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Washington Woman Awarded $4 Million in Lawsuit Over Crash

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Nov 072007

A Bellevue, Washington was awarded $4 million in a settlement involving a car crash with a police officer 3 years ago. The police officer resigned in 2006, when investigators found the crash was avoidable.

The police officer was driving down an alleyway at 35 mph in pursuit of a DUI suspect when hitting the Bellevue woman. The woman sustained traumatic brain injuries as a result of the accident and required months of recovery time.

The woman had been home from Bulgaria where she was studying under a Fulbright Scholarship. The woman has since been able to complete her studies.

Mother Sues Hospital Over Son’s Staph Infection Death

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Oct 312007

In New York, the mother of a 12-year-old boy who went to Bedford-Stuyvesant elementary school, is suing the local hospital over the death of her son. According to the allegations, emergency room doctors at the Kings County Hospital were negligent in failing to diagnose a serious staph infection known as MRSA.

The doctors gave the child Benadryl and sent him home with his mother. The mother is suing for $25 million on the heals of what may be a localized outbreak of this kind of infection. Unconfirmed reports also state that a couple other students at different local schools have also been infected.

Anti-Poverty Agency Sues Town for Discrimination

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Oct 252007

Anti-poverty agency South Middlesex Opportunity Council is suing the officials and residents of Framingham, Massachusetts for discrimination. The lawsuit, filed in Boston, is claiming that town officials and two residents have violated the civil rights of the disabled people they represent.

According to the lawsuit the Framingham officials and residents engaged in a “not in my backyard” effort to rid the town of the disabled residents in a group home. In addition, the allegations claim that the officials and residents illegally delayed the expansion of the group home.

The most recent lawsuit is the third in two years against the city claiming civil rights violations.

Family of 4-year-old Killed by Police Sue

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Oct 182007

The family of 4-year-old Daviay Legrand, who was killed by police responding to an emergency call is suing for $8 million. A rookie officer for the Allentown, PA police department ran a red light, pushing another officer’s car into two children who were observing from the sidewalk at the time.

Daviay’s mother and two siblings witnessed the car running into Daviay and Jason Marcelle who suffered two broken legs as he tried to pull Daviay to safety. The city’s liability in this case is limited to $500,000 for all victims.

The rookie officer has a history of receiving speeding tickets before joining the police force and remains suspended without pay. The police union has filed a grievance in order to have the rookie officer returned to duty.

American Electric Power of Ohio Settles $4.6 Billion Lawsuit

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Oct 112007

Coal-fired power plant American Electric Power of Ohio has settled a $4.6 billion lawsuit for polluting eight different states. The U. S. government calls this the largest environmental settlement on record.

The company has been held accountable for creating smog and acid rain that had lead to a number of respiratory ailments and even the disruption of aquatic life. As part of the settlement, American Electric Power has agreed to pay $60 million in cleanup costs, a $15 million fine and cut emissions by 2/3 over the next 10 years.

Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Mormon Church, Boy Scouts

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Oct 042007

A sexual abuse lawsuit against the Mormon Church and Boy Scouts of America is picking up steam as more men have come forward with similar allegations. Four more men have joined the previous two “Jack Does” in claiming abuse suffered at the hands of the same church and scout leader.

Timur Dykes, a former Mormon spiritual leader and scout leader and previously convicted sex offender is at the heart of this case as the one accused of sexual assault. Dykes has not been named as part of the lawsuit, however. The lawsuit is seeking $25 million in damages from the two organizations.

A spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America defended the organization saying that they work hard to protect the boy scouts from predators. Two years ago, an official with the Boy Scouts who headed up a national task force to protect children from sexual abuse was himself convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography.

Kentucky Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Filed

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Sep 272007

A teacher in the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the elementary school where she works. This comes right after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision involving the same school district over similar charges.

Fifth-grade teacher Lorraine Hill, who is black, is claiming that she was denied a transfer to a school closer to her resident solely because of her race. The lawsuit states that the JCPS policy of Singleton Ratio is a discriminatory quota that limits the hiring and transferring of African-American teachers to 15-percent.

Dan Rather Sues CBS News for Wrongful Termination

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Sep 202007

Dan Rather has decided to sue CBS News for $70 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit. The celebrity journalist left the news division in June 2006 after a 60-Minutes Memogate scandal cost several colleagues their jobs and Rather his reputation.

Memogate centered around President Bush and his time in the Texas Air National Guard and some dubious documents that were provided as evidence. The lawsuit claims that parent company Viacomm violated the terms of the contract with Dan Rather and also sought to tarnish his reputation and his ability to seek reemployment.

Advocate Groups Stop Pepper Spray of Disabled Youth Inmates

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Sep 142007

Advocacy groups Texas Appleseed and Advocacy Incorporated have filed a lawsuit against the Texas Youth Commission over using pepper spray on young inmates with mental disabilities. The lawsuit was brought forth on behalf of three 15-year-olds who have had pepper spray used on them or been threatened with its use.

According to the advocacy groups the use of pepper spray has gone up dramatically this year and unfairly targets kids with disabilities who tend to act out more. Pepper spray was introduced as a policy as a method of last resort, but the practical use, according to the lawsuit has been one of intimidation and punishment rather than rehabilitation.

Methadone Clinic Pays $1 Million to Settle Lawsuit

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Sep 062007

A methadone clinic in Portland, Maine has settled a lawsuit for $1 million with the U. S. government. The U. S. Attorney General’s Office has stated that CAP Quality Care, Incorporated, increased the illegal use of methadone in the area by improper dispensing methods.

The government alleged an the clinic had an unreliable inventory methodology that let patients walk away with from the clinic with unaccounted for methadone. The government also alleged that the clinic falsified documents to cover up its practices.

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