Recent Blog Posts in July 2010

This week, criminal charges were filed against the owner of three pit bulls that attacked and fatally mauled a toddler.

The owner, 52 year old Steve Hayashi, has been charged with felony child endangerment and allowing a vicious animal to be at large.  Hayashi was charged after 2 year old Jacob Bisbee (Hayashi's step-grandson) was subjected to lethal dog bites.

Police say that the dog attack took place last week Thursday at 8:45 PM at the family's home.  Jacob had been at home with his grandmother, his uncle and 4 year old brother when he walked into the garage and was attacked by the three pit bulls.

While interviewed in a jailhouse, Hayashi said that the door to the garage is usually locked with a deadbolt that Jacob could not reach.  He said the toddler never went to the garage before, but he somehow managed to get in.

Hayashi told police, "By the time my wife found him, the dogs had already finished their attack. It was too late."  Jacob was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

If you have been a dog bite victim, discuss your case with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer by contacting the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus.

Merely a week after a horrific bus accident that led to the death of six people on Highway 99 in Fresno, six of the survivors have decided to file a personal injury lawsuit against Greyhound and the drivers involved.  The lawsuit was filed by the plaintiffs this Wednesday in Sacramento by four adults and two children.

30 people reportedly survived the deadly bus accident.  At this time, the California Highway Patrol has not released its final report on what or who caused the accident.  However, attorneys for the plaintiffs say that Greyhound is responsible for making sure passengers get to their end destinations safely.

Lawyer for the plaintiffs, Steven Brady, told news sources, "There are reports that another vehicle had gone around the overturned SUV and safely able to avoid it.  Obviously the bus driver was driving at a speed that exceeded his physical ability to perceive, react, and avoid hitting the SUV."

The driver of the SUV, 28 year old Elsabeth Giorgis was also listed as a defendant on the lawsuit.  According to her attorney, Giorgis was driving in the slow lane the Greyhound bus clipped her, causing her to collide with the overturned SUV.  Her lawyer claims that Giorgis is being re-victimized after the accident and feels it is too soon for the plaintiffs to take legal action.

Involved in a Los Angeles bus accident?  If so, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus to set up a consultation with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

Last week Thursday in South Pasadena, it is reported that a vehicle hit a curb, went airborne and then landed on the roof of a residence located on Orange Grove Avenue.  The car accident occurred following a high-speed police chase.

Reports indicate that the Los Angeles Police Department chased the car from Panorama City to Pasadena as they believed the car was carrying a murder suspect.  During the chase, the car hit a curb and flew into the air.  Then, it landed on the roof of a nearby home at around midnight.

The driver of the vehicle, who was in fact a felon with an arrest warrant, sustained a spinal cord injury.  He was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital for treatment.

If you were involved in a car accident in Pasadena that left you with serious injuries, contact us to discuss your injuries and case with a Pasadena personal injury lawyer

In Massachusetts, twin sisters were found dead in their family's swimming pool.  Police say that the girls drowned after removing the pool's remote cover.

Officers were called to the residence this past Saturday at approximately 10:20 AM after they received reports of "babies in a pool".  They gave CPR to the two year old girls, Veronica and Angelina Andreottola, before taking them to Union Hospital.  Once they arrived at the medical facility, the girls were pronounced dead as a result of the swimming pool drowning.

The girl's mother, Crystal Andreottola, was at home when the accident occurred.  She said the girls managed to open the pool covering on their own, but police are still investigating.  Officers say that no charges will be filed as foul play was not suspected.

If you lost a child due to a swimming pool accident in Los Angeles, you should discuss your case with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer from our legal team.  Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.

This week, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa confirmed that the politician underwent elbow surgery.  Mayor Villaraigosa suffered a broken elbow during a recent bicycle accident in L.A.

In a public statement, spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said that the Mayor went through an operation on Sunday at the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center.  She said that the procedure was successful and that the Mayor Villaraigosa is expected to make a complete recovery.  Hamilton also noted that the Mayor will return to his full schedule next week.

On Saturday evening, Villaraigosa had been riding his bicycle on Venice Boulevard when a taxi cab driver pulled in front of him abruptly.  Mayor Villaraigosa applied his brakes, fell of his bike and then landed on top of his elbow. 

Like Mayor Villaraigosa, if you have been involved in a bike accident, you should obtain medical treatment and then seek the advice of a Los Angeles personal injury attorney by contacting the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus.

This Sunday, a man was killed during a traffic accident in Canyon Country.  Now, the police say that the man has been identified as 15 year old Eric Michael Gilhooley.

Police say that the accident occurred at approximately 10:22 AM.  Prior to the collision, a vehicle had been traveling westbound on Soledad Canyon Road when it struck the curb, hitting and killing Gilhooley.  The pedestrian accident took place near the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Gailxy Avenue.

Following the collision, police officers had to close roads for numerous hours to conduct investigations.  Detectives later determined that Gilhooley was standing on the curb when he was hit by a car that was driven by a 47 year old man.  The driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and it is reported that alcohol did not play a role in the crash.

At this time, no arrests have been made.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Santa Clarita, it is important that you get help from a Santa Clarita personal injury lawyer immediately.  Don't hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus.

In South Los Angeles, it is reported that police are looking into a hit and run accident that occurred on Thursday.  Police say that the car accident resulted in the tragic death of an 11 year old boy by the name of Natanael Garcia.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Garcia was hit at approximately 2:30 PM at Hoover and 76^th Streets, which are part of the Vermont Knolls neighborhood.

On Thursday evening, police described the suspect's vehicle as being a black or dark blue sports utility vehicle (SUV).  The say the vehicle had tan trim and stock wheels and are asking for the public's help in locating the driver.

If someone you love was killed during a car accident, such as a hit and run accident, it is in your best interests to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.  To discuss your situation with an attorney, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus now!

In Vallejo, California, a mother had filed a $16 million wrongful death claim against two men who killed her son.  The plaintiff, Teresa Courtmanche, is the mother of slain Fairfield Councilman Matt Garcia.

On Wednesday, Courtmanche filed her lawsuit in the Solano County Superior Court on what would have been her son's 24^th birthday.  On September 1, 2008, Garcia was shot and killed.  In her lawsuit, Courtmanche lists Henry Don Williams (convicted o first-degree murder) and Gene Allen Combs (convicted of second-degree murder) as the defendants. 

Courtmanche also listed Nicole Stewart, the getaway driver, as a defendant.  Stewart was never charged by police as she agreed to testify against Williams and Combs.

Prosecutors say that Garcia was shot in the head by Williams outside of a friend's home.  Williams and Combs had mistook Garcia for a drug dealer that had owed them money. 

If you lost a close loved one due to someone else's negligence in L.A., contact us today to discuss your loss with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

Dog bites are more common than most people would think and, unfortunately, the majority of dog bite victims happen to be young children.  If your child suffers a dog bite injury, here are some tips you should follow to protect him or her:

§  Try to stay calm.  You need to focus on your child's well-being and tending to your child, who may be in a great deal of pain.

§  Ask for help.  While you are tending to your child, ask for help from a friend, family member or neighbor who can gather the names, addresses and phone numbers of anyone who may have witnessed the attack.

§  Seek medical help immediately.  Even if you think the dog bite was minor, it is important that your child is examined by a medical professional.

§  Speak with your child.  Ask for him or her to tell you exactly what happened.  In many dog bite cases, children do not provoke dogs, the attacks just happen.  Try to gather information about what the dog looked like and where the dog came from

§  Take pictures.  This measure can be taken when you have time (at the doctor's office or when you return home from the hospital.  Should you choose to take legal action in the future, these pictures will show the extent of your child's injuries.

The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus represents those who have suffered dog bit injuries in Los Angeles.  Contact us to discuss your injuries with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

This past Saturday morning, a serious truck accident on the 101 Freeway left a tow truck driver pinned against his big rig in Los Angeles.

According to reports, the tow truck driver was trying to assist a motorist on the freeway.  While working just north of Melrose Avenue, another car crashed into them at approximately 2:15 AM.   Police say that another person suffered injuries during the trucking accident as well.

California Highway Patrol officials said that both injured parties were taken to the hospital.  One victim was reported to be in critical condition on the way to the hospital. 

After the accident, two southbound lanes on the 101 Freeway had to be closed as police conducted investigations.  At this time, there is no additional information and police plan to continue their investigations to see what prompted the collision.

Were you injured during a truck accident?  If so, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus and take the time to get informed of your legal options by consulting with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.  

After people have been involved in a major accident, such as a bus accident, they may suffer a vast array of catastrophic injuries.  One commonly suffered injury during accidents happens to be spinal cord injuries.   If people have suffered spinal cord injuries, they will most likely experience symptoms and when they notice these after-effects it is imperative that seek medical treatment.  Some common spinal cord injury symptoms are:

§  difficulty breathing

§  loss of sensation or movement

§  loss of bowel or bladder control

§  spasms

§  pain or tingling in limbs

When accidents have occurred, it is important that people get medical treatment if they experience emergency spinal cord injury symptoms such as:

§  extreme pain in backs, necks or heads

§  lack of coordination or weakness in limbs

§  loss of balance

§  oddly position neck or back

If you suffered a spinal cord injury in the city of Los Angeles due to another person's recklessness or negligence, now is the perfect time to contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus and discuss your case with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

If you were involved in a serious construction accident, one of the things you may be wondering is if you can file a personal injury claim.  You may or may not know that by filing a construction accident lawsuit, you may be able to collect compensation for your injuries, property damage, medical expenses, lost wages and also your pain and suffering.  However, before you move forward with your claim, you must prove another person's negligence was involved.

When filing construction accident claims, victims must prove 1) other people's negligence caused accidents and 2) other people's negligence led to their suffering injuries, whether physical, emotional or financial.  If people can prove these elements, they may be able to move forward with filing a claim and successful claims will result in a settlement or personal injury award.

Anytime victims of construction accidents have decided to take legal action, whether against their employers or general contractors, it is important that they hire a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.  To speak with a personal injury attorney about your case, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus.

On June 17^th, it is reported that a woman named Loretta Boston filed a lawsuit against Target Corporation in Madison County Circuit Court.  According to Boston, she suffered injuries after her slip and fall accident at the well-known retail store.  She claims she slipped on wet carpet and fell on May 7, 2009.

Her lawsuit states that, "the Plaintiff was moving from the carpeted to the non-carpeted surface, her foot slid on the carpeting and onto the adjacent area, causing Plaintiff to fall to the floor."  Boston asserts that because of the accident and her injuries, she has experienced continual pain and suffering.  She also says that she has incurred medical bills and lost her normal quality of life.

Boston blames Target for causing her slip and fall accident.  She said that the store and its employees should not have allowed the carpeting to remain slick and slipper after cleaning.  Boston also says that the store failed to warn customers of the dangerous condition. 

She is currently seeking $50,000 in damages.

Have you been injured during a serious slip and fall accident?  If so, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus and discuss your case with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

In Sterling Heights, a two year old boy that was found floating face down in his family's swimming pool has died.

On Monday, his family made the decision to disconnect the life support systems of young Joseph Daignault.  Sterling Heights Police Lt. Luke Riley said that the boy died shortly after.

Last week Wednesday, Joseph's older siblings were in an above-ground swimming poll before he supposedly climbed a ladder and went into the pool by himself.  He entered the pool at approximately 6:45 PM while his mother was home.  However, his mother did not notice that he was missing until a few minutes later.

Since the accident, Joseph had been on life support at Children's Hospital of Michigan until the family decided to disconnect him from support.

Swimming pools can be extremely dangerous if kids are left unsupervised.  If your child was injured during a swimming pool accident and you believe negligence was involved, we encourage you to contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus and speak with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.