Clifford’s Notes, Chicago Lawyer July 1, 2013 By Robert A. Clifford I recently wrote a column about how proud I am to be a lawyer and even prouder that my daughter, Erin, completed law school and passed the bar exam. She now clerks for an appellate court justice in Chicago. I received many calls and letters including an e-mail from a downstate lawyer who read the column after practicing law for 25 years. He called…
One in 12 bridges in Illinois is “structurally deficient,” according to a report released by Transportation for America (TFA), a non-profit coalition out of Washington, D.C. Could these numbers indicate a bridge collapse story in our future? It’s hard to say. The bridge collapse last month on Interstate 5 in the Seattle area was not considered structurally deficient, whereas the bridge in the 2007 Minnesota collapse did carry the label. What we do know is…
The state’s largest medical malpractice insurance carrier reportedly reached a record $57 million in profits last year, according to an article in Crain’s Chicago Business written by reporter Andrew L. Wang. This comes after ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company predicted the opposite following the Illinois Supreme Court overturning an unfair $500,000 cap on non-economic damages in med mal cases. ISMIE insures more than half of Illinois’ physicians. The net income it filed with the state is…
The compliance date for the Hours of Service Final Rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) goes into effect on July 1, 2013. With new guidelines for commercial driving time and rest breaks, the final rule is poised to create safer roadways for both truckers and commuters. Trucking Safety Then and Now Before the final rule was announced by FMCSA on December 22, 2011, commercial truck drivers were allowed to work up to…
Advancements in medicine have led to some miraculous discoveries and treatments, but even the latest technology can have devastating side effects. In a recent medical malpractice case involving robotic-assisted surgery, a 65-year-old male patient experienced a tragic outcome. Robotic Procedures for Prostate Cancer Laparoscopic prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland) is a common treatment for prostate cancer, and the da Vinci prostatectomy is one of the latest procedures being offered to these patients. Its…
By the numbers 7,630 Fatalities – An estimated 7,630 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the first three months of 2012, a 13.2 percent increase over the first quarter of 2011. This reverses a historic downward trend in fatalities during the past several years. Source: Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities, First Quarter 2012 (download), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1.7 Million – More than 1.7 million people participate annually –…
Keeping a level head after a motor vehicle accident isn’t easy, especially if there are injuries involved. First priority: make sure that help is on the way for anyone who needs medical attention. Then take steps to protect your interests. Learn what to do if you are involved in a road crash. Protect Your Interests First 10 Minutes, First 10 Hours After a Road Accident: The key to keeping it together after a crash is…
Human health and food safety compromised despite laws As Americans we want to trust the federal agencies that are designed to protect us, such as the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is charged with developing and enforcing food safety laws across the country. But what happens when these organizations are the ones breaking the very laws they established? Feeling violated In a May 2013 audit from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the…
Study into Auto Accidents Could be Clue to Best Decisions for Illinois. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has yet to approve the bill to raise the Illinois speed limit on non-urban interstate highways from 65 mph to 70 mph. But some motorists may already be concerned that an Illinois speed limit increase could be the harbinger of more auto accidents and fatalities. It’s a Numbers Thing Whenever new legislation is proposed, it’s typical for people to…