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Santa Barbara Doctor Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuits for Overprescribing Drugs
After a lengthy investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Santa Barbara Police and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, a Santa Barbara doctor was arrested last year and is facing federal charges for overprescribing pain medications.
But that could be just the beginning of the physician’s problems. The doctor, who had his medical license revoked 10 months after his arrest last year, is now facing four lawsuits — three of them for wrongful death.
The various lawsuits contend that the doctor overprescribed pain medications, which led to addiction and death. Incredibly, one suit alleges that a 24-year-old had been prescribed an average of 63 prescription pills a day in the six weeks before his death.
The doctor allegedly prescribed so many pain pills that some patients had to be taken to hospital emergency rooms shortly after visiting his office. Noozhawk reports that the doctor, who is currently out on bail and resides in Goleta, has been linked to the deaths of 11 patients. Allegedly, his activities became so over the top that some pharmacies blacklisted him and refused to fill out his prescriptions.
The lawsuits claim the doctor was negligent for his alleged zeal in prescribing pain medications. The attorney defending the doctor against the federal charges told Noozhawk that he feels his client was well within the parameters of his medical discretion when prescribing the drugs. He is not defending him in the civil litigation, but expects those cases won’t go to court until after the criminal proceedings are complete.
If you believe you’ve lost a loved, due to the negligence of another person, you have a legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If you have questions about your legal options, contact the Santa Barbara wrongful death lawyers at the Law Office of Reneé J. Nordstrand at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. We can also be contacted online. Your case review will be free.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed for Arroyo Grande Man Killed in Construction Accident
The construction accident attorneys at the Law Office of Reneé J. Nordstrand have learned that the son of a man killed in a construction accident on Highway 135 in the Santa Maria Valley in 2010 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the truck that struck him and the driver’s employer.
According to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) report, the victim was working at the site when the tire of a trailer that was being pulled by a dump truck ran over him. At the time of the accident, CHP reported that the dump truck was reversing and the driver didn’t see the worker until he spotted him on the ground. The worker was rushed to Marian Regional Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.
The family’s attorney claims that the driver of the truck, who was employed by V&J Rock Transport, reversed without warning. Additionally, the backup alarm on the truck didn’t sound while it was reversing.
“We think the truck negligently ran over him,” the attorney told the Santa Maria Times.
The attorney went on to allege that CalPortland Company, which was supervising the construction at the time, was also negligent and that all the defendants had a “duty to exercise reasonable care conducting their own activities, when hiring and training employees, and when operating motor vehicles.”
The lawsuit is asking for an unspecified amount above $25,000.
If you have any questions regarding your legal options following a construction accident that has resulted in an injury or death, the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand have experienced attorneys who will work with you every step of the way to provide the personalized and professional legal representation you deserve.
If you believe you have a case, call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. We also have an online contact option available. There is no obligation on your part and your consultation will be free.
Los Angeles Experiencing an “Epidemic” of Hit-And-Run Crashes
20,000.
Incredibly, that is the number of hit-and-run crashes that occur in Los Angeles in a single year. Those hit-and-runs vary in severity — from simple fender-benders to multiple fatality accidents. According to L.A. Weekly, the national average for hit-and-run crashes is about 11 percent. Amazingly, in 2009 that rate was 48 percent in Los Angeles. Of those, 4,000 hit-and-runs within L.A. city limits resulted in injuries or deaths.
And the hit-and-run rate in Los Angeles has hovered near the 50 percent rate since 2001.
One man, whose 16-year-old son was killed by a hit-and run driver while he was jogging in the San Fernando Valley two years ago, told the Weekly “it’s like a war zone out there.” The 18-year-old driver who hit his son eventually turned herself in and did no jail time.
Safety experts surmise there are many reasons why people hit-and run: they may be drunk; they might not have insurance; they might not have a driver’s license; or they might simply think that dealing with an injury or fatality accident is going to cost too much. Regardless of the reasoning, hit-and-run drivers leave a long trail of pain, loss and suffering in their wake.
The Weekly focused on a young woman who was struck in a crosswalk so hard that her bottom teeth were knocked out, her kneecaps were shattered and her legs were broken into pieces. She currently has $10,000 in medical bills, with the likelihood that total will at least double.
The driver of the car still hasn’t been found.
To anonymously report a hit-and-run, you can call WeTip at (800) 644-8678. Or you can make a report directly on their website at wetip.com.
If you have any questions about your legal options after you have been injured in a pedestrian or automobile accident, contact The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand. We will fight to protect your rights. Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. We can also be contacted online. Your consultation will be free and confidential.
First J&J Hip Implant Trial Begins in Los Angeles
Opening arguments have been heard in the first Johnson & Johnson metal-on-metal ASR hip implant case to go to trial. The ASR hips, which were manufactured by J&J’s DePuy unit, were recalled in 2010 when it was found that the devices were failing at higher-than expected rates.
The ASR hip recall attorneys at the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand have been following the developments in defective metal-on-metal hips and have found that failures have led to loosening of the hip implant, pain, swelling, joint weakness, tumors, heavy metal poisoning and soft tissue damage around the joint in patients who were implanted with the devices.
According to Reuters, the plaintiff’s attorney claims that J&J knew of the product’s defects in 2004 before it started selling the ASR device — but decided to market it anyway. His 66-year-old client contends that the hip implant made him ill when it released metal ions into his blood, which elevated the levels of cobalt and chromium in his system.
The plaintiff’s attorney claimed that DePuy failed to warn patients and doctors about the defects in the all-metal ASR hip implants. “Doctors relied 100 percent on DePuy and patients relied 100 percent on doctors and information was kept from them,” he told the jury.
A J&J attorney countered that the evidence would show that the man had many health issues before the implant; and regardless of that, the level of metal in his blood was not high enough to make him ill. The attorney stated that DePuy is a “good and conscientious company.”
There are currently over 10,000 lawsuits that have been filed against J&J over its metal-on-metal hip replacements.
If you have been injured as a result of DePuy implant failure, you have the right to hold them liable for losses and damages you suffered as a result of their negligence. To learn more about your legal rights and ongoing litigation, contact The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand. Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. We can also be contacted online. Your consultation will be free and confidential.
Toyota Settles Wrongful Death Suit, Still Hundreds More In The Wings
Toyota has settled with the family members of two people who were killed when the Toyota Camry they driving in inexplicably accelerated and slammed into a wall near Wendover, Utah in 2010. The wrongful death lawsuit was scheduled to go to court next month and was to serve as a bellwether case for similar, consolidated cases that have been brought against Toyota.
The product liability attorneys at the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand urge those who have been the victims of defective or defectively designed products to seek the help of our experienced and knowledgeable product liability team. Solid legal representation is essential, especially when bringing litigation against large companies and corporations.
Neither a spokeswoman for Toyota, nor the attorney for the plaintiffs, would disclose the amount of the settlement. Last month, Toyota agreed to pay out more than $1 billion to resolve hundreds of lawsuits that claimed Toyota owners suffered economic damages due to Toyota vehicles suddenly accelerating. Toyota had issued a massive recall of vehicles to address the problem.
This settlement does not affect pending cases. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Toyota released a statement that said the company may settle some of the suits, but “will have a number of other opportunities to defend [their] product at trial.”
The Los Angeles Times reports that Toyota recently settled another case brought by a retired Los Angeles police officer. In 2010, the giant automaker settled a wrongful death suit for $10 million before the cases were consolidated.
Have you been injured, or have you lost a loved one due to a defective automotive product? The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand can explain your legal options and will fight for your rights. Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. We can also be contacted online. As always, your consultation will be free.
Family Involved in Highway 101 Big-Rig Accident Files Lawsuit
It’s been a year since a family was rescued from a BMW that was left dangling precariously from a bridge on Highway 101 near Buellton after it was struck by a gravel truck. Now, the family is suing the estate of the truck driver, who died in the fiery crash, and the trucking company that he worked for, seeking damages for personal injuries and emotional distress.
The incident occurred on Jan. 12, 2012, when the tractor-trailer rear-ended the sedan while they were both heading north on Highway 101. A mother and two children, ages 10 and 10 weeks were in the BMW sedan at the time.
After the collision, the truck plummeted some 100 feet into a creek bed. It burst into flames and the driver was killed. It was later determined the 48-year-old truck driver had been under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the accident.
Rescue workers — aided by Navy Seabees who used a forklift to keep the teetering sedan from falling off the bridge and into the creek bed below — were able to extricate the family. They were all transported to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. The mother and the oldest daughter spent eight days in the hospital before they were released. The infant was uninjured.
The family’s attorney claims the trucking company, R&R Auto Wrecking, was negligent for hiring the truck driver, alleging the driver had a long criminal record of drug abuse. He says that his clients are still suffering from the emotional and physical ramifications of the accident.
“Their Injuries are permanent,” he told Noozhawk.com.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a negligent truck driver, the truck accident attorneys in Santa Barbara at the Law Offices of Renée J. Nordstrand will aggressively work for you to see that any negligent parties are held accountable for their actions. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, hospitalization, emotional distress and other damages.
For a free, no-obligation review of your case, call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or contact us online to discuss what we can do to protect your legal rights.
Families Sue Encino-Based Company of Singing Star Killed in Plane Crash
Fans of singing star Jenni Rivera were shocked when they heard the news that the Lear Jet she and her entourage was traveling in plunged 28,000 feet to the ground in Mexico, killing all aboard. Now, the wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand have learned that four families of members of the entourage killed in the tragic accident are suing Rivera’s Encino-based company and the owners of the jet.
The lawsuit claims that the owners of the Lear Jet 25, Starwood Management Group and Rodatz, “negligently and carelessly” leased a plane that was in a defective and dangerous condition. The suit claims that the jet that Rivera and her entourage had been traveling in had been damaged in a previous 2005 accident.
The attorney for the four families contends that the pilot of the chartered jet was not qualified to fly over 18,000 feet and that the co-pilot was not qualified to fly a Lear Jet 25 at all. The suit goes on to allege that neither of the pilots was permitted to fly passengers for hire. Both pilots died in the crash.
Rivera Enterprises, was also named in the lawsuit because it is believed that the company played a role in chartering the jet.
The attorney for the four families told the Daily News, “The plane literally fell out of the sky in a nose dive. This is intended to punish the actors for what occurred here.”
Rivera was an extremely popular banda singer in Mexico and the United States. She had sold more than 15 million albums before her death. Members of the Rivera family have not commented on the lawsuit.
If you believe you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party or parties, you have a legal right to file a wrongful death suit. These kinds of suits can be complicated, so having an experienced law firm like the The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand in your corner is a wise move when you are seeking fair and full compensation for your family.
If you believe you have a case, call our office in Encino at (818) 981-3530 or contact us online to discuss your legal options.
Two injured in Downtown Santa Barbara Collision
The Santa Barbara automobile accident attorneys at the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand have learned that a sedan and a taxi cab full of tourists from Florida collided in downtown Santa Barbara, leaving two injured and some questions as to who was at fault.
The accident happened at Haley and Santa Barbara Streets when one of the vehicles allegedly ran a red light. What is definitively known is that a sedan plowed into the driver side door of the taxicab, leaving the taxi driver trapped until firefighters using extricating tools were able to free him from the wreckage.
One of the people in the cab told a Keyt.com reporter that the oncoming vehicle hit the taxi hard. “I saw it coming, “ she said, “but I thought we were not going to get hit.”
While the trapped driver first told rescue workers that he wasn’t injured, he complained of pain after he was extricated and firefighters put him in a c-spine brace as a precaution. He was then taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment. The driver of the other vehicle suffered only minor injuries.
The kinds of automobile accidents on Santa Barbara’s roads and highways are as diverse as the vehicles involved in them. That’s why it’s important to seek legal representation from a law firm that understands that each kind of accident is unique, and each may involve a different type of negligence and cause a different degree of harm.
The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand has the legal team with the resources and knowledge you will need to recover fair compensation for your injuries after an automobile accident. To learn more about your legal rights, contact our office in Santa Barbara at (805) 962-2022 or fill out our online contact form today.
Unlicensed Drivers in California Have High Fatality Rates
A newly released study by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) shows that unlicensed drivers are three times more likely to cause a fatal traffic accident as those who drive legally. Although there is no hard and fast numbers as to how many unlicensed drivers there are in California, the DMV estimates that the tally runs in the millions.
Researchers for the DMV looked at fatal accident statistics for the years 1987 and 2009. They then divided those drivers into three categories: those who were licensed; those who were driving with suspended or revoked licenses; and those who never received a license.
One percent of licensed drivers were found to be the cause of fatal accidents in California, whereas about three percent of drivers who were unlicensed or driving with revoked or suspended licenses were found to be responsible for fatalities.
According to the study, there are nearly two million Californians at any given time who will have their licenses revoked or suspended. There are no reliable statistics on how many of those drivers continue to drive thereafter.
This data adds fuel to the fire of an already potent debate as to whether those driving without licenses should have their vehicles impounded by police if they are stopped for motor vehicle infractions. The DMV researchers concluded that impounding vehicles was “strongly justified … to control (illegal) drivers and to reduce crashes caused by those drivers.”
Whether driving illegally or legally, negligent, inattentive, and reckless motorists can cause automobile accidents, which lead to serious injuries and deaths on Southern California’s roads and highways. If you believe you have a wrongful death case, contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of Renée J. Nordstrand for a free, no-obligation review of your case. Let our experienced team explain what your legal option might be.
Contact our Southern California Offices in Santa Barbara (805) 962-2022 or in Encino (818) 981-3530 today.
Driver Sentenced in Deadly Oxnard Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accident
The Oxnard wrongful death motorcycle accident attorneys at the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand have learned that a judge has sentenced a man to more than 12 years in prison in connection with a 2011 hit-and-run accident on highway 101 in Oxnard that left a motorcyclist dead.
The 24-year-old Oregon man had pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated; evading an officer; resisting police; and assault with a deadly weapon.
Witnesses told police officers that the driver had been driving recklessly in his pickup truck and had been drifting in and out of lanes before he clipped a motorcycle that was heading north on Highway 101 near Del Norte Boulevard in Oxnard. The prosecutor for the case said that the victim “never had a chance when he was struck.”
A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the driver was high on marijuana when he struck and killed the motorcyclist. He tried to evade officers, and even pointed a handgun at his own head and then toward a pursuing officer, before throwing it out of the pickup’s driver-side window.
After stopping his vehicle and leading officers on a pursuit across three southbound lanes of Highway 101, he was caught, but had to be stunned with a Taser before he surrendered.
Have you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver? The legal team at the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand will fight for your family’s legal rights to see that the parties responsible for your loss are held liable for their actions. Our knowledgeable and experienced Oxnard personal injury attorneys can help your family during a trying and difficult transition.
For a free consultation and review of your case, contact our Southern California Offices in Santa Barbara by dialing (805) 962-2022 or in Encino at (818) 981-3530.