Congratulations to Lilla Lavanakul for being the recipient of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm’s Dangers of Vaping Scholarship. Lilla graduated from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) in 2019 with majors in theater and business economics, and she recently entered UCI’s law school. Lilla’s essay was detailed, informative, and highly personal. At 21, she is …
Former Dance Instructor Arrested on Numerous Sex Abuse Charges
U.S. marshals in Brighton, New York arrested 54-year-old dance teacher Terence Greene on charges of sex abuse against his former students. Greene was found 300 miles from Cleveland where the arrest warrant was issued. The warrant alleges abuse over the course of two decades. Greene is being charged with sexual battery, a third-degree felony. He …
New York Reverend Arrested for Alleged Attempted Sex with Minors
A New York clergyman has been arrested on charges of soliciting sex from an underaged boy and on numerous child pornography allegations. Rev. Francis Hughes was allegedly using an online dating app to exchange nude pictures of himself with minors and to set up times to meet minors for sex. The arrest comes as Hughes …
Honolulu Police Department Unable to Protect Its Own Employees from Sexual Harassment
A sexual assault case involving a Honolulu police officer is set to go to trial in August 2020. The news comes as four female officers within the department have alleged sexual abuse, assault, or harassment from their male counterparts in the past year. The allegations of sexual misconduct by Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers add …
Asbestos in Brand Name Beauty Products Linked to Deadly Cancer
Some of the largest brand names in the beauty industry have come under scrutiny as their products may contain a toxic ingredient linked to deadly cancers. In recent years, studies have shown some products from Chanel and L’Oreal contain talcum powder, an ingredient often containing the carcinogen asbestos. Unfortunately, products with talcum powder can cause …
Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water Found in More States Across the U.S.
Imagine exclusively using bottled water for cooking, drinking, and bathing. Now, imagine doing that for six years. This is what residents of Flint, Michigan have been going through as people had to completely shift their routines to avoid using tap water after it was found to contain high levels of lead. Filling up the bathtub …
Electric Onewheel Skateboard Shuts Off Suddenly, Kills Texas Man
The family of a Texas man filed a wrongful death suit in May 2020 because of defects in his Onewheel electric skateboard that suddenly stopped short while he was riding it, resulting ultimately in his death. The man was brought to the hospital for numerous injuries after he was propelled face-first onto the pavement while …
Billion Dollar Supplement Industry Causing More Harm than Good
Supplements offer so much promise. Anything can be fixed by just taking one supplement a day. At least, that’s what supplement manufacturers want consumers to think. This $46 billion dollar industry has convinced millions of people that they need to take supplements on a daily basis, but this practice could actually be very harmful. Many …
Timeline: George Floyd Case
Timeline: George Floyd Case “I can’t breathe.” These words spoken by George Floyd as he suffocated under the knee of a police officer have haunted the nation since his death in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. 46-year-old George Floyd was the latest in a long line of deaths caused by a criminal justice system that …
COVID-19 Nursing Homes Weekly Updates
Despite our best efforts to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus spread, the infection has resulted in a worldwide pandemic. In the United States alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over 2.1 million people infected with COVID-19. Unfortunately, nursing home residents are already at a higher risk of the spread of …
Years After Recall, Worries Remain Over Exploding Samsung Galaxy Phones
Reports of exploding phones in 2016 flooded social media as customers posted photos of their Samsung phones that overheated and melted. Weeks after the highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was released in late 2016, Samsung issued its first recall of 2.5 million devices after a handful of overheating issues. The brand-new, technologically advanced Samsung phones …
Nursing Homes Can’t Escape Liability Using Arbitration as a Loophole
Nursing homes are a crucial part of the elder care system in the U.S. As of 2016, the U.S had 15,600 nursing homes. Around 1.4 to 1.5 million Americans live in nursing homes today. Decisions centered on nursing homes are thus important to a large proportion of the American public. The ability to sue a …
Flint Water Crisis in Your Backyard
After driving her kids all over town to school, band practice, and a baseball game, a Pittsburgh mom finally sits down for a quick meal. Flipping on the TV, she hears urgency in the newscaster’s voice as he says “The impact of the Flint Water Crisis has been detrimental to the cognitive development of Flint’s …
Is Your Illinois Nursing Home Impacted by the COVID-19 Crisis?
The COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic has raged across the globe for months. It has infected more than 1.8 million people and killed more than 106,000 in the United States. All public health disasters have the worst impact on the most vulnerable members of society- the poor, the socially oppressed, and the elderly. These are the sections of …
Epson Recalls Scanner Adapters and Cords for Overheating and Catching Flame
Under the guidance of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Epson America Inc. recalled certain scanners in May 2020 because power cord adapters had been found to overheat, and in some cases, catch fire. The recall comes as people worldwide have experienced a variety of defects in Epson power cord adapters, and to date …
George Floyd’s Attorneys Say Autopsy Shows Death was Caused by Asphyxia Due to Forceful Pressure
A second, independent autopsy has concluded that George Floyd’s death was homicide caused by asphyxiation (or suffocation) due to sustained pressure on his neck and back by Minneapolis police officers, according to Ben Crump, the lead attorney for George Floyd’s family, and his co-counsels. This differs from the state’s version. Preliminary autopsy results by the …
Military Veterans Exposed to Life-Threatening Chemicals
Veterans have risked their lives to protect our country, but their lives may have also been at risk due to questionable chemicals on and off base. Whether it be drinking water on-site or in veteran housing, our beloved veterans may be exposed to a range of toxic chemicals. These toxins include asbestos, radon, and PFAS, …
FELA Offers Compensation to Suffering Railroad Workers
Railroads have been around in the United States since the early 1800s. There has been considerable progress since the days of the steam locomotive, but working on the railroad has continued to be a dangerous enterprise. Railroad workers face many hazards on a daily basis, from fatigue and dangerous cargo to broken rail tracks and …
Fisher Price Inclined Sleepers Recalled After Links to Infant Deaths
A March 2020 Consumer Reports investigation revealed that an additional 19 deaths have been linked to the Fisher-Price Rock n’ Play Sleeper. The news comes as an unwelcome update to the October 2019 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report that revealed 73 deaths were attributed to the Rock n’ Play Sleeper, putting the reported death …
Metformin Has Same Cancer-Causing Chemical as Zantac
Zantac made headlines after being recalled for containing a cancer-causing chemical, but similar drugs on the market weren’t receiving the same attention until recently. Metformin contains the same toxic chemical as Zantac, and only now are some brands of this drug being recalled. Millions of Americans with type 2 diabetes take Metformin to regulate high …
Vape Pen Explosion Causes First, Second Degree Burns to Louisiana Man
A Louisiana man filed a lawsuit in April 2020 after his vape pen’s battery exploded, giving him severe burns. The suit claims that lithium battery manufacturer LG Chem sold defective and dangerous batteries found in vape pens and similar smoking devices. Surprisingly, this tragic event is not uncommon with vape pens and other electric cigarette …
Hazardous Baby Strollers Recalled Immediately
Nearly 4,000 baby walkers were recalled in March 2020 because of safety issues reported to the manufacturer and to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Baby walkers sold under the brand name Kids & Koalas on Amazon have been recalled because they don’t stop at the edge of steps or ledges, which poses a significant risk …
Worries Mount Over “The New Roundup” Herbicide
Growing concerns about another Monsanto-created herbicide are popping up across the country, with many complaints and lawsuits being filed by agricultural workers and farmers. Recently, a federal court awarded a Missouri farmer $265 million for lost income and damages after coming to the conclusion that an herbicide he used killed valuable plants the farmer relies …
Undeclared Peanuts in Mixed Nut Products
In April 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instructed DSD Merchandisers, Inc. to recall all “10oz. Roasted/Salted Deluxe Mixed Nuts” products because their packaging doesn’t say they contain peanuts. The recalled nuts are sold in a variety of grocery chains in the western part of the U.S. and the FDA’s alert comes as an …
Clothing Factory Workers Exposed to Toxic Chemicals
Nobody clocks in to work thinking they will be exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. Unfortunately, this may be the reality for thousands of people working in the textile industry. Manufacturing clothes involves using synthetic dyes and fabrics that can cause deadly illnesses such as lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, or reproductive problems. Textile workers may be …