What is Litigation?
Litigation is the process of taking legal action and filing a lawsuit.
According to Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute (LII), litigation is defined as “the process of resolving disputes by filing or answering a complaint through the public court system.” As such, a judge or jury examines the evidence and makes a legally binding decision. This process can include various stages such as filing pleadings, conducting discovery, engaging in pre-trial motions, going to trial, and potentially appealing the court’s decision.
Litigation is beneficial because it allows for a formal resolution of disputes based on laws and legal precedent. However, litigation can be time-consuming and costly, as well as prolonged periods of uncertainty. Understanding litigation is crucial for individuals, businesses, and legal professionals navigating legal disputes and seeking to protect their rights and interests within the judicial system. It involves a comprehensive understanding of legal procedures, strategic decision-making, and effective advocacy to achieve favorable outcomes in court.
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CPSC Sues Buckyballs Maker to Pull the Dangerous Toys From the Market
We have reported on the warnings issued by both the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and by health advocates in the UK regarding children ingesting Buckyballs, a set of round, high-powered magnets that are meant to be used by adults as a stress-relieving desk toy.
When multiple magnets are swallowed, they often adhere through the intestines or bowel causing obstructions and/or tears in the intestinal lining. Immediate surgery is necessary to prevent further damage and to remove the magnets and repair the damage.
Since the CPSC issued the warning in November, however, it has received over one dozen reports of children ingesting the magnets, many of which required surgical intervention. Now, the CPSC has filed an administrative complaint against Maxfield & Oberton Holdings LLC, the toymakers, “alleging that Buckyballs and Buckycubes contain a defect in the design, packaging, warnings, and instructions, which pose a substantial risk of injury to the public.”
While Maxfield & […]
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Deadly Pennyslvania Accident Serves as a Reminder of the Importance of Seatbelts
A deadly car accident in Wells Tannery last month serves as a reminder that seatbelts are not an inconvenience – they can be lifesavers. Two teens died and two were seriously injured when the driver of their car apparently lost control sending the vehicle off the roadway and into several trees. Sadly, none of the four occupants were wearing a seatbelt.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that while the use of seatbelts saved 356 lives in Pennsylvania in 2010, another 136 could have been saved if all of the people had buckled up. The NHTSA reports that 868 people (aged 5 and over) died in PA accidents in 2010. Of those, 273 were properly restrained, whereas 505 did not have their seatbelts on at the time of the crash.
JustDrivePA.org maintains key educational material on its website related to seatbelt usage. […]
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Pennsylvania Drivers Asked to be On the Lookout for Joggers
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise among Americans. In fact, according to Running USA, there are over 35 million recreational runners in the United States. Although there are numerous health benefits to running including, weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, natural stress relief and increased strength, runners also risk serious injuries from being struck by a vehicle.
Just this month, a 20-year-old woman was jogging in Blooming Grove, just 35 miles east of Scranton, when she was struck and killed by a car, according to news reports. The driver apparently intentionally ran his vehicle onto the shoulder of the highway and struck and killed the woman as she jogged on Route 507. Although this was an extreme case, it does serve as an example of the dangers Pennsylvania runners face when running on the roadways and highways.
Runners and pedestrians face the same risks when around traffic – distracted drivers, […]
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PennDOT Offers PA Residents Key Safety Resources
Although you may have heard of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in regards to road construction projects throughout the state, PennDOT is also tasked with keeping the Pennsylvania roadways safe through various programs and campaigns. As part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, PennDOT launched “Just Drive PA,” a new initiative aimed at improving safety on Pennsylvania roadways.
According to a PennDOT notice:
The ‘Just Drive’ slogan reinforces that distractions, driving impaired and other unsafe driving behaviors have no place on our roadways.” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. It reinforces the need to drive properly, wear seat belts, look out for other travelers and always avoid distractions. Remember “when you’re behind the wheel, your biggest and only responsibility is to focus on safe driving.
The Just Drive PA website, www.justdrivepa.com, features a “Distracted Driving” […]
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PA Drivers Have Opportunity to Participate in PennDOT Survey
Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys have continuously urged PA drivers to drive safely when on our highways. We also strive to present articles regarding safety initiatives and campaigns aimed at improving highway safety. Now, Pennsylvania residents have the opportunity to be heard regarding the efficacy of the state’s traffic safety enforcement and their peers’ driving behaviors.
PennDOT has published its Highway Safety Planning Survey online at www.JustDrivePA.com. The survey questions focus on several key safety initiatives: seat belt use, impaired driving, speeding, motorcycles, distracted driving. Each state is required to complete this survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Residents have until July 27 to complete their feedback. The survey is anonymous, although information is maintained on gender and zip code of residence.
Palmer-Forks Patch reports that more than 3,500 people responded to last year’s survey.
According to PennDOT’s website, […]
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