15 November

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Company Owners Consider Limits on Alcohol at Holiday Parties

The alcohol will flow less freely, and sometimes not at all, at some small business parties this holiday season. Owners concerned about sexual misconduct and the safety of staffers and guests are eliminating or limiting the open bar, making their events alcohol-free or switching from a traditional cocktail party to activities including games and contests. Human resources consultants and employment law attorneys say they’re fielding more questions about alcohol and parties than in the past following the string of high-profile sexual misconduct cases that began a year ago. They’re advising their small business clients to impose limits on how much people drink. Ladan Davia...

13 November

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Insurers Gain High Marks After Hurricanes Florence, Michael

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Injuries, Insurance, Wrongful Death

After the two recent billion-dollar disasters struck the southeast this fall, the nation’s largest property/casualty insurers responded by deploying their CAT response teamsto the affected areas. J.D. Power surveyed consumers affected by the storms to understand which insurance companies were most responsive and how the industry performed overall. “When consumers enter into an agreement with an insurance company they are essentially buying a promise.” says Tom Super, director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power. “When Hurricanes such as Florence and Michael occur, it shines a light on those companies that are able to deliver on that commitment at great scale, and...

08 November

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Commercial Insurance Prices in U.S. Increase for First Time in 3 Years

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Car Accidents, Injuries, Insurance

Commercial insurance prices in the U.S. increased modestly in the first quarter of 2018, according to leading global advisory, broking and solutions company Willis Towers Watson’s Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS). The survey compared prices charged on policies written during the first quarter of 2018 with those charged for the same coverage during the equivalent quarter in 2017. Price changes were in excess of 1 percent for the first time in 11 quarters, breaking the moderating trend in price increases observed since 2013. Data for three standard lines — commercial auto, commercial property and excess/umbrella liability — indicated fairly significant...

01 November

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NYPD Suspends Body Camera Requirement After 1 Explodes

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Injuries, Premises Liability

The New York City Police Department scrambled Monday to find ways to quickly replace thousands of body camera devices it suddenly stopped using after an officer said one caught fire and exploded as he headed out on patrol over the weekend. The department shelved about 3,000 of its newest model Vievu LE-5 units, about one-fifth of its body camera inventory. Officers using other models will continue to wear them, the department said. Deputy Commissioner Jessica Tisch said pulling the LE-5 cameras from use made it unlikely the department would meet its goal of equipping the vast majority of officers with body cameras by the...

30 October

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Study: Speed Limit Enforcement Cameras Save Money and Lives in NYC

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Injuries, Truck Accidents

Speed cameras rank among the most cost-effective social policies, saving both money and lives according to research conducted at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Using the 140 speed cameras in New York City as a case study, researchers analyzed how to optimize the number of cameras such that the most lives can be saved at the lowest cost. They reported that doubling the number of cameras from 140 to 300 would save $1.2 billion while improving the quality and the duration of New Yorkers’ lives. The findings are published online in the BMJ journal Injury Research. “There are an optimal number of...

25 October

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OSHA Reveals Top 10 Violations for 2018

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Construction Workers', Injuries, Premises Liability

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations (current as of October 1) for fiscal year 2018. Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the Top 10 as part of the 2018 NSC Congress & Expo, an annual gathering of safety professionals. While the rankings for OSHA’s Top 10 most cited violations vary little from year to year, violation No. 10 on this year’s list, “Eye and Face Protection” (1926.102), was not on the 2017 list. The Top 10 for Fiscal Year 2018 are: 1. Fall Protection – General...

16 October

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N.Y. Limo Service Operator Charged in Crash That Killed 20

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Car Accidents, Injuries, Wrongful Death

A limousine service operator was charged Wednesday with criminally negligent homicide in a crash that killed 20 people, while police continued investigating what caused the wreck and whether anyone else will face charges. Nauman Hussain, 28, showed little emotion as he was arraigned Wednesday evening in an Albany-area court, and he ignored shouted questions from reporters as he left after posting $150,000 bond. A judge had entered a not guilty plea for him. Earlier, his lawyer said that Hussain wasn’t guilty and that police were rushing to judgment in investigating Saturday’s stretch limo wreck . But State Police Superintendent George Beach said Hussain hired...

11 October

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NJ Transit Will Miss Deadline for Installing Positive Train Control

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Injuries, Premises Liability

Lifesaving technology aboard New Jersey Transit trains won’t be in place by a Dec. 31 deadline set by Congress, the agency’s executive director told board members. The operator of the nation’s second-biggest commuter railroad, which leads its peers for accidents and federal safety fines, instead will shoot for a two-year extension for the project known as positive train control from the Federal Railroad Administration, according to a memo to the board by Executive Director Kevin Corbett. “We expect to meet the FRA’s statutory requirements by the end of 2018 and receive federal approval to have PTC fully implemented on our rail system by Dec. 31, 2020,”...

09 October

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Jury Awards More Than $242 Million for Seat Defects

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Car Accidents, Injuries

A Texas jury has awarded more than $242 million to a Dallas-area family who sued Toyota over what they said were defective front seats in their 2002 Lexus sedan. Attorneys for Benjamin and Kristi Reavis alleged defects in their 2002 Lexus ES 300 caused their front seat backs to collapse backward in a September 2016 rear-end collision on Central Expressway near Downtown Dallas. The Reavises children, 5-year-old Emily and 3-year-old Owen, were in the back seat, in their child safety seats, at the time of the crash. Both children were rushed to the hospital with severe head trauma. "It's a life-long injury," Kristi...

04 October

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507 People Sick After Eating McDonald’s Salad

Posted by orincohenlaw

in Accidents, Injuries, Premises Liability

Federal health officials say they've confirmed more than 500 cases of people who became sick with an intestinal illness after eating McDonald's salads. The illnesses reported earlier this year are linked to the cyclospora parasite, which can cause diarrhea, intestinal pain, nausea or fatigue. The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that 507 cases have been confirmed in 15 states and New York City. McDonald's stopped the sale of salads at 3,000 restaurants last month until it could find a different supplier. The FDA says it's still investigating the supplier of romaine lettuce and carrots. States with cases include: Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,...