Posts tagged Rants and Raves

• The Tort Reform Debate

  Staff Writer | June 20, 2007 12:00 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Miscellaneous
  

  I received a few responses to my recent posting about the California Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) which present different perspectives on an emotionally charged tort reform debate. Thank you to those who commented. Although we do not necessarily share the same opinions, I appreciate your willingness to post your thoughts and believe that we can respectfully disagree on some...

• Pharmaceutical Company Threatened Legal Action Against Physician Who Questioned the Safety of Diabetes Medication Avandia

  Staff Writer | June 07, 2007 1:49 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Defective & Dangerous Products
  

  GlaxoSmithKline operates as the world's second largest pharmaceutical company behind Pfizer. It markets a vast assortment of medication to treat patients with health problems and, according to its annual report for 2006, the diabetes medication Avandia is one of the top six pharmaceutical products it markets throughout the world, At 30th September 2006, GSK held second position in the world...

• Senator Kyl Holding Up Modification to Freedom of Information Act

  Staff Writer | June 01, 2007 2:00 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Ironically, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl recently invoked a tool to secretly object and withhold from consideration in the United States Senate a bill modifying the Freedom of Information Act. In contrast to Senator Kyl's initially secret actions, the legislation known as the Open Government Act had been drafted to make government activity less secret and more open to public scrutiny. Senator Kyl...

• Industry Lobbyist Withdraws Nomination to Head Consumer Product Safety Commission

  Staff Writer | May 24, 2007 1:19 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Based upon increasing public pressure, yesterday lobbyist Michael Baroody removed his name from consideration to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In another post, I questioned whether a lobbyist for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) should head an organization which has conflicting objectives. The National Association of Manufacturers lobbies on behalf of many...

• Frivolous $65,000,000 Lawsuit Receiving Plenty of Attention

  Staff Writer | May 05, 2007 7:20 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Miscellaneous
  

  I read a story today about a Judge in Washington DC who has taken it upon himself to sue a dry cleaning business for a total of $65 million dollars because the business lost a pair of his trousers. This lawsuit presents a perfect example of what appears to be frivolous litigation which should be dismissed. We hear numerous stories and media attention often focuses on frivolous litigation. We...

• World Health Organization Reports that Medical Errors Affect One in Ten Patients

  Staff Writer | May 02, 2007 7:30 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Medical Malpractice
  

  According to the World Health Organization, healthcare errors affect one out of every ten patients worldwide. Based on this alarming trend, the World Health Organization prepared patient safety checklists to help professional healthcare providers avoid simple medical mistakes. By following the "Nine Patient Safety Solutions," the organization hopes to see substantial medical error rate...

• Liability for Failure to Prevent Risks of Criminal Activity

  Staff Writer | April 30, 2007 5:02 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)
  

  I read today that a female Circle K clerk in Tucson filed a lawsuit against her employer alleging that the company provided negligent security which allowed a customer to abduct and sexually assault her. According to the newspaper article in the Arizona Daily Star, Circle K should have known of "criminal dangers" at that store. . . . [T]he company should have staffed at least two employees...

• Arizona Supreme Court Rules on Case Involving Public Records Law and E-Mail

  Staff Writer | April 27, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Miscellaneous
  

  The Arizona Public Records Act requires that records maintained by all state and local government agencies be open and available for inspection in a manner: reasonably necessary or appropriate to maintain an accurate knowledge of their official activities and of any of their activities which are supported by monies from the state or any political subdivision of the state.A.R.S. section...

• Remembering Crime Victims

  Staff Writer | April 23, 2007 5:00 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Today marks the start of the National Crime Victims Rights Week highlighting the rights of crime victims to be treated fairly with dignity and compassion. This morning, Governor Napolitano delivered a speech kicking off a week of activities designed to highlight the needs of crime victims. In the past, crime victims did not receive sufficient information about the status of a criminal case. ...

• Ohio State Database Exposes Confidential Information

  Staff Writer | April 20, 2007 11:37 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ Category: Miscellaneous
  

  According to the on-line edition of Computerworld, a database containing social security numbers of approximately 14,000 current and former employees at Ohio State University has been the most recent source of possible identity theft. This situation apparently involved foreign thieves from three different countries hacking into an Ohio State University database containing sensitive employee...