Medical Helicopter Crashes Stir Concern

August 1, 2008

The fatal collision Sunday between two medical helicopters in Arizona was the sixth crash involving the emergency helicopters since May, making the last two months one of the deadliest periods in the history of the fast-growing industry.

Sixteen people have died this year in seven crashes, which involved eight helicopters, according to federal data. Thirteen of the deaths have come since May.

About 750 medical helicopters are operating in this country, about twice the number flying a decade ago. Medical helicopters were once operated mostly by hospitals, but in recent years private companies, including some that are publicly traded, have come to dominate the industry.

The chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Mark Rosenker, said the agency was greatly concerned about the spate of crashes. The board began to investigate the industry after a rash of accidents in 2004 and 2005.

Read Article New York Times

Posted By Phoenix Accident Injury Attorneys

Wal-Mart Faces $2 Billion Labor Law Trial, Judge Says

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. broke Minnesota labor laws, a state judge ruled, handing the world’s largest retailer its third-straight defeat in a wage-class action trial and the possibility a jury may order it to pay $2 billion.

The company required hourly employees to work off-the-clock during training and denied full rest or meal breaks in violation of state wage and hour laws, Hastings, Minnesota, District Judge Robert King Jr. held today following a non-jury trial. King ruled Wal-Mart broke labor laws more than 2 million times and ordered the company to give employees $6.5 million in back-pay.

“Wal-Mart’s failure to compensate plaintiffs was willful,” the judge wrote in his 151-page decision. “Wal-Mart was on notice from numerous sources of the wage and hour violations at issue and failed to correct the problem.”
The lawsuit is one of more than 70 cases, including class actions, or group suits, in which Wal-Mart has been accused of wage-law violations. The retailer lost a $78 million jury verdict in Pennsylvania in 2006 over rest breaks and unpaid work and a $172 million verdict in California in 2005 over meal breaks. Both verdicts have been appealed.

Read Article Bloomberg.com

Posted By Phoenix Accident Injury Attorneys

Ohio woman files E. coli lawsuit against Kroger

Ground beef purchased at a suburban Kroger Co. grocery store sickened a woman with E. coli, according to a lawsuit filed Monday against the nation’s largest traditional grocery chain.

Cincinnati-based Kroger (nyse: KR - news - people ) and its to-be-determined beef supplier are named in a Franklin County lawsuit. The lawsuit filed by Amanda Adam of suburban New Albany accuses the grocer of negligence and seeks at least $25,000 in damages.

Kroger spokeswoman Meghan Gylnn said the company does not comment on pending litigation. Adam’s lawsuit claims she bought two beef patties from a Dublin store on June 4 and cooked them that day. She began feeling ill on June 8 and was admitted to a Cincinnati hospital on June 10, according to her lawsuit.

Kroger on June 25 launched a voluntary recall of ground beef sold between May 21 and June 8 at stores in Michigan and in Columbus and Toledo.

Read Article Forbes.com

Posted By Phoenix Accident Injury Attorneys \

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