Archive for March, 2010

Oregon Personal Injury Attorneys Fight for Oregonians Who Buy Insurance

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Oregon personal injury lawyers recently scored a victory for everyday consumers of insurance. In Parks v. Farmers Insurance, (Case No. CC 0306-06214, Dec. 24, 2009), the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in favor of an insured when it held the insurance company was on notice of a claim when the insured telephoned the insurer after suffering significant property damage.  According to the Oregon Supreme Court, the phone call and ensuing conversation between insured and insurer constituted “proof of loss” under ORS 742.061.  This statute allows Oregonians suffering personal injuries and property damage to recover their attorney fees against the insurance company when the consumer hires an attorney to represent him or her against an insurance company who refuses to pay full value on a valid claim.  You can read the complete opinion here: http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/S055403.htm

U.S. Supreme Court Rules In Favor of Students

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of consumers in a student loan bankruptcy case. In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court held that a private lender could not come back years later to try to collect part of an unpaid loan that was fully disclosed in the student’s bankruptcy plan, yet not objected to by the lender.

Energy Savings?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Energy conservation issues are a hot legal topic these days.  To understand the legal issues, it’s wise to know some of the underlying science.   Given that Daylight Saving Time is underway, let’s take up the issue of energy and daylight.  According to data analyzed by the Consumer Energy Report, the energy savings is “meager at best”.  However, other societal benefits arguably occur thanks to the extra hour of daylight.  Read the full article here: http://www.consumerenergyreport.com/2009/03/09/does-daylight-savings-time-really-conserve-energy/

Driver Safety Benefit to Daylight Savings Time

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Despite the statistical spike in car accidents and work injuries at the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, there is a silver lining. Once people settle into a new schedule and sleep pattern, statistics show that the number of motor vehicle crashes and fatalities drop because of the longer daylight to see and respond to road hazards.

Daylight Savings Time Dangers

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

As an Oregon personal injury attorney, certain statistics jump off the news page.  This morning, I groggily climbed out of bed like everyone else after springing our clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time.  I thought to myself, what does it mean for people to lose an hour of sleep?  One answer in the news that day got my attention.  It warned about studies showing an approximately 17% increase in car accidents on the first Monday after Daylight Saving Time.  Here is a link to the Oregon Live article: http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/03/watch_out_for_daylight_saving.html.  Similar studies exist for work injuries on the first work day after Daylight Saving Time.

McCormick Seasonings Recall (update)

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

McCormick has expanded its March 5th recall of several seasonings due to increased concerns about consumers getting salmonella poisoning.  Please read the official full recall list at the Food and Drug Administration website.

Which Toyota Vehicles Have Been Recalled?

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Today, many of us listened to the national news stations replay the 911 call from a Prius driver in San Diego, California who couldn’t slow down his speeding car because the accelerator apparently stuck during a normal driving maneuver.  So, the public seems to be generally aware that Toyota’s are experiencing some significant safety problems.  But for current and potential Toyota owners, the information about what specific vehicles in the Toyota fleet give rise to safety concerns is confusing.  As of today, Toyota has voluntarily recalled the following vehicles:

Expect the recall list to grow. 

McCormick Seasonings Recall

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Several seasoning packets distributed to grocery stores in the United States and internationally have been recalled due to risk of salmonella contamination. The company selling the mixes and stuffing subject to recall is called McCormick and Company and the product label on store shelves should contain the word, “McCormick”. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the consumer health threat stems from an ingredient, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), supplied to McCormick by Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas, Nevada. Read the full recall notice on the FDA website.