Doctor to Pay $3 Million for Birth Defects Suffered 18 Yrs Ago

PostStar.com reports a Warren County state Supreme Court has found a doctor should pay $3 million to a now 18-year-old girl who continues to suffer from birth defects.

The jury found Dr. Stephen Serlin, an OB/GYN should pay the girl who suffers from cerebral palsy and other health issues she suffers because of a brain injury at birth.  Dr. Serlin was found to have “deviated from the acceptable standard of care” which was a large factor in the girl’s health issues.

He was called to the hospital at 5 a.m. to perform an emergency Cesarean section.  He arrived 2 hours later and did not start the surgery until 8:14 am – a delay where the brain injury occurred.  The baby suffered “fetal asphyxia” in the womb due to a compressed umbilical cord.

Birth traumas are injuries that happen to a newborn during labor and delivery.  […]

Fatal Fire in Allentown

Families and community members are reeling this morning after an explosion last night leveled several homes in Allentown, Pennsylvania, leaving two people dead and several others unaccounted for.  CNN reports that two homes were flattened and left burning after the initial explosion, six more were consumed by the resulting fire, and an additional 16 homes were affected by the late night blast.

The cause of the explosion had not yet been confirmed; however, the city’s fire chief Robert Scheirer, said, “We believe it to be a natural gas explosion. We don’t know if the leak was inside the home or out on the street.”  The gas was shut off to stop it from fueling the fire.  Scheirer explained that in the winter fuel lines can freeze and crack, leading to gas leaks.

According to The Morning Call, more than 600 people from the surrounding city blocks and the Gross Towers senior apartment complex, […]

Negligence Alleged in Lawsuit against City in Teen’s Death

In November 2009, a student was killed crossing the dangerous Luten Avenue outside Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York, reports silive.com. Following the death of the straight-A student, the city installed traffic lights, concrete medians, and other safety devices along the street.

Her mother has filed a wrongful death suit against the NYDOT and the city alleging they failed to have the proper protection in place prior to her daughter’s death despite requests by public officials and the school’s principal for traffic signals.  The senior high school student was crossing the street around 11:30 a.m. when a Nissan, which had stopped to allow her to cross, was rear-ended by another car, pushing it into the victim and pinning her under the rear-tire.

The victim underwent emergency surgery at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, but died six days later.  Her mother contends her daughter did not receive proper medical treatment at the scene of the accident which resulted in her death.  […]

New Hampshire Woman Sues Hospital & Doctors for $5 Million

A woman formerly from New Hampshire is suing two doctors and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua for $5 million alleging they failed to diagnose and treat her bacterial meningitis which left her permanently disabled, reports The Telegraph.

On January 10, 2008, the woman went to the emergency room after suffering for three days with vomiting, headache and fever.  She was treated for an ear infection and sent home.  With worsening symptoms, she returned to the hospital two days later.  The second time she also had hearing loss, altered mental state, and difficulties walking.  Her lawsuit states even though a CT scan and other tests suggested something serious was wrong, the doctor diagnosed her with stress and a sinus infection and sent her home.

She returned to the hospital two more times before she was given a spinal tap which showed she was suffering from two life-threatening conditions.  […]

Suit Filed Against Toyota in Carbon Monoxide Death

The keyless ignition system in a Lexus is being blamed for the carbon monoxide poisoning death of a 79-year-old Queens’ attorney reports the NY Daily News.

In February, 2009, the attorney’s companion parked her car in the garage which was attached to the home they shared and accidentally left the engine running.  The next day she was found unconscious on the bedroom floor and her partner was dead from carbon monoxide poisoning.  She survived, but is unable to walk and has difficulty speaking.

The lawsuit against Toyota cites the auto manufacturer for failing to install a “shutdown” switch in the cars – which can be turned on or off at the touch of a button.  The switch would turn off the engine when the car is unoccupied or not touched for a certain amount of time.

The keyless ignition is a nifty feature, but it can be deadly when the engine continues to run even after the driver leaves the vehicle with the key fob which communicates with the car’s computer.  […]