In June 2023, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva and 3M Company put up more than $13 billion to settle AFFF actions (Aqueous Film Forming Foams.) These settlements pertain only to 600 Public Water Systems. The settlements are subject to approval by Judge Richard M. Gergel, who was assigned in December 2018 to oversee the ongoing MDL proceedings
Can a school district be held accountable for a student’s death by suicide?
It depends. A New Jersey School district paid $9.1 million to parents of bullied student, Mallory Grossman who died by suicide in 2017. See news report here.
But most states do not allow recovery in cases of death by suicide. They follow the archaic “suicide rule” that considers death by suicide a voluntary act
Does Immigration Status Affect the Right To Sue for Injuries?
Guest author, Veronica Benigno Guinto, an immigration attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area answers:
No. The Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantees of due process and equal protection of the law protects U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. The term “person” under the Amendment encompasses U.S. citizens, lawfully admitted resident aliens, and even aliens whose presence
Recovery for Injuries to Pets
May a pet owner recover for emotional distress when another intentionally injures his pet? It depends. While in other states pet owners may recover for emotional distress, up until last month California courts only allowed juries to award economic damages to a pet owner and refused to award an owner for his emotional distress including
Can a Coach be Held Responsible for an Injury to his Athlete?
Generally, no. Sports have inherent risks. An instructor or coach generally is not responsible for injuries to players if the risk of the injury is inherent to the
sport. Holding a coach responsible for such injuries may have a chilling effect on the sport or activity. The coach must be allowed to urge the athlete
Vicarious Liability: Holding One Person Responsible for the Wrongdoing of Another
Can one person be held responsible for the wrongdoing of another? Usually no, but it depends. Some situations justify holding a person responsible for the act of another. For example, an employer will be held responsible for the wrongdoing of an employee that occurs while in the course and scope of employment. And, a landowner
Parents’ Liability for the Acts of Their Child
A parent can sometimes be liable for the harm his or her minor child causes to others.
Here are some situations in which, in California, a parent is automatically liable:
- When the parent has signed the child’s driver’s license application, and the child’s driving hurts someone (but the parent’s liability is limited to $15,000 per person
The Independent Contractor Rule and a Homeowner’s Responsibility for Injuries to Construction Workers
Usually, a homeowner who hires an independent contractor can delegate the responsibility for safety to the contractor. The theory behind the rule is that when an owner hires an independent contractor—or when a prime contractor hires a subcontractor—the responsibility for the safety of the contractor’s employees belongs with the independent contractor, not with the person
Cal-OSHA and the Homeowner
Homeowners who hire workers must comply with Cal-OSHA safety regulations. Those regulations require the homeowner, as an employer, to furnish a “safe and healthful” place of employment. “Employment” means "the carrying on of any trade, enterprise, project, industry, business, occupation, or work, including all excavation, demolition, and construction work, or any process or operation
Why You Can’t Find An Attorney To Take Your Low Impact Auto Case
Some estimate that automotive rear-enders cause about three million cervical injuries (a.k.a. "whiplash" injuries) in the U.S. each year. The injuries are real. According to the Insurance Research Council, the average payout for these injuries, which includes medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering, is around $8,000. Do the math. The potential cost of