Glendale Personal Injury Lawyer

Jury Awards Record Damages to 94-Year Old Woman in Sexual Assault Elder Abuse Case

Greg Owen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:46:54 GMT

VALENCIA, Calif., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a five-week trial, a jury in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, awarded 94-year old Sophie Schwartz $12.5 million ($6 million in general damages and $6.5 million in punitive damages) on March 1, 2010 against Jose Vazquez and Oakdale Heights Management Corporation for the 2007 sexual assault committed while Schwartz resided at Oakdale Heights of Santa Clarita in Santa Clarita, California. The Honorable Judge Melvin D. Sandvig presided.

"This was a very emotional trial on many different levels," stated Gregory Owen of Santa Clarita-based personal injury law firm Owen, Patterson & Owen who, along with wife and partner Susan Owen, represented Schwartz. "The jury sent a loud message to elder care providers who choose profit over people and ignore laws designed to protect our community's most vulnerable members. This type of conduct will not be tolerated."

The judgment represents one of the largest verdicts ever awarded for emotional trauma without evidence of physical injury. Schwartz, who suffers from dementia, was sexually assaulted in her room on December 16, 2007, by Vazquez, an illegal immigrant hired by Oakdale Heights Management Corporation as a dietary aid at the Oakdale Heights of Santa Clarita facility in April 2006. Vazquez was convicted in 2008 in a plea deal for attempted rape and is currently serving an eight-year sentence.

The jury found that the defendant corporation purposefully falsified employment documents at the time of Vazquez's hiring and violated several California laws governing the care of dementia residents. Cost cutting measures, understaffing, and negligent hiring practices and supervision contributed to the elder neglect.

Vazquez had a master key allowing him access to every resident's room despite the absence of a valid background check and no training for dealing with the elderly residents.

One of the corporate defendants is currently ranked the 28th largest operator of elder home facilities in the nation.

If you wish to obtain further information from Gregory Owen or Susan Owen, contact them directly at (661) 799-3899.

ABOUT OWEN, PATTERSON & OWEN

Founded in 1977, Owen, Patterson & Owen is a national law firm specializing in personal injury cases serving people throughout the United States and based in Santa Clarita, California. Practice areas include, but are not limited to, auto, truck and motorcycle accidents, brain injuries, radiation overdose, medical malpractice, dangerous pharmaceuticals, carbon monoxide poisoning, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, construction accidents, train accidents, amusement part accidents, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination. The firm was voted number one personal injury law firm by local citizens, included on the list of Super Lawyers published by Law and Politics and named one of the Top 25 lawyers by Valley Magazine. 866.654.4947 | owenpatterson.com

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

Car Accident Claims One Victim, Injures Teenager

Greg Owen — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:15:07 GMT

A 17-year-old driver and her 18-year-old passenger plunged 160 feet into a ravine off of Sand Canyon Road on Monday at around 10:20 p.m. The driver was injured but her passenger, Jaime M. Arias of Saugus, died at the scene.

According to California Highway Patrol, the car crash occured near mile post marker 7.44, when the driver apparently lost control of a 2003 Mitsubishi and spun off the road.

Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in the crash, CHP officials said.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

19-year-old Cyclist Killed by Hit-and-run Driver

Greg Owen — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:21:00 GMT

A manhunt was underway in San Bernardino on Saturday for a hit-and-run driver who killed a 19-year-old man traveling on his bicycle with his younger brother, who was critically injured in the collision, authorities said.

Thomas Joseph Meeks of San Bernardino was bicycling east on 40th Street, just past Acre Lane, when he cut across the roadway around 7 p.m. Friday and was struck by a vehicle, also traveling eastbound, according to a San Bernardino Police Department statement. Meeks was pronounced dead at the scene. His younger brother, who was also on the bicycle, was critically injured and taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, according to the San Bernardino County coroner’s office. Meeks' younger brother was not identified by police.

Witnesses described the vehicle to police as a white 2000 or older Pontiac or Chrysler car, the statement said. Authorities said the vehicle should have front-end damage around the license plate area and possibly the windshield. Anyone with information about the accident can call the San Bernardino Police Department Traffic Division at (909) 385-5735.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

Moreno Valley Coach and Family Die in Car Accident

Greg Owen — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:28:00 GMT

The victims of a freeway crash and fire Saturday were a popular high school coach, his wife and their two small children.

Ryan Villalpando, an assistant football coach at Moreno Valley High, was killed with his wife, Veronica, and their two children when their car became wedged between two trucks and burst into flames.

The accident occurred shortly after noon on the southbound 15 Freeway, south of the Jurupa Street exit, in Ontario, said California Highway Patrol Officer Monica Posada.

The accident became a six-car pileup involving cars and trucks and also resulted in several minor injuries. A photo taken by a witness, and aired on KCAL-TV Channel 9, shows the Villalpandos' car fully engulfed in flames and wedged between tractor-trailers front and back.

Authorities have not released the victims’ identities, but they have been reported by a local paper and by KCAL.

"He was my offensive line coach,” Moreno Valley High football coach Ted Wadkins told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. “I met him at Cal State San Bernardino, and he was the first guy I hired. He's taught the last five years at Moreno Valley.”

Wadkins said Veronica Villalpando taught at an aerospace school at Norton Air Force Base.

KCAL aired an interview with Ryan Villalpando’s father, Edward.

He described his son as “honest, had integrity, tough. He had a bark, but he had a heart, a huge heart. He’s going to be missed.”

He said his son was 32 and was going out to get a pizza with his family when the accident occurred.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

Trader Joes Recalls Chocolate Chip Chewy Coated Granola Bars

Greg Owen — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:35:00 GMT

Trader Joe's Company of Monrovia, California is voluntarily recalling Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Chewy Coated Granola Bars, UPC 82818, Use by Dates/Lot Codes 16JUL10H2 and 17JUL10H1, manufactured by Bloomfield Bakery, a subsidiary of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The product involved in this recall was distributed at Trader Joe’s stores nationally and comes in a 7.4 oz box marked with Use by/Lot Codes 16JUL10H2 and 17JUL10H1 on the top of the box and stamped individually on the side of each granola bar. Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and Bloomfield Bakery continue their investigation.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this product.

At Trader Joe’s we take the safety of our customers and the integrity of our products very seriously. Customers who have purchased Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Chewy Coated Granola Bars, Use by/Lot Codes 16JUL10H2 and 17JUL10H1 are urged to return them to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund. Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations Monday through Friday, 6am to 6pm PST at (626) 599-3817.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

FDA Issues Class I Recall of Medical Needles

Greg Owen — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:38:45 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration announced the recall of 2 million medical needles Tuesday because of a risk they can push bits of silicone into patients' bodies.

Federal officials said Japanese manufacturer Nipro Medical Corp. has voluntarily recalled its Exel/Exelint Huber needles manufactured between January 2007 and August 2009.

The needles are used to access injection ports, which are devices implanted beneath the skin of patients who require frequent injections. The ports connect to a vein and allow easy delivery of chemotherapy, antibiotics and other injectable drugs.

Huber needles are designed to penetrate an injected material without retaining any of it.

However, a monthslong FDA investigation found that the needles can dislodge bits of silicone from the ports, potentially pushing them into the patient's bloodstream. The problem can also damage the ports themselves, resulting in problems delivering drug therapy.

An inspection at Nipro's manufacturing plant in Japan found that 60 to 72 percent of the company's needles had the design problem, according to the FDA.

Huber needles have been approved in the U.S. since 1984, according to the FDA.

According to FDA regulatory specialist Mary Brooks, there have been no reports of silicone shards in patients, though it may be difficult for doctors to identify the problem.

FDA advised hospitals and doctors to stop using the Huber needles and return them to Los Angeles-based Exel International, which distributed the products in the U.S. The company can be reached at 1-800-940-3935.

A spokesman for Exel said the company hopes to wrap up the recall within 30 days.

The FDA made several recommendations to physicians when using other Huber needles, including: watching for signs of tissue or nerve damage in patients, which could be a sign of damage to an injection port. The agency also suggested throwing out the first syringe injected into a port, in an effort to discard any bits of silicone.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

Van Nuys Car Accident Involves Two Suspected Drunk Drivers

Greg Owen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:29:00 GMT

Two suspected drunk drivers were involved in a car crash injuring at least three people in Van Nuys.

According to Los Angeles Police Officer James LaForce, an eastbound car in the 13800 block of Sherman Way was in the process of making a U-turn when it was struck by an eastbound pickup truck. The car was pushed onto a curb, while the truck spun and pushed a parked sport utility vehicle onto a parked Ford Mustang.

The driver and passenger of the truck ran away. However, the driver was quickly arrested by an officer responding to the scene of the crash, LaForce said. About an hour later, the passenger was found in the area attempting to kick in the door of a residence, police said. Both are men about 22 years old. The driver is under arrest for a felony hit-and-run and under investigation for a misdemeanor DUI.

The driver of the car, a woman in her 20s, was injured and taken to a hospital. She is under investigation for a felony DUI. The two passengers in her car, a male and a female, both in their early 20s, were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

The High Cost of Radiation

Greg Owen — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:48:19 GMT

Many say that tests like MRI's and CT perfusion scans are being overused and concern is spreading in light of recent federal investigation looking into radiation overdoses in Los Angeles, CA and Hintsville, AL.

Skyrocketing costs are among one reason patients are beginning to question the necessity of tests. Others realize the potential harm to patient safety. Experts are concerned that tests like CT scans - which use radiation - might increase the risk of cancer.

Patients like Becky Couder who received a radiation overdose in September at a Hospital in alabama. Becky is represented by attorney, Rick Patterson of Owen, Patterson & Owen.

Call 866.654.4947 today if you or someone you know might be suffering the symptoms of a severe radiation overdose.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

Third Area Hospital Included in Radiation Overdose Investigation

Greg Owen — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:08:35 GMT

A third Los Angeles area hospital is now included in an investigation led by the US Food and Drug Administration looking into radiation overdoses that patients have received from a specific type of brain scan. The expansion suggests that the issue may be nationwide.

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank now joins Cedars-Sinai and Glendale Adventist Medical Center as the latest Los Angeles area hospital under scrutiny. An Alabama hospital is also under investigation for similar problems with CT brain perfusion scans, a procedure used most often to diagnose strokes.

Unlike the other cases, which involved scanners made by General Electric, the scanner at Providence St. Joseph was made by Toshiba -- adding a new dimension to the investigation.

Angelo Bellomo, head of environmental health for the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said 34 patients appear to have received excessive radiation at Providence St. Joseph over a 20-month period ending in October.

The problem was discovered by Los Angeles County radiation safety inspectors and reported to the FDA last week, FDA and county officials said.

A woman in Alabama reported that she was likely given an overdose of radiation in a hospital in early September. According to attorney Rick Patterson, of Valencia, CA, based Owen, Patterson & Owen, 59-year-old teacher, Becky Coudert, received a CT brain perfusion scan Sept. 8 at Huntsville Hospital. While the scan ruled out a stroke, Becky was left with a large bald strip on her head stretching from ear to ear. Her medical records indicated that she received a greater amount of radiation than those at Cedars-Sinai.

Hospital were instructed Monday to review radiation guidelines before using all CT perfusion scanners.

If you or someone you know may have received an unnecessary dose of radiation please contact our office at 866.654.4947.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

Blue Bonnet Spread Recalled After Label Mixup

Greg Owen — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:09:00 GMT

ConAgra Foods, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling a 1,120 cases of 15 oz. tubs of Blue Bonnet Spread. The lot was mispackaged as the lid used is for regular Blue Bonnet Spread and the tub portion describes the product as Blue Bonnet Light Spread. The product inside of the tub is regular Blue Bonnet Spread. As a result, the product tubs do not declare the allergen whey (milk), as an ingredient.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. No allergic reactions have been reported.

The product UPC on the tub is 27000-00930. The product lid will not have the blue ribbon graphic bearing the word "Light" that is found on the tub portion of the package. The rim of the lid will feature the batch code "2247923200" and a Sell By date of March 18, 2010.

ConAgra Foods became aware of the issue after receiving a report from a store where the tub did not match the lid or the case.

Consumers should return the product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call 866-518-4177 (9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST daily) or visit www.bluebonnet.com for more information.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen