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.

Hit-and-run accident seriously injures teen

A tragic motor vehicle accident in Mobile Saturday afternoon left a 16-year-old boy riding an all-terrain vehicle with severe injuries. According to reports from The Press-Register, the boy was hit by a Honda Prelude driven by a 19-year-old under the influence of alcohol. The car’s driver struck the

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 2 Jan 2007

Fired Johnson & Johnson VP sues company

A former executive for Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ortho-McNeil is suing the company after being fired. The ex-VP claims that the company fired him unjustly after he continually expressed safety concerns about a number of their drug products, including the Ortho Evra birth control patch.

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 29 Dec 2006

Lawsuit over defective hernia repair patch

A law firm out of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, filed suit on behalf of a client earlier this month against Davol, Inc., maker of the Composix Kugel Mesh Patch used in hernia repair surgeries. The plaintiff claims that he experienced severe abdominal pain after his hernia repair surgery and had to

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 28 Dec 2006

Drug interactions major concern among seniors

Today’s seniors are taking a variety of medications to keep health issues under control. Many doctors may unknowingly prescribe medications that interact with other medications the patient is taking. A report out of Idaho’s Times-News says that drug interactions and overmedicating are growing proble

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 27 Dec 2006

Terrible weather causes more Alabama accidents

The busy last-minute shoppers and people traveling to visit family and friends combined with the bad weather over the Christmas weekend doubled the number of motor vehicle accidents on the roads, according ot a report from wtvm.com in Columbus.With wet roads, traffic jams and too many people on the

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 26 Dec 2006

OSHA fines companies for fall hazards

A report today on OccupationalHazards.com said that OSHA fined two contractors in Massachusetts for exposing their employees to fall hazards at residential construction sites. Many worksite fatalities in the construction industry occur because of falls. “Falls are the No. 1 killer in construction,”

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 22 Dec 2006

Disability insurance gaining popularity

An interesting article from The Wall Street Journal highlights increasing consumer interest in disability insurance. This is attributed in part to lower prices for these insurance policies and to more people recovering and living longer after accidents or serious diseases such as cancer. The article

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 21 Dec 2006

Health officials want painkillers to include new warnings

A Reuters report Tuesday revealed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receive a U.S. proposal recommending that over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen to include warnings on labels about possible liver and stomach damage. The proposed new warnings are

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 20 Dec 2006

Q&A with Tom Methvin

The Montgomery Advertiser published a great Q&A in their Business section yesterday with Beasley Allen president Tom Methvin. It’s a wonderful read to find out more about the firm, its values, and its national success in helping people who need it.The firm’s major role in the Vioxx litigation is spo

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 19 Dec 2006

Fog-related truck accident

The Demopolis Times reported an accident Saturday involving two semi-trucks in an accident at the junciton fo U.S. Highway 80 and Alabama Highway 69. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but one driver was injured. Thick fog in the area contributed to the accident, which happened at 4 a.m. Both tr

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 18 Dec 2006

Police presence on holiday highways

An article from The Clanton Advertiser talks of the increased Alabama state trooper presence on the highways during the upcoming busy holiday season. Due to past statistics of more motor vehicle accidents during the holidays, the state has increased its law enforcement efforts this year. All availab

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 15 Dec 2006

Avoid accidents on the roads this season

With the busy holiday season in full force, many families will take to the roads on various trips to visit loved ones around the country. An article in The Clanton Advertiser advises drivers to slow down and take extra precautions to stay safe on the roads and avoid accidents over the next couple of

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 14 Dec 2006