In Iowa, a wrongful death lawsuit that was filed by the family of a slain girl against a school bus company has been thrown out of court.  Judge Jon Foster ruled that the company, First Student, had no way of knowing that 13-year-old Donnisha Hill was going to be killed when the school bus driver left her off on the wrong stop on October 27, 2006.  The girl's body was later found in Illinois.

The judge ruled in favor of the company's request for a directed verdict.  However, Adonis Hill, the father of the girl, says that he plans to file an appeal.  He said, "It's terrible. If the laws were designed to protect the children, we weren't protected. Donnisha wasn't protected."

In their lawsuit, the parents said that the bus company ignored safety procedures after leaving their daughter at the wrong bus stop. However, it has been reported that Donnisha got off at the wrong stop as part of a plan to meet with a man by the name of David Damm, a neighbor who had been accused of sexually abusing her and who have promised to run away with her to Chicago.

Police say that Damm took her to Bruce Bart, who ended up driving her to Illinois and then killed her to cover up allegations of sexual abuse.  Damm was convicted of murder and sentenced to death and Burt pled guilty to murder and is serving a life sentence.

If you have plans to file a wrongful death claim in Los Angeles, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

In the state of Minnesota, a Duluth trucking company that is no longer in business has finally settled a wrongful death claim.

This week, a settlement was reached between Monson Trucking and the family of Wayne Swenson.  Back in 2007, Wayne died on Interstate 35 near Proctor when a truck from the company suddenly stopped in front of him.

An attorney representing Swenson's widow claimed that the truck driver had not been trained on how to deal with an overheated vehicle.  Swenson allegedly slammed on his brakes in an attempt to avoid the truck, but a car struck his motorcycle and pushed him directly into the truck.

Both parties agreed to settle the wrongful death claim for an undisclosed amount of money prior to a pretrial hearing.

Did you lose a close loved one due to wrongful death in Los Angeles?  A Los Angeles personal injury attorney from our firm can help.  Contact us now to set up a case evaluation.

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.

This week, it is reported that actor David Carradine's wife file a wrongful death claim against a French company that oversaw Carradine's last film.  In her lawsuit, Carradine's widow claims that the company failed to provide proper services to protect the actor, who was found dead in a hotel room last year.

The defendant of the lawsuit is MK2 S.A., a French company that was producing a movie called "Stretch".  Carradine's widow says that the company had promised to provide the actor with the best amenities as well as an assistant to help him with his stay in Bangkok. 

However, they left him to eat at a restaurant by himself the night before he was discovered dead.  Carradine allegedly called his assistant an hour after eating, but was told that the group was across town and that he would have to navigate the city on his own that night.  

Her lawsuit states, "Defendants were negligent in failing to follow industry standard and provide David Carradine, the performer, with sufficient assistant during the course of filming Stretch in Bangkok, Thailand".

At this time, MK2 has refused to comment on the litigation.

Have you lost a close loved one due to another person's negligence?  If so, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus.  We will arrange for you to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer from our team.

According to several news outlets, a four year old boy was killed during a serious motorcycle accident in Fresno.  Now, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reporting that the bike the motorcyclist was driving was in fact stolen.  The accident occurred this past Monday at 4:15 PM.

The wrongful death victim was identified as Paul Martinez, a four year old child and Tulare County resident.

Police say the child died from injuries he suffered while riding as a passenger on the motorcycle.  The bike struck a cable that was strung across a road, causing an accident.  The driver of the motorcycle, 20 year old Eduardo Martinez, was also thrown from the bike along with the boy.

If you or someone you love has been a tragic victim of a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles County, now is the time to schedule a consultation with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus.  When you contact us, we will discuss your case and provide you with legal guidance so you can better handle your motorcycle accident.

A family that lost a close loved one has decided to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).  The family lost 25 year old Devin Leigh Petelski after she was hit by a police cruiser on October 15.

The lawsuit was filed on Thursday and it alleges that the officer that was operating the police patrol car was negligent.  The family claims that the officer did not have its flashing lights or sirens on when it sped up to answer a burglary call and crashed into Petelski.  After being hit, Petelski was rushed to UCLA Medical Center and died two days after the accident.  

Many residents were outraged when they heard of the car accident and Petelski's death.  They gathered together to hold a candlelight vigil and even created a Facebook page to seek out witnesses who may have seen the accident.

The lawsuit mentions officers Ramon Vasquez and James Eldridge.  Investigators told news sources that neither officer notified dispatch that they were answering the burglary-in-progress call and that the officers were driving above the 40 mph speed limit.

If you lost a loved one due to another person's negligence or recklessness in Los Angeles County, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus to set up an initial consultation.  During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who can advise you of your rights and help you understand your legal options.

The parents of an 11-year-old girl who was killed during junior lifeguard training has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Huntington Beach.

Allyssa Squirrell was killed during a routine training exercise that involved jumping off the back of a moving boat into the ocean. While she was in the water, a boat driven by Marine Safety officer Greg Crow turned around and struck her. She died after sustaining severe cuts to her hip and thigh.

Allyssa's parents, Rick and Pam Squirrell, claim their daughter was killed because city employees broke three rules: to operate the boat in a safe manner, to decrease the boat's speed when within 100 feet of swimmers, and another rule about floatation devices. In addition, the Squirrells claim general negligence of the employees and negligent operation of the boat.

Allyssa's death marks the first time a junior lifeguard was killed during training since the program was first established in 1964.

When another person's negligence leads to the wrongful death of another, the victim's family has the right take legal action against the person responsible for their loss. California wrongful death laws give those who have lost a loved one due to recklessness or carelessness the right to seek justice and recover compensation for pain and suffering, funeral expenses, medical expenses, and any additional financial hardship incurred since the accident. Wrongful death benefits are also awarded cover the loss of non-economic damages, such as the loss of love, companionship, security, care, comfort, supervision, consortium, etc.

If you need help filing a wrongful death lawsuit in the San Fernando Valley, please take a moment to contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus. A San Fernando personal injury lawyer at our office can provide you with the dedicated and experienced legal counsel needed to pursue a wrongful death claim.

An Escondido woman lost her life in a drunk driving accident that took place in the Antelope Valley last month.

The victim, 20-year-old Michelle Garcia, was a passenger in a car being driven by George M. Reyes, also from Escondido. Reyes was driving his Lexus eastbound on Avenue S towards Tovey Avenue when his car drifted onto the right shoulder. In his attempt to veer back into his lane, Reyes lost control of his vehicle. As he crossed the median his car overturned, and he slid across the other side of the road until the car finally came to a rest.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Garcia, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Reyes was taken to the Antelope Valley Hospital with both major and moderate injuries. He received treatment and was then arrested for drunk driving.

The family of a coal truck driver in Tennessee has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the victim was killed while driving a company vehicle.

The lawsuit was filed by the widow of Darrell T. Seiber, on behalf of herself and their two minor children. She is seeking $7 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

Seiber was killed when the coal truck he was driving went off the road, into a ditch, hit a tree, and overturned. Named as the defendant in the lawsuit is National Coal Corp., a company based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Seiber was driving a truck for Joe Cox Trucking, an independent hauling company that provided trucks for National Coal.

The lawsuit states that an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine and Safety Health Administration found that National Coal violated several regulations, including failure to ensure that independent contract drivers, like Seiber, receive initial mine training, and that an engine brake accelerator switch on the truck was not working at the time of the accident. The investigation also discovered that the truck was overloaded. At the time of the accident, the truck was carrying as much as 169% of its maximum gross vehicle weight rating, which the administration said was a contributing factor to the accident.

Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, it’s important to consult an attorney right away. People often assume accidents have to be caused by another driver in order to recover compensation. This is not true. Overloading a truck, failure to ensure the vehicle’s parts are in good working order, and failing to ensure drivers are property trained are all examples of negligence. If any of these factors contributed to your accident, a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus will advocate your rights to recovery and help you file a personal injury lawsuit for the largest possible settlement.

Contact the office today at (888) 203-PAIN to learn more about the services offered at our firm!

A Manhattan hospital and one of its doctors are being sued by the family a patient who died in their care.

The family of Felita Dowdy, a 33-year-old woman from the Bronx, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against St. Luke’s Hospital and Dr. Bruce Lish. Dowdy’s family is claiming both the doctor and hospital are responsible for her death.

The lawsuit stems from a hospital visit that left Dowdy brain damaged. As reported in an article on UPI.com, Dowdy had cerebral palsy, a condition that caused her teeth to rot. She came to the hospital on July 23, 2009 to have her teeth extracted. At some point after her teeth had already been extracted, Dowdy went into respiratory arrest, causing her to suffer brain damage. She sadly passed away in October. An autopsy concluded that her cause of death was complications from the surgery she received at the hospital.

The family’s attorney, Stuart Kitchner, also claims the drug fentanyl contributed to her death.

The family is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages.

The hospital said it extended its deepest condolences to Dowdy’s family, but that it could not comment on the lawsuit because it is still pending. Lish could not be reached for comment but his father, Dr. Jerome Lish who is also a dentist, said his son has experience treating disabled patients and is not at fault.

Whether you have lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, a car accident, a dangerous drug, or another type of accident or injury, if you think another person is at fault you should take a moment to consult a Pasadena personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus. The law entitles you to benefits if you can prove another person’s negligence or reckless actions contributed to your loved one’s death. For more information about filing a wrongful death lawsuit, please contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today to arrange a FREE consultation!

A Los Angeles hospital is at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit after being sued by none other than film star Marlon Brando’s ex-wife.

Anna Kashfi is suing CHA Health Systems and the doctors at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in charge of her son’s treatment. She claims the hospital was “reckless in providing medical care and monitoring Christian.”

Christian Brando, son of Kashfi and Brando, died from pneumonia in 2008.

Kashfi, who claims the hospital is responsible for her son’s death, is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.