2009 March Archive

In what originally seemed like just a minor fall during a skiing lesson on Monday in Montreal, Natasha Richardson, 45, died on March 18th, 2009 from serious head injuries. According to a report, the actress was taken to the hospital after she developed a headache.

Ms. Richardson’s death was announced Wendesday night by Alan Nierob, a spokesman for the actress’s husband, Liam Neeson.

“Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha,” a statement said. “They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

A spokeswoman for the Mont Tremblant ski resort, Lyne Lortie, said that Ms. Richardson was not wearing a helmet during her beginner skiing lesson.

“It was a normal fall; she didn’t hit anyone or anything,” Lortie said. “She didn’t show any signs of injury; she was talking and she seemed all right.”

Our thoughts go out to Ms. Richardson’s family during this very difficult time as they lament the loss of such an amazing woman.

A brain injury is a catastrophic injury that can cause drastic changes in a person’s life. Car accidents and falls are the most common causes of brain injuries in California and throughout the world. A traumatic brain injury can also be caused by any blow to the head, including gunshot wounds and sports injuries.

The top California personal injury lawyers at Panish, Shea & Boyle have the knowledge and experience to handle complicated and lengthy brain injury lawsuits. Whether your head injury resulted from an auto accident, a construction accident, or a work accident, we can help you receive compensation for physical suffering and medical expenses. Call us today for a case evaluation.

A report on the Daily Bruin UCLA website reported that a 22-year-old lab assistant has died in a work accident in Los Angeles after sustaining second and third degree burns covering 40 percent of her body. Phil Hampton, a UCLA campus official said that they were in contact with family.

Hampton said, “This is a tragic accident that saddens the campus community.”

The woman was involved in a chemical fire on December 29, 2008 in a UCLA molecular science building. She was working with the extremely flammable compound t-butyl lithium. While extracting the t-butyl lithium, the stopper became unfastened, causing the fire. A coworker rushed to put out the flames and the assistant was taken to the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Afterwards she was taken to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks where she sadly passed away. Hampton stated that the Health and Safety department was conducting an investigation into the fire.

Hampton added, “Lab safety is an important campus priority, and as a result of this tragic accident, lab safety protocols are being reviewed to ensure that a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again.”

Mistakes happen in the workplace, just as they do in other parts of life. But when an avoidable mistake in the workplace causes death or a lifelong disability, that explanation just isn’t enough. Statistics show that most burns acquired at home or at work are caused by preventable accidents, such as unattended cooking, dropped cigarettes or children playing with matches and lighters. Many others are the result of product defects and carelessness like bad electrical wiring, flammable furnishings and clothing. In workplaces involving open flames or chemicals, carelessness and lack of safety precautions are often to blame.

If you or a loved has been involved in a fire accident, contact the knowledgeable and experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Panish, Shea, and Boyle. We have established ourselves as a premiere law firm and have a proven success record. Please call 1-866-992-1700 for a free consultation.

The SF Gate website reported in a story that a 19-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder after purposely running over his 46 year old female neighbor. Police Sgt. Mike Sullivan said that the young man had been involved in an argument with his neighbors in the 3800 block of Thainwood Way after he had collided with a fence. At approximately 11pm, shortly after the argument began, the man got behind the wheel of a car and drove onto the grass killing the woman.  Sullivan stated that neighbors told the police that the young man had a history of driving recklessly in the neighborhood.

The name of the woman was not released and her death was just one of three tragic pedestrian auto accidents in California that ended in fatalities in the bay area on the same day.

A wrongful death — one that was caused by someone else’s unlawful actions — is especially hard for the families who must carry on. Losing a loved one has consequences beyond the emotional impact; families must also contend with loss of income, loss of support, and costs related to the death.

If you are considering legal action related to a wrongful death due to a pedestrian accident, consider the experienced attorneys at Panish, Shea & Boyle who can help you navigate the legal system and get the best results during a most difficult time.  Please call 1-866-992-1700 for a free consultation with our experienced California wrongful death attorneys.

An SF Gate story reported on January 21, 2009 by the city’s Building Inspection Commission, states that San Francisco should mandate all owners of the city’s most fragile buildings to assess their properties’ seismic safety and undertake the proper retrofit work where needed. Approximately 2,800 large, wood framed buildings would be covered under such a mandate. This approximation is a minimum and would help buildings that are liable to crumple or suffer serious damage during a major earthquake.  Geologists and seismologists forecast that a major earthquake is likely to hit the bay area before 2032.

According to the report, authorizing these retrofits would considerably curtail damage and the need for crisis shelters, along with the overall preservation of neighborhood character. It is estimated that $9,000 to $28,000 would be needed per residential unit to complete the seismic upgrades.

The reports states that the city of San Francisco can assist building owners to pay for the upgrades by offering low-interest loans backed by bonds, which would first have to be approved by the voters. Only a small fraction of the buildings that would be ruined in a big earthquake are represented here. Approximately 60,000 tenants and 7,000 employees are affected under the report. This is only 10 percent of the San Francisco’s housing units that are believed to be hazardous.

Laurence Kornfield, San Francisco’s chief building inspector said, “This data is confirmation that these buildings represent a significant hazard to the community and possibly all sorts of problems.”

Property owners who open their doors to the public have an ethical and legal duty to make sure their premises are free of avoidable dangers. Premises liability lawsuits can be very complicated because they frequently involve more than one business or even government agencies, each of which has a separate insurer, and sometimes multiple victims. The skilled Los Angeles premises liability attorneys at Panish, Shea & Boyle have extensive experience handling and winning this kind of complex litigation. Please call 1-866-992-1700 for a free consultation with one of our skilled premises liability attorneys.