Threats of Legionnaire’s Disease at NY Nursing Home Decline
By injuheis on April 26, 2010
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is often one of the most difficult decisions for a family to make, and doing so should not be taken lightly. It is important that family members do their research, visit the facility, meet employees, and give a specific nursing home a lot of thought before actually placing their loved one there. Another factor that many families may consider investigating before putting their loved one in a nursing home is researching any previous history of Legionella bacteria contaminating a facility’s water supply.
A recent Times Herald-Record article reports that after a December 2009 incident in which two elderly residents of the Golden Hill nursing home in New York contracted Legionnaires Disease, a third round of water tests have come back negative for Legionella bacteria. However, as a precaution, the facility has yet to remove its restrictions on water-use in, disallowing nursing home residents from drinking the water, taking a bath, or showering.
According to the news story, results from a fourth test for the bacteria will be returned next week. Such careful attention is indeed necessary, especially considering that one woman at the facility diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease died, although from a different illness. To help make the facility’s pipes once again safe to use, the facility will also be receiving a copper-silver ionization system to clean their water.
Incidents of Legionnaires Disease at nursing home facilities, schools, hospitals, and other establishments happen far too often throughout the United States and in Maryland. Property owners or facility managers may be held liable for failing to warn individuals visiting or living on a premises of any type of potential risk, whether that risk is posed by Legionnaires Disease or some other kind of illness. If you or someone you care about has contracting Legionnaires Disease on another person’s premises, get in touch with Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. As a skilled Legionnaires Disease attorney, Steven H. Heisler will fight to ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law. To learn more about what can be done regarding your potential Legionnaire’s Disease case, please call 877-228-4878 today.
Source:http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100402/NEWS/4020330/-1/SITEMAP
Maryland Moves Closer to Cell Phone Ban
By injuheis on April 19, 2010
The Maryland Senate recently passed a ban on using cell phones while driving. The bill will be sent to the House for a vote. The bill will ban the use of cell phones while driving in most circumstances. However, the offense will be a “secondary offense”, which means a law enforcement officer cannot pull over a motorist unless the officer sees another infraction being committed.
Driving while distracted is one of the leading causes of automobile accidents in Maryland and throughout the United States. According to a Virginia Tech study, the number one source of driver inattention is the use of a wireless device. In addition, drivers that use cell phones are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. One study even showed that the use of a cell phone while driving lowered the driver’s reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol level of .08!
If you are involved in an automobile accident, and you suspect that accident was caused by the other driver’s use of a cell phone or other wireless device, you should document your reasons for those suspicions. Talk to the police officer at the scene. If possible, take pictures of any cell phone or wireless device that may have been used. If the other driver was at fault, that driver may be responsible for not only vehicle damages, but also medical bills and other compensatory damages.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, please do not hesitate to call Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” a free consultation. As an experienced Maryland car accident injury attorney, Mr. Heisler will work diligently to ensure that your rights are protected in your Maryland automobile accident case. Call 877-228- 4878 today to learn more about how Steven H. Heisler can help you obtain the compensation that you deserve.
Source:http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2010/03/cell_phone_ban_passes_in_a_squ.html;http://www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwd-facts-figures.jsp
Recovery for Estate of 17-Year-Old Killed in Youth Facility
By injuheis on April 12, 2010
Seventeen year old Manny Leach was choked to death in June of 2007 by an employee of the Chad Youth Enhancement Services Inc., a Youth Correctional facility in Philadelphia. According to a philly.com story, the facility paid the teen’s family $10.5 million to settle the matter in a federal lawsuit.
The death was the second incident of juvenile detention center abuse at the facility resulting in a teen’s death. Had the City of Philadelphia shut down the facility after the first death, as was done by the State of Maryland after Isaiah Simmon died at Bowling Brook, this death may have never occurred. Another senseless death, in my opinion, due to the negligence of the City of Philadelphia.
Manny’s case was previously thought to have been a homicide; however, further evidence supported by a photograph from a surveillance camera demonstrated otherwise. Based on the story, after Manny had been put in a restraint hold, a Chad mental-health technician had both hands gripped around the boy’s neck and had him pinned to the floor.
Restraint is often used in some mental health facilities in Maryland and throughout the United States as a way to help prevent the patient or others from carrying out aggressive or violent behavior. However, serious injury and even death may occur if restraint is used improperly or if a facility employee abuses their position of power or is not able to maintain their own anger or frustration with a patient. Restraint injury and death in Maryland may occur within the criminal justice system, psychiatric facilities, nursing homes, and other facilities as well.
If your child has been the victim of restraint injury or death, you may be able to hold negligent or abusive parties legally responsible. Contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. As an experienced Maryland juvenile restraint injury attorney, Steven H. Heisler will protect the best interests of your family as you learn to cope during this difficult time. Mr. Heisler and co-counsel recently obtained a $1,200,000.00 settlement for the family of a teenage boy who died from suffocation when forcibly restrained by counselors at the Youth facility he attended. We can help you with your potential juvenile mental health facility injury case. Call “The Injury Lawyer” today for more information regarding your legal rights and options.