News Following the introduction of end-to-end encryption, many Covered Entities are wondering is WhatsApp HIPAA compliant. Although end-to-end encryption protects PHI during transit, the popular messaging app does not include all the features required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is a common misconception that encryption alone make an app HIPAA … Read more
Although Microsoft has developed a number of products to meet the needs of businesses in regulated industries, not all are HIPAA compliant. Is Microsoft Outlook HIPAA compliant? That depends on the version of Outlook used, how it is configured, and the content of the Business Associate Agreement supporting the service. As HIPAA is technology neutral, … Read more
Although the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act stipulates employee training is mandatory, neither the Privacy Rule not the Security Rule provide guidelines regarding the HIPAA training requirements. This can be a significant obstacle to Covered Entities working towards HIPAA compliance. Businesses in the healthcare and health insurance industries (Covered Entities) and businesses providing services … Read more
To answer the question Is Slack HIPAA Compliant, one has to look at its functions and, more importantly, the mechanisms it has in place to protect the integrity of Protected Health Information at rest and in transit. Also, one has to look at the content of the company´s Business Associate Agreement. Slack – an acronym … Read more
A former hairdresser´s claim for pharmacy accident compensation has been resolved for nearly $1.2 million in a hearing of the Ventura County Superior Court. Fifty-four year old Wanda Katz from Port Hueneme in California was visiting her local CVS Pharmacy when she was knocked over by an employee pushing a merchandize cart. Wanda – a … Read more
Two sisters from New Jersey have been awarded $9.5 million compensation for boat accident injuries following a hearing at Bergen County Superior Court. Gina and Jamie Franzino claimed compensation for boat accident injuries after the boat they were passengers in was hit by a much larger boat in the Manasquan Inlet in Monmouth County, New … Read more
The plaintiff´s and the defendant´s liability in a U-turn crash brain injury compensation claim has been equally divided by a jury at the Los Angeles County Court. On 25th February 25 2014, thirty-eight year old Antonio Pureco – a gardener from the La Puente area of Los Angeles – was driving along the road leading … Read more
An Illinois man´s compensation claim for a dentist dropping a surgical instrument down his throat has been resolved with a negotiated settlement of $675,000. On October 1, 2014, Janusz Pawlowicz (64) from Des Plains in Cook County, Illinois, attended Gentle Dental Services Ltd. where he was due to undergo the first of a two-part root … Read more
A New Jersey jury has increased an award of compensation for falling in a hole left by a utility company after an arbitrated settlement was appealed. In April 2012, the Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) removed a broken pole from outside the Barnegat Township property owned by Nancy Jacobs. The removal of the … Read more
A former guest of the Sofitel Hotel in Philadelphia has been awarded compensation for emotional distress due to hotel negligence following a court hearing. In November 2012, Heather Baumgardner was celebrating her thirtieth birthday by staying at the Sofitel Hotel in Philadelphia. On 11th November, at around 4:00am in the morning, Heather´s ex-boyfriend Christopher Werley … Read more
A woman, who suffered a compound ankle fracture when she slipped and fell by the side of a pool, has settled her Marriott Hotel injury compensation claim. In June 2013, sixty-two year old Michelle Hairston was staying at the Marriott Fairfield Inn in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when she slipped on the wet deck by … Read more
A compensation claim for injuries in a single vehicle accident has been settled for $26.55 million shortly before a court hearing was scheduled to begin. The compensation claim for injuries in a single vehicle accident was brought by David Williams (32) – a landscape service engineer from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. David had been driving his … Read more
Material handling injuries at work account for the largest proportion of workers comp claims over a five-year period according to recently released research. The “Injury Impact Report” was compiled by the insurance carrier Travelers. Travelers handles more workers comp claims than any other insurance carrier in the country and was able to draw on data … Read more
A $44 million award of compensation for an adverse reaction to anti-coagulant medication will be appealed by the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In September 2011, fifty-seven year old Andrea Tate was admitted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to have a meningioma removed from inside her head. Despite this being considered … Read more
A young Los Angeles woman has been awarded more than $7 million compensation for the failure to conduct an MRI, due to which she lost her leg to cancer. Anna Rahm from Woodland Hills in Los Angeles was just sixteen years of age when she attended the family chiropractor in January 2009, complaining of a … Read more
A jury in Florida has awarded a sixty-seven year old woman $1.3 million compensation for a trip and fall injury on a cruise ship on Christmas Eve 2014. On the morning of 24th December 2014, Joan Higgs was a passenger on a Costa Cruise ship in the eastern Caribbean at Grand Turk when she tripped … Read more
The mother of a girl, who fell from her third story bedroom, has agreed to a $5.5 million settlement of compensation for a child falling out of a window. Rahniya Neal was just three years of age when, in December 2012, she fell from a third story unguarded bedroom window while playing on her bunk … Read more
The hearing of a compensation claim for a slip and fall injury in Lowes has begun at the Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court before Judge Ronald Israel. The compensation claim for a slip and fall injury in Lowes was made by Kelly Hendrickson (38) from Las Vegas, who visited the Home Improvement Store on S. … Read more
A Las Vegas man is claiming compensation for burns from an e-cigarette battery that exploded in his trouser pocket, leaving him hospitalized for two days. Daniel King (22), a slot technician from Las Vegas, was writing up notes in his car on February 8 2016, when he heard a loud “air-releasing noise”. The next second, … Read more
A former sanitation worker´s claim for an eye injury due to chemical exposure has been resolved at a hearing of the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. Joseph Keith Jr. was working as a sanitation worker for Hatfield Quality Meats in Hatfield, PA., when he was splashed by sodium hydroxide while wrapping a hose that … Read more
A settlement of compensation for a fatal accident with a lorry has been divided three ways after a hearing of the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. Gail Walsh was killed in a tragic accident when, in January 2012, a lorry driving through an intersection in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, swerved to avoid a car … Read more
A former driver for the Swedish UN representative is claiming $1.7 million compensation for an injury while assembling IKEA furniture for his employer. In May 2012, fifty-two year old Carlos Figueroa was working for the late Marten Grunditz – Sweden’s former representative to the UN. Carlos was asked to drive to the IKEA store in … Read more
A Colorado woman has been awarded $3.25 million compensation for injuries in an accident with a rental car after a hearing at the Denver District Court. Angela Rogers claimed compensation for injuries in an accident with a rental car after being rear-ended by a vehicle owned by the Hertz car hire company on I-15 just … Read more
A jury at the Missouri Circuit Court has awarded the estate of a Birmingham, Alabama woman $72 million compensation for ovarian cancer caused by talc. In October 2015, Jackie Fox (62) lost her battle against ovarian cancer two years after being diagnosed with the condition. Before she died, Jackie – who had used Johnson & … Read more
Two compensation claims for negligent burns treatment at a Philadelphia hospital have been resolved after a hearing at the Court of Common Pleas. Antonio Crespo and Edward Torralvo were working at one of the latter´s rental projects in June 2011, when both men suffered burns to their fingers from handling hydrofluoric acid while cleaning bricks. … Read more
A Pennsylvania jury has resolved a fatal accident claim against a drunk driver with an award of $3.1 million compensation in favor of the victim´s estate. Twenty-seven year old Calvin Wilson was driving his motorbike along Belmont Avenue in Philadelphia on April 4, 2013, when an SUV driven by Kahlile Gray turned left immediately in … Read more
A settlement of compensation for being attacked by an animal – reduced 35% due to comparative negligence – has been upheld by the Missouri Court of Appeals. In March 2013, Fernando the bull broke through a fence dividing his owner´s land and a heifer breeding center. Concerned for the safety of his livestock, the owner … Read more
A cyclist´s $439,000 broken hip compensation settlement – originally awarded by a jury in 2013 – has been upheld by the Oregon Court of Appeals. On 6th August 2011, John Currier was cycling in the Lloyd District of Portland, when he had to take evasive action to avoid a car that was waiting to pull … Read more
Compensation claims for illnesses contracted at the Chipotle Mexican Grill in Simi Valley have been filed in California following last August´s norovirus outbreak. Last August, 234 customers of the Chipotle Mexican Grill in Simi Valley, California, contacted the Ventura County Environmental Health Division complaining of gastrointestinal illnesses. The source of their illnesses was a kitchen … Read more
The discovery of a previously unreported complaint form has implicated an assistant physical therapist in a Las Vegas claim for elder abuse. The Las Vegas claim for elder abuse was made by the widow and daughter of Fredrick Knell – an eighty-nine year old resident of the Las Ventanas nursing facility in Summerlin, who was … Read more
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 has been used in a Florida court case to successfully support a compensation claim for the partial loss of a kidney. The Merchant Marine Act (also known as the Jones Act after its author Wesley Jones) was enacted almost a century ago as a protection measure for the domestic … Read more
A jury has awarded an injured driver $50,512 in compensation for a back injury in a pick-up truck accident after a hearing at Bibb County State Court. Horace Thomas from Macon in Georgia made his claim for compensation for a back injury in a pick-up truck accident after being involved in a crash on 23rd … Read more
The family of a child killed by a speeding driver in his father´s disabled car has been awarded $32 million compensation for their son´s death in a car crash. On May 1, 2012, Thomas Straw was driving along Route 28 near Aspinwall in Pennsylvania, when the hood of his Pontiac Vibe malfunctioned and released upwards. … Read more
A Risperdal side effect compensation claim has been resolved in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia in favor of the twenty-one year old plaintiff. Wisconsin-born Timothy Strange was first prescribed the antipsychotic drug Risperdal to help control his symptoms of Tourette´s syndrome when he was eleven years of age in 2005. Over the next … Read more
A jury has awarded a shopper more than $2.5 million compensation in settlement of her Costco injury compensation claim made after a slip and fall accident. On 8 June 2011, Yvette Gastello (35) was walking into her local Costco at Van Nuys in Los Angeles, when she slipped on fluid outside of the store that … Read more
A judge has awarded a 3-year-old Californian girl $9.6 million compensation for medical malpractice at birth against the doctor who delivered her. At 11:00pm on 29th April 2012, the unnamed girl´s mother was admitted to the Banner-Lassen Hospital in Susanville, California, in the advanced stages of labor. At the time of her admission she was … Read more
Passengers who were injured when a plane caught fire on the runway of McCarran International are claiming compensation for Las Vegas airport injuries. On September 8th, a British Airways Boeing 777-200 was engulfed in flames as it prepared to take off from McCarran International, bound for London Gatwick. The cause of the fire is still … Read more
A woman is claiming compensation for an accident at Dollywood in which she suffered multiple injuries due to allegedly falling from an amusement ride. In December 2014, Tedi Brown, her husband Derryl and five of the couple´s children visited the Dollywood amusement park in Tennessee. Despite the inclement weather, the family was assured that the … Read more
A family from Florence in Alabama has resolved its claim for mesothelioma cancer due to secondary exposure and been awarded $3.5 million compensation. For 22 years, Barbara Bobo washed work clothes brought home by her husband, James, who was employed at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant and who regularly did clean-up work after asbestos insulation was installed … Read more
An Orange County jury has awarded the parents of a boy who died after a seizure $10.2 million compensation for a lack of care in a nursing home. Kevin Barr was born seventeen weeks premature in 1997. At birth he weighed just more than one pound and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and a seizure … Read more
A jury in Texas has awarded a man suffering from a variant of leukemia $8.2 million compensation for exposure to benzene contained in paints and thinners. Between 1973 and 1996, Virgil Hood worked as a painter for Timpte Trailers – a manufacturer of semi-trailers – and Continental Airlines. Nearly every day during his working life, … Read more
An injury claim for a cyclist hit by a truck on Interstate 100 in Southwest Virginia has been settled for approximately $21 million during mediation. On October 8th 2011, Michael Sprick (44) – a cross-country cyclist from Germany – was part way through his dream cycling holiday. Having arrived in Chicago a month earlier, Michael … Read more
The New York Supreme Court has refused plaintiffs in a pedestrian bus accident claim a new trial after a jury award of compensation was considered modest. Leslie Lariviere (39) suffered a head injury on 9th December 2008 when she was hit on the head by a bus´s side view mirror as she crossed a street … Read more
Nevada Senator Harry Reid has made a compensation claim for an injury from faulty exercise equipment against the makers of the TheraBand resistance band. According to documents filed with the Clark County District Court, the compensation claim for an injury from faulty exercise equipment was filed by both Senator Reid and his wife – Landra … Read more
A jury in San Diego has awarded a former student $17.3 million compensation for a head injury in a multi-car pile-up after a four week hearing. In the fall of 2012, 24-year-old Russell Sheaffer was just completing his Ph.D. at Indiana University when he traveled to California to make a film documentary. On 3rd November, … Read more
The family of a woman who died following an accident prior to an ambulance transfer has been awarded compensation for a fatal fall from a stretcher. On January 31st 2009, Barbara Grimes (67) from Plymouth in Massachusetts underwent her regular dialysis treatment at the Fresenius Medical Care Center, and was being taken to an ambulance … Read more
A man from Coldwater, Michigan, has resolved his claim for negligent care following knee replacement surgery at a hearing of the Branch County Circuit Court. In September 2011, James Dorstal (72) underwent knee replacement surgery at the Community Health Center of Branch County. During his recovery from the operation, James was fitted with a continuous … Read more
A woman, who suffered serious burn injuries from hot coffee that spilled on her, has settled her claim for a trip and fall at Dunkin Donuts for $522,000. Early in the morning of 19th January 2012, Maria Marsala was walking through the parking lot of Dunkin Donuts store in Highland Park, New Jersey, when she … Read more
A Californian jury has awarded a family compensation for injuries due to heater safety failings following a fire at their home which a woman died. On 5th January 2011, Kenneth and Amy Shinedling were sleeping in the master bedroom of their home in Piñon Hills, Los Angeles, when a fire started in the room. Kenneth … Read more
A jury in Pennsylvania has awarded a plaintiff $2.78 million compensation for an injury due to a tracheostomy after a hearing at the Delaware County Court. Bonnie Semple (56) was taken to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in March 2009 after being injured in an auto accident. Bonnie was unconscious but underwent surgery for internal bleeding … Read more
A man´s claim for paralysis due to medical negligence has been resolved at the Court of Common Pleas in Delaware County, PA, for $12.5 million. On 17th June 2011, fifty-seven year old Kenneth Del Grosso from Upper Darby in Delaware County, PA, went to the Emergency Room of Delaware County Memorial Hospital complaining of a … Read more
A painter, who suffered a debilitating spine injury while a passenger in his employer´s van, has settled his rear end accident injury claim for $875,000. In July 2010, twenty-eight year old Gabrielle Nufris from Trenton in New Jersey was a passenger in a work van owned by his employer – DG Painting – travelling to … Read more
The Nevada Supreme Court has allowed an injury claim for a slip in a Nevada Hotel to proceed after it was originally dismissed by a Nevada District Court. On 9th October 2010, Sandra Biscay (79) was travelling with her family from California to visit her sister in Las Vegas. Rather than arrive at the sister´s … Read more
The family of a man who died from a massive head trauma in a crash has agreed to a settlement of compensation for a passenger in a fatal auto accident. On 19th October 2010, Justin Gatzke (29) was the front seat passenger in a Honda Accord driven by his girlfriend – Jennifer Bujnowski – when … Read more
A student from South Carolina has been awarded $26 million compensation for car crash injuries after only barely surviving a rollover accident in 2009. In July 2009, Jeremy Vangsnes (21) from Spartanburg in South Carolina was returning to the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board in Yellowstone National Park, after having visited relatives staying … Read more
The Philadelphia Superior Court has upheld a $32.8 million settlement of compensation for oxygen deprivation at birth awarded to a six-year-old girl. On 14th November 2008, Leslie Proffitt gave birth to daughter – Lillian – by an emergency cesarean section that had been necessitated by a sudden drop in the fetal heartrate. However, a significant … Read more
A judge from Harris County in Texas has awarded a former owner of a dog boarding business $1.3 million compensation for an injury due to a dog bite. Amber Rickles was running a dog boarding business in Spring, Harris County, when she received a request from Jennifer Romano in January 2013 to board her pit … Read more
A woman, who injured her lower spine when slipping and falling in a Stop & Shop store, has settled her injury claim for a slip on a grape in a supermarket. Bonnie Gutierrez (50) was shopping with her husband – Milton – on 31st October 2010 at her local Stop & Shop. As the couple … Read more
A man has settled his claim for the loss of a leg in a construction accident just as the Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed an order granting a new trial. In the summer of 2009, Ruick Rolland from Delaware County in Pennsylvania was a contractor working for Senn Landscaping when the company was engaged to construct … Read more
A carpenter has been awarded $2.5 million compensation for a shoulder injury on a construction site after he fell from an unstable temporary stairway. John White was working in Philadelphia as a carpenter on a renovation project when, in January 2012, he was asked to remove the handrails on a temporary stairway that was going … Read more
A Court in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, has awarded more than $1.2 million compensation for an injured motorcyclist who was not seen by the driver of a car as he pulled out from a Harrisburg restaurant. On 4 June 2011, Tracey Thompson was riding her motorcycle along Derry Street in Harrisburg, when she was hit by … Read more
A man from New York has been awarded $3,706,000 compensation for the misdiagnosis of skin cancer by a jury at the Nassau County Supreme Court. In June 2012, John Ficke (52) had a biopsy performed on a lesion on his sternum, which was diagnosed by pathologist Dr. Asher Rabinowitz from the Columbia University College of … Read more
A man who burned himself in a cooking accident has been awarded $3 million compensation for unnecessary skin graft surgery by a jury in Philadelphia. On May 1st 2011, Wismond Brissett (45) was frying fish in his kitchen when the cooking grease caught fire. The flames from the burning grease flared up and burned Wismond … Read more
According to the Insurance Information Institute, there were 1,867 dog bite injury claims in California last year, more than 10% of the national total. Cal. Civil Code §3342 makes dog owners who fail to control their pets and prevent them from biting members of the public strictly liable for dog bite injury claims in California, … Read more
A man from Tennyson in Indiana has settled his spinal injury compensation claim against his insurance company after it failed to pay out his claim for workers compensation. In 2010, Donnie Grubb was forced to quit his successful cleaning business when he suffered a spinal injury while working. Seven years before his injury, Donnie believed … Read more
A driver who was paralyzed when his faultily-service truck went out of control has been awarded $14 million compensation for a truck accident after a hearing at Mobile County Circuit Court. Colin Lacy from Mobile, Alabama, was driving his employer´s tractor-trailer along Interstate 10 near Niceville in Florida when – on July 14th 2011 – … Read more
A jury in Georgia has awarded a woman $2.8 million compensation for dental negligence after a hearing at the DeKalb County State Court. In February 2008, Haley Buice attended the Coast Dental of Georgia practice in Acworth, DeKalb County and was evaluated by James Cauley DMD. Cauley recommended the placement of multiple crowns and veneer … Read more
A boy from Grand Falls in Michigan has been awarded $9.43 million birth injury compensation for damaged nerves after a jury hearing in Kent County. Digby Maring (now 4½ years of age) was born weighing 9 lbs in October 2009. His mother´s pregnancy had been without complications until Digby developed shoulder dystocia during the later … Read more
A judge has awarded a family from Pennsylvania more than $4.5 million compensation for a bus accident on vacation after the negligent party failed to enter a defense. In October 2012, the Yuschak family from Dresher, Montgomery County PA, was staying at the Los Altos Beach Resort and Spa in Costa Rica. They decided to … Read more
A jury in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, has awarded $7.4 million compensation to a man after hearing his medical negligence claim for an avoidable stroke. On April 16, 2010, Finis Cuff (61) from Darby in Delaware County visited his physician – Dr Douglas L Keagle – at the Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital for a check-up and to … Read more
A claim for an injury due to a negligent hair removal treatment has been resolved in court with the plaintiff being awarded $1.5 million. Paige Peterson (22), a student from Hunterdon County in New Jersey, made her claim for an injury due to a negligent hair removal treatment after visiting the Hunterdon Family Practice and … Read more
A mechanic has been awarded $3.271 million compensation for an injury due to an OHSA violation after losing two fingers in a sugar silo gearbox accident. John Mullin (49) – a father of six from Vacaville in Solano County – attended the Jelly Belly Candy factory in Fairfield on 4th June 2009, in order to … Read more
A jury in Brooklyn has awarded a woman $600,000 compensation for an injury on a roller coaster ride after allocating her 60% comparative negligence. Paula Noone (52) from Tucson, Arizona, made her claim for compensation for an injury on a roller coaster ride after riding on the Cyclone Roller Coaster in Coney Island on June … Read more
A compensation claim for a skiing injury – brought by a woman who was paralyzed in an accident on a beginner ski slope – has been resolved following a hearing at the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. In March 2012, Leslie McLaughlin went skiing at the Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood, Southern California, with … Read more
A teacher from Philadelphia has been awarded $700,000 compensation for a car accident with a drunk driver after an arbitration hearing in Pennsylvania. Diane Richman was driving through the streets of Philadelphia when, in May 2011, she was rear-ended by Augustine Roth. Roth fled the scene of the accident, but was later arrested by the … Read more