Miscellaneous | InjuryBoard Central Florida

My partner, Bob Grode, and I just lectured at a seminar about how to deal with "Rambo" litigators. The seminar was geared to attorneys for the purpose of counteracting the unethical and...

Continue article

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has filed an administrative complaint seeking to suspend Allstate's authority to write policies in Florida. This is the latest salvo in the battle between regulators and Allstate over Allstate's refusal to turn over documents or give straight answers to its request to increase rates as much as 41%.The regulators previously suspended Allstate's authority...

Continue article

The hurricanes of 2004 devastated tens of thousands of homeowners and their families in central Florida. But for many, the shoddy treatment and lack of professionalism shown by insurance adjusters was worse than the storms themselves. Unfortunately, far too many insurance adjusters forget that Florida law imposes ethical obligations on them when dealing with policy holders with insurance...

Continue article

The State of Florida has suspended Allstate's license after the insurer refused to hand over documents subpoenaed by state insurance regulators. The documents had been requested after Allstate requested rate increases as high as 41%.The suspension follows a heated hearing earlier this week between Allstate and the regulators. What was supposed to be a two-day hearing before Florida insurance...

Continue article

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is investigating a possible class action suit against property insurers for failing to lower rates and pass on savings to insurers after receiving historic concessions from the Florida Legislature.In the face of massive lobbying by insurance companies begging for relief from several years of disasters and allegedly declining profits, the Florida Legislature in January...

Continue article

Man's Trading Company, in conjunction with the CPSCSuper Magnets because they can pose aspiration and intestinal hazards to children who swallow the magnets. The magnet attached to the bottom of a small toy panda can detach. If swallowed or aspirated by young children, the magnets can attract each other internally and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.The recalled...

Continue article

The number of weeks remaining before plaintiffs can file suit for damages as a result of smoking-related illnesses has dwindled down to six. In Miami Dade and Broward counties, there have been only 120 smoking lawsuits filed for smoking-related illnesses to date, according to the Miami Herald.Part of the reason for so few cases is that plaintiffs' attorneys are seeking out more ideal...

Continue article

The Florida Legislature has reauthorized the Florida Personal Injury Protection ("PIP") statute, which will become effective on January 1, 2008. One particular provision of the new PIP statute dealing with reimbursement of a claimant's attorney's fees is particularly interesting. In some cases, there may be no attorney's fees awarded at all. When a claimant files suit against his or her...

Continue article

Dairy State Foods, in conjunction with the FDA, is recalling Minnie's Bake Shop Chocolate Chunk Cookies because they may contain undeclared macadamia nuts. Those who are allergic to macadamia nuts can have a severe allergic reaction that could be life-threatening.The packaging is labeled with a code date of Best if used by March 2008 and Minnie's Bake Shop Chocolate Chunk, but the cookies are...

Continue article

Three deaths and dozens of "close calls" have led to the recall of more than a million baby cribs sold under the Simplicity and Graco brand names, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.The baby cribs pose a significant risk of strangulation and suffocation of children because of a defectively designed siderail. The instructions for the crib are unclear, causing many buyers to install...

Continue article

19 Virginia Tech students at an off-campus apartment complex had their lives turned upside down Sunday morning when a carbon monoxide leak sent the majority of them to local hospitals for carbon monoxide poisoning.A leak in a faulty gas water heater was discovered to be the root of the problem, which sent so many students scrambling for treatment at local hospitals. According to reports,...

Continue article

A parent sued Mattel Inc. and Fisher-Price Inc. about a toy after the companies recalled around 1.5 million toys because of a possibility that the products had excess lead in the surface paint.The plaintiff, Farrah Shoukry, is seeking a refund for toys and money for diagnostic tests for lead poisoning.Shoukry, who filed the lawsuit because she purchased the recalled toys for her daughter, wants...

Continue article

ConAgra's flagship brand of peanut butter, 'Peter Pan', will return to store shelves this month in an epic move by the agribusiness concern to restore consumer confidence in its brands. The move comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee to put to rest any remaining concerns that consumers may have about Peter Pan peanut butter since the peanut butter recall.ConAgra's decision to return Peter Pan...

Continue article

While visiting a family friend in Highland City, 5-year-old Martin Collier, was savagely attacked by a pit bull. Collier was at the home of Scott Gawtrey, whose pit bull bit Collier on his face, head, arms and legs. He required more than 200 stitches in his upper lip, and 50 stitches in his scalp. It does not appear that Collier did anything to provoke the attack. Under Florida law, the owner of...

Continue article

Castleberry's, a Georgia-based outfit owned by Bumblebee Foods, has voluntarily recalled approximately 75 brands of chili sauce, beef stew, and canned meat because of concerns they could be tainted with botulism. The problem was discovered during an investigation of botulism poisoning in Indiana and Texas, although the distribution of the at-risk products is far broader.Given the recent...

Continue article