The client suffered severe injuries, including brain injuires as a result of the dangerous behaviour of the at fault driver. The collision occurred unexpectedly and forever changed the life of the client. Following a full shift at the Ford Motor Company's Kentucky Plant located in the east end of Louisville, the client was headed to cash his paycheck. However, the client never made to the credit union.
The Defendant to the action was driving at a dangerous and high rate of speed. His own passengers sought to have him slow down, but the driver ignored their pleas. The willful conduct resulted in massive injuries to the client, including severe head trauma. The client was forced to undergo years of treatment and rehabilitation.
Kentucky Injury Lawyer Rick Pardue and Callie Walton never gave up fighting for the firm's client. As a result of their efforts, the court awarded a total judgement of more than 8 million dollars. The total amount of the judgment was 8,391,049 and included past and future pain and suffering. It also included lost wages and $4 milllion dollars in punitive damages.
The Helmers DeMuth and Walton group now merged with Goldberg Simpson is committed to fighting for injured victims in Kentucky.
]]>John H. Helmers, Jr., Troy DeMuth and Callie Walton will join Goldberg Simpson as partners in the firm.
Rick Pardue will join as Of Counsel.
By merging, the Frim will expand while continuing to provide exceptional legal services to its clients. This merger will enable the firm to have a downtown Louisville office whil retaining its main office in the East End in Norton Commons. It will continue to provide comprehensive legal representation. The merger will allow an expansion of the family law section and personal injury practice. Additionally, Goldberg Simpson will added representation on its employment law wrongful termination and discrimination cases
]]>Any individual has a right to appeal the finding of the state and have it reviewed. The administrative process handles such appeals. It is important to contest any wrongful or erroneous findings immediately as any delay may bar a reversal.
Given the current workloads of the social services in the state, it appears that there are less detailed investigations and more chance for errors by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Social workers have testified in Frankfort that they are stretched more thinly than ever before.
]]>DeMuth has previously taught courses in Family Law and Domestic Relations at the University. His practice is limited to family law matters and the trial and appellate levels.
DeMuth has been a court appointed mediator for approximately 8 years. He has assisted hundreds of litigants resolve their cases without having the issues decided by a judge.
]]>According to the DOT, driver distraction poses a high safety risk and that hand held telephone use has a higher safety risk than other distractions such as eating while operating a motor vehicle. Even reaching for a telephone creates a risk three times higher than not reaching for an object. The DOT researched the risks over a period of years and conducted a Distracted Driving Summit in 2009 prior to enacting the regulation.
In instances of personal injury litigation involving trucks and tractor trailors, it will be essential to obtain the cell records prior to filing a suit and or settling a claim
]]>The link is here.
]]>One such lawyer is Chris Harrell who is fighting for the rights of Occupy Louisville. There is no glamor in fighting this fight and certainly no large paycheck. Harrell is doing this because he believes in the cause. While others may not believe in the agenda of this group, the right to free speech is important to all of us.
]]>It turns out that it can also be detrimental in criminal cases. Especially when you flash your stole cash from a bank robbery on your status page. Please remember not to do this.
]]>The new game is to delay as long as possible in order to increase their own bottom line. This is used in every type of case from personal injury to property cases.
We see this tactic every day. However, the proof of this has now been exposed in litigation where the insurance companies' own consultants have proven that it is a deliberate tactic to wear down the policy holders and force them to have lawyers in order to keep the bargaining fair.
The solution is not "tort reform" but enacting legislation to protect consumers and the injured from the heartless tactics of the insurance industry.
]]>Kentucky law mandates that car drivers carry $25,000 in liability protection. This protection is woefully inadequate for many automobile collisions. In fact, the mandatory minimums have not been raised in more than 20 years. During the same period of time, the average medical costs have risen more than 400 percent.
The problem is compounded by thousands of drivers who operate motor vehilces without any coverage at all.
Recently, we determined that some states have no liablilty minimums at all. Families injuried in these states are at risk of having no coverage to compensate them for their injuries, regardless of whether the damages are slight or life changing.
The best protection is to reevaluate the "underinsured/uninsured" coverage that must be offered with a traditional liability policy. This is usually the cheapest insurance that can be purchases. Coverage of an additional $100,000 to one million is affordable to most Kentuckians.
]]>The most recent decision states that the injured party did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in information published on social networking sites, and therefore, disclosure of private information was warranted to the defendants. The turning point in the court's decision was the the account settings when the accounts were created. The case is Romano v. Steelcase, Inc. and is from New York state.
Once again, it is essential for all persons to be careful with personal information. One never knows if an injury is in his/her future. Many personal injury case are being determined based on Facebook content.
]]>Yesterday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its first major study on distracted driving. It found that at any one time, 1 in 100 drivers are using a hand-held device for texting, emailing or surfing the web, a number that was an increase of 50% over the prior year. The study also found that twenty percent of drivers admitted to texting or emailing while driving. That number increased to 50% of drivers when looking at the 21 to 24 year old demographic.
There are risks, as well as benefits, with advances in technology. It is important to remember that innnocent drivers and pedistrians should not be made statistics by texters. We urge increased safety by drivers as well as tougher laws to prevent accidents before they occur.
In the event that there is a suspected texter who causes an injury, it is important to have this noted on the police report and to follow up with promptly obtaining the cell telephone records immediately after the collision. An experienced lawyer can help in this regard.
]]>The course in Domestic Relations covers a wider range of topics, from custody to paternity to asset and debt division. In addition to typical divorce issues, DeMuth instructs the class in other issues including domestic violence and child abuse. He brings his experience as a family law litigator, mediator, parenting coordinator, and court appointed advocate for children.
DeMuth has enjoyed the teaching experience. He states his favorite part of the process is "sharing practical knowledge of family law issues with students." He further added that "many students do not get to see the real workings of the law in their law school career." DeMuth strives to bring the real life element of family court practice to the students. The students have been impressed with the wide range of topics which are included in the catagory of the law. It is part accounting work, part counselor, and part stategic thinking. DeMuth states that the best family lawyers are ones that can transition from one discipline to another.
DeMuth also believes that he learns both from the students and in prepartion for teaching the classes. "Teaching is a learning experience for both the class as well as the professor. Being prepared for class forces me to reevaluate my own understanding of the law. I have the opportunity to look at national developments in a wide range of issues related to domestic relations".
]]>Personal injuries can be caused by many factors and events. Each cause should be treated differently. Additionally, there may be different legal theories that are involved.
For example, an explosion case is very different than a typical fender bender. Additionally, workplace explosions are treated differently than ones that occur in the household.
There are also legal theories that apply to intentional injuires (from simple assault to domestic violence to sexual misconduct). These cases may not be covered by insurance; however, they may include punitive damages and, in some cases, are not subject to bankruptcy by the wrongdoer.
]]>The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limted to attorneys who have wond milion and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements. The organization was founded in 1993 and there are appproximately 4000 members in the nation. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members. Forum membership acknowledges excellence in advocacy. Members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum must have acted as principal counsel in at least one case in which their client has received a verdict, award or settlement in the amount of one million dollars or more.
Members of the Mult-Million Dollar Advocates Forum must be life members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and have acted as principal counsel in at least one case with has resulted in a mulit-million dollar verdict or settlement.
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