By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Defective ProductsLast fall, we asked the question on our other blog — Will Invokana Injury Cases Be Centralized? At that time, a growing number of injured patients had filed lawsuits in Federal Courts. Our firm has been investigating potential Invokana injury claims for some time. For background information on the drug Invokana and its associated injuries,… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Defective ProductsHernia Repair Surgeries Are Common Hernia repair surgeries are among the most common surgeries in the United States. More than a million of these surgeries are performed each year in this country. Hernia repair surgeries can be performed with or without the implantation of mesh. As with mesh used in some other repair surgeries, the… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Federal CourtsI have not discussed Federal court diversity jurisdiction in a long time. Yet, the issue is important for attorneys handling significant injury claims. A SHORT DEFINITION OF FEDERAL COURT DIVERSITY JURISDICTION Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. Generally, Federal courts have jurisdiction of claims under the U.S. Constitution, treaties and Federal statutes. Federal law… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Defective ProductsConsumer health and safety should be the primary goals of drug research. Yet, they are not. The primary goal seems to be greed for quick and massive profit. For some drug companies, that means — conceal bad studies revealing drug dangers, give the FDA just enough positive information to get the drug to market, and… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal Injury,Workers' CompensationRecent research reveals that early treatment for traumatic brain injury is an important factor in patient recovery. According to an article discussing this research: Early rehabilitation interventions seem to be essential for how well a patient recovers after a severe brain injury. I have represented many individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) over the… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryIn past posts, I’ve been critical of attorney advertising on television and billboards. These advertisements are a terrible way to find a personal injury attorney. On television, these characters stand on top of 18 wheeler trucks, wear capes, chase ambulances and talk about fast settlements. The attorney (or sometimes just an actor) tries to look… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal Injury,Supreme Court of AlabamaIn a recent interview, Federal District Court Judge James Holderman provides a good perspective on dealing with difficult judges in trial. Judge Holderman’s experience includes many years of trial work as a private attorney prior to his appointment as a Federal Judge. Let me start by saying the truly difficult judge has been a rare… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryIn the October issue of Trial magazine, I read of a case involving a fall from a manlift in South Alabama. Falls from heights are a leading cause of disabling personal injury and death on construction and industrial sites. In the last few years, I’ve represented several workers who fell from lifts. Fortunately, all these… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal Injury I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking about client service. Perhaps it is the recent news that Walgreens received an $80 Million fine after allegations the chain allowed huge numbers of dangerous narcotic painkillers on the black market. Maybe you are asking – What does this fine have to do with my thoughts… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryI rarely write about my current cases. However, some cases present special safety issues. Over the last couple years, I’ve represented the family of a paramedic who lost her life while helping another accident victim on the Interstate. This paramedic left behind a beautiful baby girl and a grieving young husband. The facts are pretty… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryOn May 16, I wrote an entry titled Justice and Arbitration Fairness. The post discussed the impact of forced arbitration clauses upon families who have suffered personal injuries or damages from corporate wrongdoing. Since that post, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued several decisions which clearly reveal the destructive impact of arbitration upon justice. Welcome… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryArbitration. What role should it play in our justice system? What role does it currently play? These are important questions if you have an interest in seeing that those injured are able to access the courthouse for justice. As Federal policy, arbitration began as a means for sophisticated businesses to resolve complicated commercial disputes privately.… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryThe U.S. government recently released data detailing and comparing hospital charges. The clear fact revealed by the data — Charges for specific procedures can vary greatly between hospitals. This comes as no surprise to me. I see hospital bills on a regular basis in my personal injury practice. When asked about this data on hospital… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryThe March calendar means basketball to some and springtime for others. However, March also marks Brain Injury Awareness Month. As this month draws to a close, I am focusing on this serious injury that deserves, from a broad perspective, increased national and state awareness. An estimated 10,000 Alabamians sustain a brain injury each year, with 2-3 males… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryThe Alabama Supreme Court reversed verdicts for the plaintiff in 72% of the cases it decided during the last 10 years. A recent study of court decisions revealed this troubling fact. Really, were almost 3/4 of the plaintiff’s verdicts wrong? I have a problem with a percentage that huge. My problem is simple — civil… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryA personal injury from a car collision can be devastating. When another driver causes the crash and hurts you, he or she should take responsibility for your injuries. In Alabama, drivers are required to have liability insurance to protect others from their negligence. That’s the law. It’s important for our protection as responsible drivers. The… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryIn a post on the Alabama Injured Worker Forum, I wrote that Worker Safety Should Be A Top Priority For Government Contractors. Unfortunately, many government contractors put profits over safety. The result is too often a needless personal injury that devastates the worker and his family. In November, a jury convicted the former safety manager at… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryI will occasionally review past posts to my blog. I always find it interesting how legal issues develop over time after writing a post. I also find it interesting to see which posts have generated the most views and feedback. The results are often different than I expected. Almost 3 years ago, I wrote a… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal Injury,Workers' CompensationEarlier this month, Cumberland Law School sponsored its 26th Annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar. The speakers at this excellent program included a Judge on The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and a well-known orthopedic surgeon. One of the afternoon sessions included a panel of four attorneys answering questions from the audience related to workers’ compensation in… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryA traumatic brain injury (TBI) can devastate an entire family. Over the years, I have met many families struggling to help their loved one function after such an injury. Earlier this week, I read an article in an Alabama newspaper that told the story of a wife caring for her husband who had been changed… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryAsk most lawyers and they will tell you that seminars are typically boring. You sit in a bleak, windowless conference room. At the scheduled time, the speaker stands. The speaker then drones on and on until his time expires. By lunch, the audience is desperate for a break. After lunch, the audience is struggling simply… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryA 2011 study concluded that Alabama has the 6th highest rate of uninsured vehicles among all states. That statistic should alarm all responsible drivers on Alabama roads. Alabama law has required drivers to carry liability insurance for many years. This coverage is very important. Yet, a few drivers fail to act responsibly before driving and… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Personal InjuryI recently read an interesting article from a successful appellate lawyer in Alabama, Mike Skotnicki. The article is on his blog. Mike discussed storytelling in appellate briefs. When attorneys think of appellate arguments they often picture a panel of scholarly judges discussing the finer of points of legal issues. Mike presented an interesting study concerning… Continue Reading
By Jeff Blackwell on Posted in Federal Courts,Personal InjuryTake a look at a map of North Alabama and you can’t miss it. Redstone Arsenal is a huge federal facility covering a large area next to Huntsville. In addition to its huge size, Redstone plays a significant role in the lives of many local residents. It has a major financial and business impact on… Continue Reading
