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• Jury to Begin Deliberations in Unfair Settlement Practices Lawsuit Against Allstate

  Staff Writer | October 09, 2007 9:50 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  A Kentucky jury will begin deliberations Wednesday deciding whether Allstate Insurance Company violated the Kentucky Unfair Settlement Practices Act by systematically lowering valuation of minor injury claims and bullying claimants into accepting artificially low settlements. The Plaintiffs alleged that Allstate systematically undervalued claims relying upon a consultant who, according to the...

• Should Arizona Reconsider Statutory Immunity for Negligent Freeway Maintenance?

  Staff Writer | August 03, 2007 10:13 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  A couple of days have passed since the tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis which led to the deaths of at least five people. The cause of the bridge collapse on I-35W will not be known for quite some time. However, if the I-35W bridge collapsed due to ordinary wear and tear, such a tragedy may have been avoided had the Minnesota Department of Transportation placed a higher priority on bridge...

• Michael Moore's Movie "Sicko" and Its Portrayal of US Healthcare

  Staff Writer | July 04, 2007 9:00 AM | 1 CommentPhoenix, AZ

  Michael Moore released a new movie about the system of healthcare in the United States. In the movie, he portrays our healthcare system as one in crisis. Do you believe our healthcare system in this country provides the best quality of care to patients at a reasonable cost? Have you seen the movie Sicko? Do you think the movie accurately portrays problems with our healthcare system in...

• How Would Tort Reform Affect the Quality of Emergency Healthcare?

  Staff Writer | June 14, 2007 7:00 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  In 1975, the California State Legislature passed the California Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) which placed a cap on damages for medical malpractice claims. According to this Act, an injured plaintiff cannot recover non-economic losses in excess of $250,000. This tort reform statute has been in effect in California for thirty-two years. Because this California law has been in...

• Legislature Passes Bill Limiting Teen Driving

  Staff Writer | May 14, 2007 4:37 PM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Last week, the Arizona Legislature passed the Teenage Driver Safety Act, legislation which places driving limitations on new young drivers to help minimize risk of automobile accidents. The bill limits teens as follows:The act provides for driving restrictions from midnight to 5 a.m. and passenger limitations for the first six months a new teen driver holds a Class G driver's license. According...

• Head Injuries Often Cause Death in Motorcycle Accidents

  Staff Writer | August 04, 2006 2:25 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  According to the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety, head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. That's why two of the most important parts of a safe motorcycle ride are proper helmets and riding gear.If you are wearing a helmet while in a motorcycle accident, you will have a 29% better chance of surviving than if you were not wearing a helmet. This is according to...

• Has Your Health Insurance Company Treated You Fairly?

  Staff Writer | May 07, 2007 5:00 PM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Today in the Los Angeles Times, I read about the health insurance company Blue Shield of California which has been sued by a policyholder alleging bad faith for refusing to pay medical bills totalling $450,000 arising out of a serious car accident. According the the article, the insureds applied for health insurance, paid premiums and received an individual policy through Blue Shield of...

• Legislature to Consider Alcohol Interlock Devices for DUI Offenders

  Staff Writer | April 14, 2007 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  The Arizona House of Representatives has preliminarily passed a tough DUI bill requiring offenders to place ignition interlock devices on their vehicles which would prevent them from drinking and driving. The legislation apparently has enough support to pass the legislature and will likely go to the Governor's office for signature. The legislation designed to prevent alcohol-related motor...

• State Farm Insurance CEO Pay Rises Eighty-Two Percent

  Staff Writer | March 20, 2007 10:00 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Congratulations to State Farm Insurance Company! Its profits rose almost sixty-four percent (64%) to $5.32 billion dollars last year from $3.24 billion dollars in 2005. In my opinion, during this time, I do not think that State Farm acted like very much of a good neighbor to victims of Hurricane Katrina or to other policy-holders who timely paid premiums thinking they would be protected in...

• Families Sue Bar in Wrong-Way Crash Case

  Andrew Defusco | February 17, 2006 9:11 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  In early February, the families of three teenagers sued a bar in a Texas court, claiming that the bar should be held responsible for causing the motor vehicle accident and the teens' deaths. The accident was caused by a drunk driver who drove the wrong way and crashed into the teens' vehicle. In Arizona, bars can be held responsible for causing injuries and deaths when they overserve alcohol...