Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. Legal Blog

The city of Los Angeles must pay $15.7 million to a man who suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a city-operated dump truck, a jury has found. Attorneys for the city argued that it should not be held liable because, at the time of the accident, the driver had finished his work for the day. Damages awarded to the victim include about $4.7 million for medical costs and lost wages and $11 million for pain, suffering and emotional distress. David Zahniser, LA Times 12/27/2007
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If you are looking for a dump truck accident attorney in Houston, Texas, please call us today. Our dump truck accident lawyers have experience in representing victims in dump truck accidents in Houston and all over Texas.

If you are looking for a Medtronic attorney to handle your claim in Houston, Texas, please call us now. We are standing by to answer your questions regarding Sprint Fidelis leads and Medtronic devices. Please call us at 713-523-0001 or 1-877-342-2020 (toll free).

Officials in California have filed a lawsuit that accuses two janitorial service firms of forcing employees to work for pay below the minimum wage, without overtime and without rest or meal breaks. According to the lawsuit, Excell Cleaning & Building Services Inc. and MO Restaurant Cleaning Services of California Inc. paid workers $50 per day to work 10-hour shifts, seven days a week and often paid workers with checks that bounced. The lawsuit seeks back pay and damages up to $5 million. Molly Selvin, LA Times 12/20/2007
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The lawyers at Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. have represented many janitors who brought wage claims against their employers. We stand committed to representing janitorial staff seeking unpaid wages, overtime, off the clock work, etc. Texas workers deserve just compensation.

Jurors in Georgia have found that Ford Motor Co. is liable for $3.3 million in damages for the death of a woman whose seat back broke in a rear-end collision. More than 70 lawsuits have been filed against Ford involving claims that the front seat of the Tempo is prone to breaking free during accidents. Ford maintains that the seats are designed to yield in order to protect passengers from receiving the full brunt of a collision. Tom Opdyke, Atlanta Journal-Constitution 12/13/2007
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Thousands of patients who have been implanted with defibrillators fitted with faulty Medtronic leads are struggling to decide whether to undergo a dangerous and expensive surgery to have the wire replaced. Earlier this year, Medtronic warned doctors that the wires were prone to breaking and other malfunctions. Thus far, Medtronic has only offered $800 per patient toward a replacement procedure and insurers have not committed to covering all patients. Barnaby J. Feder, The New York Times 12/13/2007
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A study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirmed that the diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos increased the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in older patients. The results of the study cast doubt on the effectiveness of a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones, or TZDs, which work by raising the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Officials at Takeda Pharmaceutical North American and GlaxoSmithKline have disputed the findings of the study. Bruce Jaspen, Chicago Tribune 12/12/2007
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rejected a plea from safety advocates to shorten the maximum amount of hours truck drivers are allowed to spend behind the wheel. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an interim rule upholding the current 11-hour driving requirement citing a lack of evidence that shorter driving times significantly lessened accidents. Advocates and union groups say they will pursue the issue in court if the rule becomes final. Dan Caterinicchia, San Diego Union Tribune 12/12/2007
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The family of a Connecticut teenager who was killed in a 2002 collision with a tow truck has settled their lawsuit against the tow truck driver, his employer and the company which leased the tow truck. The defendants agreed to pay $18.3 million to the family days before jurors were to hear closing arguments in the case. According to attorneys for the family, the defendants rejected a $1 million settlement offer prior to the trial. AP, Newsday 12/12/2007
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Madison Square Garden has agreed to pay a former female executive $11.5 million to settle sexual harassment charges. The settlement includes an estimated $4 million in legal fees and will end the possibility of a lengthy appeals process. The settlement was reached three days before a federal judge was to hear arguments for compensatory damages in the case. Richard Sandomir, The New York Times 12/11/2007
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A jury returned a verdict against Swift Transportation Company for $36.5 million in damages for its role in a fatal traffic accident. According to an attorney for the family of the man killed in the accident, Swift Transportation Co. blocked efforts to reveal the trucker’s driving logs, which could have shed light on contributing factors in the crash. Attorneys for the trucking company said they will consider an appeal. Brent Whiting, Arizona Republic 12/05/2007
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