Settling More Lucrative Than Going to Trial, Study Shows

September 24, 2008

Plaintiffs who go to trial may not realize just how big of a gamble they are making when they decline a settlement offer.

A new study that will appear in the upcoming edition of the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies finds that settling is generally more lucrative than taking a case to trial.

Read full article Law.com

Posted by Phoenix Wrongful Death Lawyer

States, medical groups oppose abortion rule

WASHINGTON (AP) - Several medical associations and 13 state attorneys general voiced their opposition Wednesday to a proposed federal rule that they fear would open the door for hospitals and physicians to deny access to contraception.

In late August, the Bush administration proposed stronger job protections for doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions because of religious or moral objections. Abortion foes called it a victory for the First Amendment, but abortion rights supporters said they feared the rule could stretch the definition of abortion to include birth control.

Read full article Findlaw

Posted by Phoenix Arizona DUI Attorneys

Drug Maker Pledges to Report Payments to Doctors

In the midst of a national debate over the influence of industry money on medical research and practice, the drug maker Eli Lilly says it will begin publicly reporting all of its payments to outside doctors for speaking and consulting services.

The company’s chief executive, John C. Lechleiter, announced on Wednesday that starting next year it intends to post all its payments to doctors in an online database. The posting will “likely include” the name of the doctor or some other identifying information, along with the reason for the payment, the company said.

Members of Congress have been pushing for a national registry of such payments. Over the past year and half, Senate investigations have found that prominent researchers at several institutions, including Harvard and the University of Cincinnati, failed to report millions of dollars in outside income from drug makers.

Read Article New York Times

Posted By Phoenix Accident Injury Attorneys </a

Construction workers sue Building Materials Holding Corp.

A group of construction workers has filed suit against a San Francisco-based home-building company, claiming that they were coerced for years into working unpaid overtime.

In a federal court lawsuit, the 14 plaintiffs also allege a variety of other violations, including being asked to sign blank time sheets, skip breaks and travel without compensation, attorneys said. They are seeking payment of the wages they claim to be owed, but they did not specify an amount.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against Building Materials Holding Corp., which provides residential construction services through a subsidiary, SelectBuild Construction Inc.

The company refused to comment. In a statement, it denied the allegations and said the suit was part of an effort to unionize its workers.

Read Article LA Times

Posted By Phoenix Accident Injury Attorneys </a

Hospital Trial

East Valley Tribune has a very interesting article concerning a case of alleged sexual abuse at a hospital. Though enough evidence wasn’t found, a group of employees is being prosecuted for failing to properly report the incident. Here’s the story:

“Hospital workers’ misdemeanor trial resumes”
Mike Sakal, Tribune

Employees at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital told investigators they believed that “something bad” happened as early as November to a 23-year-old incapacitated heart patient.

A psychiatrist and other caregivers at the hospital described the woman, who was in the second-floor intensive care unit, as suddenly becoming scared, restless, angry and depressed, according to Scottsdale City Court documents.

The woman suffered a severe stroke, and could not speak. She could only draw and make gestures.

Read Full Article East Valley Tribune

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer

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