s medical staff caused her daughters death. She says her daughter, Csilisa received tow injections of a powerful drug within an hour on December 29, 22007. Thrower contends her daughter became unconscious and died about 40 minutes after the second shot.
The lawsuit names the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Secretary Estelle Richman, and numerous employees at the center. Thrower filed the lawsuit in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas but it was recently moved to a federal court in Johnstown by the defense.
Posted on August 19th, 2010
A man and a woman were killed in a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident early Monday in a suspected DUI incident.
According to officials with the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department, 35 year-old Jefferey Canaan and 23 year-old Katy McCorkendale were on an eastbound motorcycle on Route 780 in Lower Burrell shortly after 3:00 a.m. Monday when the crash occurred. Police say Canaan failed to negotiate a curve and went up an embankment, striking two trees.
Sergeant Jason Napier says Canaan was found in the front yard of a home and McCorkendale on the roadway. They were pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Dennis Johns. Authorities say both had trauma to the head and torso.
Officer Steve Cernava said speed contributed to the crash, but police do not know how fast the motorcycle was traveling. Police believe alcohol was a factor, but are awaiting the results of toxicology tests.
Posted on August 12th, 2010
The parents of two Hungarian students killed in a duck boat accident on the Delaware River last month filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Pennsylvania Tuesday against the tour operator, the city of Philadelphia, and others.
According to court documents, the lawsuit contends that the tour company was negligent in allowing the captain of the vessel to turn off the overheated engine with 35 passengers aboard and drop anchor in a busy shipping channel. The lawsuit also accuses the city of running a dangerous waterway shared by large commercial vessels and small pleasure-craft alike.
The tug company, which pushed a 290-foot barge upriver into the duck boat, is charged with recklessness for failing to post a lookout despite significant blind spots.
“At the time of the incident, the tugboat was pushing a 290-foot barge upriver both blind and deaf, without caring what or whom they would run over or kill,” the lawsuit says.
The families are seeking more than $50,000 a piece in damages, claiming the deaths were senseless and preventable.
Posted on August 4th, 2010
Authorities say they will review a fatal Pennsylvania car accident, in which a five year-old boy was killed, to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.
According to officials with the Pennsylvania State Police, 20 year-old Cynthia Eure was traveling westbound in a white 2000 Chrysler minivan when a rear tire blew out and she lost control of the vehicle, which rolled over. The deceased child, one of ten occupants in the vehicle, was not secured in a child seat and was ejected.
Chester County Assistant District Attorney Ann Marie Wheatcraft announced Tuesday that the case will be reviewed by authorities to determine if there was criminality.
Police say only an 8-moth-old was buckled into a car seat; the other five children were not using car seats or seat belts. Several passengers sustained moderate injuries.
Posted on July 30th, 2010
A man with severe autism died after he was left inside a van for over five hours Saturday.
According to officials with Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, 20 year-old Brian Nevins died of hyperthermia after he was left in a van for five hours following a trip to the Sesame Place theme park. Nevins was a resident at the Woods Services facility, which provides educational and vocational supports for children and adults with special needs.
According to Bucks County Coroner Dr. Joseph Campbell, the intense heat inside the minivan caused Nevins death. Saturday was the hottest day on record for the year. “This is a horrible tragedy,” Campbell said. “I really feel for his family… He was probably dead within an hour at those temperatures.”
The Middletown Police Department is investigating the incident. There is no word on whether a wrongful death lawsuit will be filed.
Posted on July 22nd, 2010
An 11 year-old boy from Pennsylvania has died from injuries sustained in a watercraft accident in Maryland.
According to officials with the Maryland Natural Resources Police, Joseph Daniels, of York, Pennsylvania, was injured in a crash on Irish Creek in the Royal Oak area in Talbot County on July 3. Sergeant Art Windemuth said Daniels died July 12 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
Natural Resources Police were called to Irish Creek on July 3 after a personal watercraft collided with a stopped personal watercraft.
It is illegal in Maryland for anyone younger than 16 years old to operate a personal watercraft. Police continue to investigate the incident.
There is no word whether a wrongful death lawsuit will be filed.
Posted on July 15th, 2010
Two people were killed in a two-vehicle car accident in central Pennsylvania Wednesday.
According to officials with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, the fatal crash occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m Wednesday on Route 272 in East Drumore Township. The county coroner’s office says two people, a man and a woman traveling in the same car, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by Deputy Coroner Carol Rottmund. Their names were not released pending notification of family members.
Fire companies from Rawlinsville and Quarryville were called to the scene along with several ambulances and medic units.
A tragic scenario brought to the legal arena opens questions about who can be protected and who should be held accountable. If you or someone you love has suffered through the events surrounding a wrongful death, legal advice and counsel can make sure that you are properly informed of your options and rights. Contact the Pennsylvania wrongful death attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today by calling 610-667-7511 to discuss your case.
Posted on July 9th, 2010
The body of a young female was recovered near the site of a boat accident in the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania police say.
According to officials with the Philadelphia Police Department, the unidentified remains are currently being transported to the Philadelphia medical examiner’s office. The Coast Guard will not say definitively that the person was the victim of the accident until the body can be positively identified by the medical examiner.
Officer Christine O’Brien said two passengers, a 16 year-old girl and a 20 year-old man went missing in that area of the Delaware River after a tour boat collided with a barge Wednesday.
Rescuers saved 35 people were on the tour boat at the time of the crash. Information on the nature or extent of their injuries was not immediately available.
