New Jersey Child Protective Services Lawsuit Emerges

 Abuse, Negligence  Comments Off on New Jersey Child Protective Services Lawsuit Emerges
Apr 242007
 

A lawsuit has been filed by the adoptive mother of an 8-year-old girl alleging that the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) failed to protect and investigate sexual and physical abuse by the girl’s biological father. According to the lawsuit, the DYFS had a callous disregard for the child’s safety and failed to act in light of evidence of abuse. In 2003, DYFS was found to be grossly negligent and the agency was overhauled.

According to the adoptive mother, the child undergoes weekly therapy sessions. The child has been remembering the abuse in fragmented fashion, has intrusive thoughts and frequent nightmares, which are consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found in trauma survivors.

The lawsuit also names Jersey Shore University Medical Center for failing to act when the girl, then 2-years-old, was brought in for alcohol poisoning and failed to report the incident to DYFS. The lawsuit does not specify damages, but most likely, they will include compensation for present and future psychotherapy session as well as punitive damages.

 Posted by at 1:33 pm

National Crime Victim’s Rights Week April 22 – 28, 2007

 News  Comments Off on National Crime Victim’s Rights Week April 22 – 28, 2007
Apr 192007
 

Next week is National Crime Victim’s Rights Week according to the U. S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) department. Scheduled events include the National Observance and Candlelight Ceremony on Thursday, April 19 in Washington DC, with the father of slain child Jessica Lunsford speaking.

The other event, also in Washington DC is the Attorney General’s Crime Victim Service Awards Ceremony, on April 20. The ceremony recognizes those who have performed extraordinary services to victims of crime. Last year, U. S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzalez gave awards to honorees in eight different categories.

This year several different community awareness projects are being promoted by the OVC. Sixty-four communities from all 50 states have been selected to participate in events such as candlelight vigils, workplace violence training and crime victims rights expositions.

 Posted by at 10:01 am

Virginia Tech Shooting Lawsuits

 Negligence, Wrongful Death  Comments Off on Virginia Tech Shooting Lawsuits
Apr 162007
 

Virginia Tech University today became the site for the United State’s deadliest shooting rampage in history. With more than 30 dead and 17 hospitalized an unidentified gunman committed two shootings at the university more than two hours apart before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.

Two students were killed at the West Ambler Johnson dormitory at 7:30 am EST and 31 more students were killed two hours later at 9:30 am EST at Norris Hall. Campus authorities have been quoted as saying that they thought the shooting at the dormitory was a domestic dispute and that the gunman had fled the campus.

Surviving student who were interviewed complained that they did not receive a warning about the initial school shooting until over two hours after the incident. Several sources have already stated that massive negligence and wrongful death lawsuits will ensue, stating that Virginia Tech University had a duty to warn students of the potential danger much more quickly and that had this occurred some of the deaths in the second shooting may have been avoided.

 Posted by at 3:52 pm

Choking Victim Dies and 911 Supervisors Blamed

 Wrongful Death  Comments Off on Choking Victim Dies and 911 Supervisors Blamed
Apr 122007
 

In Pasco County, Florida a woman choked to death on a piece of steak after her boyfriend called 911 for help. Chris Cooper of Land O’ Lakes, Florida called 911 after getting out of the shower and realizing that his girlfriend, Nancy McGhee was gasping for air and pointing to her neck.

According to reports, the 911 operator tried wholeheartedly to assist, but since she was not yet trained in emergency medical dispatch (EMD), she repeated asked her supervisor, who did have training, for help. The supervisor refused several times before acquiescing and trying to help tell Mr. Cooper how to do the Heimlich Maneuver. A second supervisor, a female, refused to get on the phone altogether.

There has been no word yet on whether or not the family of Ms. McGhee intends to bring forth a wrongful death lawsuit against the 911 supervisors.

 Posted by at 11:02 am

Lead Paint Lawsuit in Ohio Is Not Glossed Over

 Negligence  Comments Off on Lead Paint Lawsuit in Ohio Is Not Glossed Over
Apr 052007
 

The Attorney General in Ohio, Marc Dann has sued several paint manufacturers who continue to sell lead paint, even though the federal government outlawed the practice in 1978. Lead paint has been implicated with attention deficit, learning disabilities and even death in children.

Ten companies including Sherwin-Williams and DuPont are being sued under Ohio’s public nuisance law for fraud and negligence. In 2005, Rhode Island sued and won a toxic paint lawsuit against Sherwin-Williams and two other manufacturers and now is offering to help Ohio in winning their case.

 Posted by at 7:50 am