Miscellaneous

• Virginia Tech Shooting

  Ben Glass | April 16, 2007 12:34 PM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  Our prayers go out to the victims and families of this morning's shooting at Virginia Tech. While none of my children attend Virginia Tech our family has many friends who's children do attend. My kids have friends there.We hope all are safe and that those who are injured do recover.

• Immunity for Space Travel Bill on Governor's Desk

  Ben Glass | March 25, 2007 6:51 AM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  I posted earlier about this inane idea to pass a law to immunize from liability these groups who are developing commercial space flights. Now the bill sits on the Governor's desk and I suppose he is seriously considering one more immunity bill for Virginia. (I'm not against space flight for real people. Great if you can afford it, I imagine. ) What I do think is wrong is for the state to grant...

• $1 Billion Lawsuit Filed

  Ben Glass | March 13, 2007 11:44 AM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  Today's headlines in national news reports a whopping one BILLION dollar lawsuit filed.Gee...does that sound like too much? Should there be a cap on the recovery of the plaintiff?Is this going to stifle business? Are insurance rates going to go up?Is this a travesty?.... another case of some poor schmuck plaintiff bringing a biz to it's knees?Nah, it's just Biz v. BizViacom v. GoogleYou won't be...

• Bad Peanut Butter from Peter Pan

  Ben Glass | February 15, 2007 9:20 PM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  ConAgra Foods Inc., has recalled peanut butter linked by federal officials to nearly 300 cases of salmonella in 39 states.ConAgra Foods sells Peter Pan peanut butter and certain batches of Wal-Mart's Great Value house brand. Dirty jars or equipment at the plant of the manufacturer, ConAgra Foods Inc, is susected as the culprit in the outbreak.Shoppers across the country were warned to throw out...

• Rocket Ship Liability Crisis in Virginia

  Ben Glass | January 25, 2007 12:49 PM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  Ok all you folks lining up to take sub-orbital space flights originating in Virginia--beware that if the rocket ship provider launching you atop a couple million gallons of explosive fuel screws up and kills you, you might not be able to sue them for their carelessness.I kid you not. There is a bill that has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly that would shield spaceflight entities...

• THE "MARKET" FOR MEDICAL SERVICES

  Ben Glass | December 09, 2006 7:06 AM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  As you might imagine Northern Virginia has a great many hospitals and doctors. We also have lots of medical equipment like MRIs and CT scans but the Washington Post reported yesterday how one of the major players in the area, the Inova Medical System, is apparently trying to curtail competition.Virginia is archaic and backwards in many ways and this appears to be no different. Apparently if a...

• Defamation Case Allowed to Proceed

  Ben Glass | November 04, 2006 5:58 AM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  The Supreme Court of Virginia has held that statements made about a Virginia personal injury attorney by a Nationwide claims adjuster were not mere opinions and do support a cause of action against the claims adjuster, and Nationwide Insurance, for defamation.According to the published opinion by the Supreme Court of Virginia, a personal injury victim met with Todd Schmitt, a Nationwide claims...

• Things Just Got Harder for ERISA claimants

  Ben Glass | October 31, 2006 4:26 PM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  Claims for denial of insurance benefits under employer sponsored plans (ERISA) are tough. They are tough because--the insurance company gets the benefit of the doubt--you have to prove they were not just wrong but REALLY wrong--there are no jury trials.... federal judges decide the cases on the record--there is virtually no discovery--you deal with only those documents the insurance company...

• Magnet Toy Danger-Voluntary Recall

  Ben Glass | July 31, 2006 4:03 PM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  After 34 incidents, inluding at least one death, were reported to the Food and Drug Administration regarding "Magnetix" magnet sets produced by RoseArt Industires, the company has announced a voluntary recall of the product.This product is not safe for children three and under. A picture of the product packaging, together with more information on the recall, is available here. I've seen a set of...

• The Clock is Ticking After a Virginia Disability Benefits Denial

  Ben Glass | February 26, 2011 10:00 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  As insurance companies tried to clean up their books at the end of the year, many people started to receive letters stating that their long-term disability benefits were denied or terminated. Some...