Legal

The Legal section covers court rulings, statutory changes, liability trends, and key developments in Alabama and federal law that shape personal-injury claims. We explain how case law and regulation affect claims strategy, statutes of limitations, damages, and the rights of injured people pursuing justice.

Toy recalls put parents on edge

From Thomas the Tank Engine to Sesame Street, it seems that many of those classic toys that have been a part of generations of children’s lives are now seen in a different light as the toy recalls continue.Many parents are scouring the Web for lists of recalled products and then scouring their child

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 20 Aug 2007

FDA Issues Warnings on Warfarin

The FDA has issued health warnings on the use of blood thinners in certain individuals. Warfarin, an anticoagulant agent, is prescribed by doctors in the United States to patients who have heart trouble or irregular heartbeats.Warfarin is popularly marketed under the prescription brand name Coumadin

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 17 Aug 2007

OAG Obtains $21M Restitution for Texas Homeowners Harmed by Ameriquest

The OAG (Office of the Attorney General), Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, has the authority to prosecute misleading practices and has recovered millions for Texas homeowners harmed by title scams, undisclosed costs and any and all other unlawful mortgage related scams.In July, The OAG

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 15 Aug 2007

Gilchrist & Soames Recalls Toothpaste Made in China

Gilchrist & Soames issued a statement on Monday that it would undertake an international recall of its toiletry-sized toothpastes that independent tests confirmed have high concentrations of DEG, or diethylene glycol, a noxious substance used in antifreeze.Gilchrist & Soames, an Indianapolis-based c

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 14 Aug 2007

One afternoon of accidents causes nine injuries

On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 7, eight people who were riding in two mini-vans were injured in a motor vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 231 near Dothan, Alabama, and one other person was injured in a separate accident nearby.Fortunately, none of the injuries were serious, and all the victims w

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 8 Aug 2007

Greyhound bus and SUV accident proves deadly

On Friday in Montgomery, a sport utility vehicle crashed head-on into a Greyhound bus. The motor vehicle accident caused fatal injuries for the SUV’s driver and minor injuries for at least 36 passengers on the bus.The Associated Press reported that the SUV was going the wrong way on I-65 at just aft

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 31 Jul 2007

Fatal motorcycle collision near Mobile

The Press-Register reported a fatal motorcycle accident that occurred Friday night just south of Mobile. Two men were riding Suzuki GSXR sport bikes when they accidentally collided on Degusa Road at about 11:10 p.m. One man died and the other was seriously injured in the crash.This tragic motorcycle

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 30 Jul 2007

Two fatal train crashes in two days on same route

In a tragic story out of Florida, two train-vehicle collisions resulted in injury and death on the same Amtrack route just two days apart.Forbes.com reported the details of both accidents involving Amtrack trains en route from Miami to New York. On Monday four people died in a car that reportedly dr

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 19 Jul 2007

Ameriquest to Pay 20,000 Massachusetts Borrowers Restitution

Martha Coakley, Massachusetts Attorney General, announced Ameriquest Mortgage Co. and its affiliates will pay $20,000 to borrowers in the state $13.75 million in restitution as part of a $325 million national settlement reached last year.The amount to be paid is increased from the $12.2 million Mass

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 13 Jul 2007

Drunk 11-year-old girl crashes vehicle

In an unbelievable story, the Associated Press reports of an 11-year-old girl driving under the influence at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, crashing the vehicle and suffering minor injuries.It happened in Orange Beach, Alabama, where police began chasing a speeder at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. T

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 10 Jul 2007

Vioxx Heart Attack Risk Begins Earlier

A new study, approved for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine found that heart risks from the drug Vioxx began much sooner than Merck & Co. stated. The FDA approved Vioxx to treat the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults and children.Vioxx was pulled from the market af

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 3 Jul 2007

Motorcycle accidents on rise during summer

An article from the Times-Herald in Arkansas details the dangers for motorcyclists on our nation’s roadways, especially during the summer months. According to the article, motorcycle accidents are more likely during the warmer, sunnier summer months that attract riders to the roads.In mid-June, ther

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 25 Jun 2007