The government's "war" against NYC immigrant neighborhoods

The city's population inhabits two parallel universes: one for citizens, one for everyone else. more...>

Blawg of the Day

Drum roll please..... The Blawg of the Day is Lawyernews. It is frequently updated, today with 13 short links (including a link to this site ... thanks), coupled with three or four more more complete posts.

Immigrant Groups to sue New York State over driver licenses

The New York Times reports today that the Puerto Rican Legal and Educational Defense Fund is planning a class action suit against the State of New York over denying driving licenses to immigrants. more...>

H1-B visa's close to cap

In Immigration news, Siskind & Susser report that H1-B visa's for the fiscal year that starts on October 1, 2004 are close to hitting its cap. They report that Congress is unlikely to raise the cap this year, as it is a politically sensitive issue.

GM to recall Aveo vehicles

Do you own a Cheverolet Aveo? General Motors is recalling 32,000 Cheverolet Aveo's because of a potential problem with their rear seat belts. more...>

Second jury finds Ford liable for Explorer rollover

Ford has settled another rollover case involving its SUV Explorer. A federal jury in Forida awarded a victim's family $5.3 million dollars in compensatory damages. However, Ford settled the case for an undisclosed sum before deliberations regarding punative damages. This is the second decision against Ford holding it responsible for the rollover of its Explorer model. more...>

How can one find a listing of Ford Explorer owners in New York State?

Should illegal immigrants be permitted to drive?

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has started to crackdown on illegal immigrant's driving privileges. In January, New York State started issuing notices to drivers whose social security numbers did not match federal records. One of the purposes of the law is public safety. However, the enforcement of the law may have unintended consequences. DMV clerks are inadequately informed of immigration laws. As a result, there is a possibility that immigrants who are legally being processed through the United States Immigration Service could have their licenses suspending. Additionally, many immigrants need to drive to work. Many will continue to drive, possibly without insurance. Should illegal immigrants be permitted to drive? more...>

An overlooked issue regarding tort reform: Abusive litigation by defendants

Conservative politicians and corporate representatives charge that plaintiffs' lawyers--especially plaintiffs' tort lawyers--are abusing the courts by effectively extorting exorbitant awards from the defendants they target. But how about the the problem of defendants wrongfully transferring state cases to federal court? more...>

Did you miss last night's 11:00 News? Try Current Auto Accident News

Did you miss last night's 11:00 news? In need of a fix of auto accident coverage? Try Current Auto Accident News.

Federal Report links injuries to weak motor vehicle roofs

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concludes that there is a correlation between roof strength and the likelihood of injury and death in rollover accidents, especially in Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV's). Each year, an estimated 7,000 people are killed or severely injured in rollovers in which the roof is crushed, according to federal statistics. According to the Detroit News, Federal regulators plan to propose stiffer roof standards later this year, creating a showdown between automakers, safety advocates and political officials.

Defective elevator kills one in Manhattan

Newsday reports a horrible accident that occurred yesterday in Manhattan. Carl DeClerq, 56, had been in a decending freight elevator located at Five Times Square, when the cable snapped. He was declared dead at the scene. Apparently, the elevator had a history of violations.

If you or anyone you know have been injured because of a malfunctioning elevator, contact the Law Office of Frederic Abramson.

If you think it is quiet in New York in August, try Europe

Many lawyers take vacations in August. The courthouses operate on a limited schedule. There is little legal news to report. However, if you think it is quiet in New York in August, try Europe. more...>

Ford Explorer SUV rated most likely to rollover

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its ratings regarding rollover for all 2004 model vehicles. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x2 was rated the vehicle most likely to rollover. The SUV was the only vehicle that received a two-star rating. The Mazda RX-8 4-DR was the highest rated vehicle in terms of rollover, achieving the only 5 star rating. Complete rollover ratings may be found here.

Sharp decline in jury verdicts reported

The Associated Press reports today that there has been a sharp decline in jury verdicts. Forty years ago, eleven percent of federal civil cases went to verdict. Today it is under two percent. The report is undecided as to whether the decline in jury verdicts is a positive development. more ...>

My view is that the decline in jury verdicts is a positive development. The cost of litigating a case to trial is often staggering. For example, in a personal injury lawsuit, the cost of a doctor testifying as an expert witness is usually $5,000 in New York. Both plaintiff and defendant have to bear the burden of these costs. Additionally, it may take years for a case to be placed on the trial calendar.

Neglect cited in 3 LI assisted living centers

Newsday has been providing excellent coverage uncovering problems with assisted living facilities on Long Island. The newspaper reports today, from information provided by the Freedom of Information Act, that State Health Agency inspections revealed that three assisted living facilities failed to provide adequate health care to its residents.

Litigation drops for US Corporations

The Insurance Journal, a mouthpiece of the insurance industry, reports today that litigation dipped for US corporations overall. However, the focus of the article is on large corporations, where it reports that there has been an increase in litigation. Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. cited as in-house counsel, who conducted the survey. They cited employment/labor disputes as their number one litigation concern, followed by contract disputes, intellectual property and product liability cases.

The City of New York found 100% liable for defective sidewalk

In Queens, a judge found the City of New York 100% liable for the injuries sustained by a plaintiff who slipped and fell on a sidwalk. more...>

The Food Critic Makes a Good Argument

The Legal Times profiles Jeffrey Steingarten, lawyer turned Vogue food critic.

Long Island Accident News: Violist killed

Kevin Chin, a violist who was a passenger in a mini van coming home from a performance on Saturday night, was killed in a violent car accident. more...>

What makes car accidents, such as the above item reported by Newsday newsworthy?