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‘DEAD PEASANT’ POLICIES

January 11, 2010

Irma Johnson never really thought of herself as a crusader.

But the quiet widow from The Woodlands has been featured in a Michael Moore movie, watched her story retold on Good Morning America and is trying to let others know that their employers may have purchased secret insurance policies on their lives and stand to profit handsomely when they die.

 

The industry darkly refers to the policies as “dead peasant” life insurance.

And but for a post office error, Johnson might not have learned that when her husband, Dan Johnson, died of brain cancer in 2008, the bank that had fired him years earlier got $4.7 million in insurance proceeds on his life.

 

Read Article: : Chron

 

Posted By:  Phoenix Arizona DUI Attorneys

Minnesota Hospital to Pay U.S. to Resolve Allegations of False Claims Involving Unnecessary Admissions

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Wheaton Community Hospital, the City of Wheaton, Minn. and Dr. Stanley Gallagher (collectively WCH) have agreed to pay $846,461 to settle allegations that their hospital admission practices violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today.

 

This settlement resolves allegations that WCH knowingly made false claims to Medicare for unreasonable and unnecessary hospital admissions. Specifically, the government contended that, from 1998 to 2004, WCH admitted some patients and kept others admitted to acute care when doing so was not medically necessary. The defendants then billed Medicare for the cost of these hospital admissions.

 

Read Article: PR NEWS

 

 Posted By: Phoenix Arizona DUI Attorneys

Study: Costlier surgery-site antiseptic proves worth it

A study led by a Houston researcher has found that a less-popular, but more-expensive surgery-site antiseptic is more effective at reducing infections than the most commonly used product.

 

The research, led by Dr. Rabih Darouiche and published in today’s edition of theNew England Journal of Medicine, is prompting a local hospital — one of six across the country to participate in the seven-year study — to change its pre-surgery skin cleanser.

 

Read Article:  Chron   

 

Posted By:  Phoenix Arizona DUI Attorney

 

King County pays $7 million to woman hit by Metro van

King County has agreed to pay $7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman severely injured when a Metro Transit supervisor’s van struck her while she was riding a Vespa scooter to work.

 

The woman’s attorney, Raymond Dearie, said he believes it is the largest amount the county has ever paid to a single plaintiff in a lawsuit.

Rochelle Ogershok, spokeswoman for the county Transportation Department, confirmed a settlement was reached before last Monday’s scheduled trial but said she didn’t know if it set a record.

 

Read Article:  The Seattle News

 

Posted By:  Phoenix Arizona DUI Attorneys

Palo Alto settles cell phone crash lawsuit for $1.5 million

Palo Alto has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million to the victim of a 2006 vehicle crash involving a city worker who was using his cell phone while driving, officials disclosed this week.

Silvio Obregon had asked the city for more than $5 million after the rear-end crash on Oregon Expressway left him with debilitating spinal injuries, according to court documents. He alleged that city worker Rubin Salas ran into him at a red light because he was reaching for his cell phone rather than watching the road.

 

Read Article:  PaloAltoDailyNews

 

 Posted By:  Phoenix Arizona DUI Attorney

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