Many people in Wayne, New Jersey, might remember the famous McDonald's "hot coffee lawsuit" that occurred in 1994. In that lawsuit, a 79-year-old woman accidentally spilled hot coffee, which she bought from McDonald's, on her lap and suffered burns. She sued the restaurant chain and a jury awarded her $2.9 million in damages. However, the judge reduced the compensation to $400,000 and the woman and McDonalds settled the matter out of court, for an undisclosed amount.
Residents of New Jersey know that many of us are dependent on drugs and medical devices to ensure a healthy lifestyle. While some drugs are administered orally, others are administered through other methods. But no matter what method is used, consumers expect the pharmaceutical products they take to be safe.
Recently, Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, agreed to pay $100 million to settle thousands of products liability lawsuits pertaining to the safety of its NuvaRing contraceptive device. According to reports, more than 200 lawsuits have been consolidated in New Jersey, all of which claim the company knew that NuvaRing posed a higher risk of heart attacks and blood clots compared to its competitors.
The house of a New Jersey resident may be considered his or her castle, but the law is quite specific about the fact that every property owner is responsible for the safety of anybody who visits his or her property. This brings forth the concept of premises liability, which means that property owners will have to compensate anybody who suffers injury on the property, whether the injured is an invited guest or not, irrespective of whether the property is residential or commercial. This is especially true if the injury has been caused by negligence on the owner's part to address the dangerous conditions that exist on his or her property. In that case, the court may end up awarding the injured person a sizable amount of compensation at the owner's expense.
A visit to a nearby mall with parents is something that many children in New Jersey anticipate, be it for shopping or just for having fun. With so many people around, it is the responsibility of the shopping mall staff and managers to ensure the safety of the customers. However, at Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus, New Jersey, the safety of the premises was called into question when a young girl was seriously injured due to an escalator accident.
New Jersey businesses have a responsibility to keep people safe when they are on the businesses' property. This includes making sure the property is properly maintained and that any obvious dangers -- like water on the floor -- are fixed as soon as possible. When businesses fail to live up to this standard accidents are likely.
When parents purchase toys for their children, their first thought is probably of the child playing happily with the newest member of their collection. However, the unfortunate truth is that sometimes those toys can also pose dangers, particularly when they are poorly designed or defectively manufactured. When either occurs, an unsuspecting parent could find their child suddenly suffering.
Undoubtedly, New Jersey residents have heard about Toyota's sudden acceleration lawsuits that have made headlines the past couple of years. Cars play a huge role in everyday life and are heavily relied upon for work, getting kids to soccer practice and weekend excursions. For car owners, the thought that your car could suddenly accelerate without your doing so is a terrifying thought. Fatal car accidents are devastating for a family. However, learning that a death could have been prevented but for a company's negligent behavior can be emotionally unbearable. In such cases, a wrongful death lawsuit may be appropriate.
College is a place for education, friendship and personal growth. Every year, eager New Jersey high school students send in applications, holding their breath with each delivery from the mailman. Alternatively, each year, students graduate with a diploma and enter the workforce, equipped with the skills acquired while in college. Colleges are mostly thought of as a safe and nurturing environment for expansion and discovery, exciting college football, bad dorm food and hefty tuition bills.
Recently however, that perception was shattered for one young woman living in her college dorms.
The loss of a loved one can be one of the most difficult and painful times in a person's life. When the loss is the result of an accident, many questions may haunt loved ones, including the "what if," and "why." When a loved one is killed as the result of another person or company's negligence or misconduct, it is even more difficult to fathom or to accept. In such cases, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed to seek answers and compensation for expenses that may have occurred as a result of the death.
Recently, parents of an employee killed in a restaurant fire have filed wrongful death lawsuits against several companies.
The untimely loss of a loved one can be a devastating life event. New Jersey residents who have gone through the trauma and loss often wonder why the accident or event had to occur, or if there was anything that could have been done to stop it. Accidents can happen at anytime and anyplace. However, when a death is a result of another person's negligence or mistake, it is difficult to fathom and difficult to forget.
Much speculation has been made over the civil trial that is about to take place in the death of pop legend, Michael Jackson. The wrongful death case was brought by Jackson's mother, and was filed against concert promoters AEG Live. Katherine Jackson is seeking $40 billion in damages.
