Miscellaneous

• Questions Concerning Comair Flight 5191 Still Under Investigation

  M. Brandon Smith | August 28, 2006 1:43 PM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  In a follow up to my previous blog on the tragic Comair Flight 5191 accident, investigators are still uncertain as to why the twin-engine commuter jet took off the wrong runway as it departed Lexington's Blue Grass Airport. According to the cockpit recorder, the only discussions of runways referred to #22 which is the longer than runway #26 which the jet reportedly used.According to the...

• Airplane Crash Kills 49 After Taking Off Wrong Runway

  M. Brandon Smith | August 28, 2006 1:28 PM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  A commuter jet, Comair Flight 5191, that took off the wrong runway at Lexington's Blue Grass Airport crashed shortly after take off and killed all but one of the fifty people on board. The flight headed to Atlanta apparently started on a 1,066 meter-long strip, which is only half the length of the airport's main runway usually used for commercial flights. Officials of the National Transportation...

• Unlike A Good Neighbor State Farm Is Not There

  M. Brandon Smith | August 26, 2006 12:53 PM | 1 CommentAtlanta, GA

  State Farm, the nation's largest insurance carrier now finds itself at the fore front of a major scandal involving fraud, deceit, and out right criminal activities. In a recent story shown on ABC's 20/20 two former State Farm employees detail their experiences with the insurance giant in refusing to pay otherwise viable claims for those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It is the first part of an...

• D.C. Court Of Appeals: Tax On Intangible Injuries Unconstitutional

  M. Brandon Smith | August 26, 2006 2:21 AM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has held the federal government can not longer tax plaintiff's settlement proceeds relating to emotional distress and other intangible injuries. In doing so, the Court stuck down a current portion of the tax code allowing such taxes as unconstitutional. While this ruling only currently applies to Washington D.C., it...

• New Legislation To Aid Ground Zero Heroes And Victims

  M. Brandon Smith | August 16, 2006 11:02 PM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  The smoke and dust resulting from the fall of the World Trade Center towers affected thousands of New Yorkers and their families as well. To address this issue Gov. George Pataki signed legislation Monday that will benefit workers who have died or become sick in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. The legislation is designed to help not only those injured in the line of duty but also those...

• Two Workers Killed On The Job From Falling Debris

  M. Brandon Smith | August 15, 2006 3:48 PM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  In Dallas, two men were recently killed after falling debris fell on them from 19 floors above. The authorities says a front end loader was moving concrete above where the men were positioned and caused it to fall directly on top of them. The men were preparing to haul off the debris as the debris fell onto the cab of their truck.Incidents like this are always tragic no matter who is involved....

• Litigation Begins Over Pedicure Blamed For Death

  M. Brandon Smith | August 11, 2006 1:11 PM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  In San Jose, California, a mother has initiated a lawsuit against a nail salon on behalf of her deceased daughter after a serious infection contributed to her death in June of 2004. Jessica Mears, 43, developed a bacterial infection after receiving a pedicure at a nail salon. The infection developed into a large lesion that would not seem to go away. Mears later died with related complications....

• Overturned $105 Million Verdict Against Beer Vendor To Be Appealed

  M. Brandon Smith | August 11, 2006 5:52 AM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  The New Jersey Court of Appeals recently overturned a $105 million dollar verdict against a beer vendor who allegedly served a patron too much alcohol at a Giants game. The drunken patron, Daniel Lanzaro, was continually served alcohol by Aramark Corp. despite obvious signs he was already heavily intoxicated. Shortly thereafter, Lanzaro caused a collision with another vehicle leaving 2 year-old...

• Officer Arrests Suspect Then Wrecks His Car

  M. Brandon Smith | August 10, 2006 4:26 PM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  Officer Jesse Higgins, employed by the Grantville Police Department, arrested a suspect after he was found to be driving on a suspended license. The suspect reportedly told Higgins he could have a relative come and get the car but officer Higgins had another idea. Higgins decided to remove the car himself and eventually wrecked the vehicle after driving in excess of 100mph on the express way....

• Pit Bull Attack Leaves Man Wounded

  M. Brandon Smith | August 09, 2006 10:17 PM | 0 CommentsAtlanta, GA

  An Atlanta man was recently attacked by a pit bull owned by an Atlanta Falcons player earlier this week while he was walking innocently in his neighborhood. Ric Howard, said he was walking his leashed dogs Monday evening when all of a sudden a pit bull chased after him and mauled him. Howard suffered cuts on his head and side requiring numerous stitches. Although Howard is recovering from his...