In California, it is common for families to have an elderly family member or loved one live in a nursing home in the hope that he or she will receive only the best care possible. However, many families often find that some nursing home facilities and staff do not live up to such expectations. While many people are aware of the signs of emotional, physical, or even sexual abuse that may occur in a nursing home, there is one form of abuse that is much more subtle, but just as devastating: financial abuse.
Often times, elderly residents must rely on a nursing home staff member or another trusted person to help manage his or her assets, including money, property or other valuables. However, this creates a situation in which the elderly person is vulnerable to theft. It may go unnoticed for years, but financial abuse can have serious consequences.
The warning signs of financial abuse include the following:
- Any sudden changes to the elderly person’s will or trust
- Large amounts of money withdrawn from the elderly person’s bank account without explanation
- Charges for healthcare that is not provided
- Personal belongings go missing
- Despite the elderly person’s financial situation, he or she is living in poor conditions.
- Unpaid bills
If you believe your loved one is the victim of financial abuse, please contact the Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyers at Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley. Our experienced team can investigate your case and help win the financial compensation you and your loved one deserve.
Nearly two dozen consumer advocacy groups and trial lawyers have been organizing a campaign to support a slate of medical reform bills that are currently facing California Legislature. The proposed initiatives intend to hold doctors responsible for the consequences of over-prescribing medications in an effort to reduce the number of casualties caused by prescription drug abuse.
According to The Los Angeles Times, in recent years, nearly half of the deaths caused by prescription drugs in Southern California had been prescribed by doctors.
The bills also aim to upgrade Cures, California’s prescription drug monitoring program, to allow doctors to quickly identify whether or not a patient has been “doctor-shopping.”
However, Bob Pack, a strong advocate for the initiatives, said, “The problem is, when someone dies from a prescription drug overdose in California, there is no recourse at all.”
Pack became involved with the campaign against prescription drug abuse after his two children were killed by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol and prescription pain pills. He believes that the bills should go a step further and monitor doctors who recklessly prescribe medications, as well as remove a cap on damages claimed by victims of medical malpractice.
The consumer advocacy groups and trial lawyers behind the campaign will continue to work out the details of the proposed initiative in the hope of making it on to voter ballots in the November 2014 general election.
The Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyers at Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley can help you understand your legal rights if you or someone you love has been injured by a healthcare professional’s negligence. Please call us at (310) 273-1230 for a free consultation.
Jury consultant and co-author of Nick Rowley’s new book “Trial by Human,” Steve Halteman has begun an incredible journey to raise awareness and funds for Escuela Verde by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail; a daunting trek that starts at the California-Mexican border and winds its way north to the Canadian border.
Escuela Verde is a bilingual school located in Costa Ballena, Uvita, Costa Rica that, in just six years, has grown from a small rented home to become a family-centered school, with classes ranging from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade levels.
Halteman’s passion for helping others is evident in his commitment to dedicate himself wholly to raising awareness for a small community that has changed the lives of hundreds of families in what is known as one of the poorest parts of Costa Rica.
In support of Halteman’s dedication to Escuela Verde, the Los Angeles law firm of Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley have pledged to donate $3 to the school for every mile that Halteman walks. With a total of 2,668 miles to cover, the firm’s contribution will certainly go a long way to help Escuela Verde achieve its goal of expanding to include junior high and eventually high school level curriculums.
Follow Halteman’s four to five month adventure on his blog: http://www.storiesfromsteve.org
To learn more about Escuela Verde or to make a donation, visit: www.escuelaverdecostaballena.com
The personal injury attorneys at Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley are deeply committed to helping others in the pursuit of justice, just as Halteman has devoted the next few months of his life to support children’s education. If you or a loved one has been injured by a reckless or negligent party, our legal team will work to help you achieve the compensation you deserve. To learn more, contact us at (310) 273-1230.
In April 2013, CZ&R settled a young woman’s drop foot and RSD/CRPS case for the defendant’s policy limits of $3.5 million. The 24-year-old recent college graduate was riding her bicycle on a sidewalk on the wrong side of the street when she was struck by the defendant’s vehicle. The defendant was turning into the parking lot of his insurance company’s office. The plaintiff had less than $200,000 in past medical bills.
The case was referred to CZ&R by the Law Offices of Bennett Spector, who worked closely with CZ&R to achieve this result.
In the months subsequent to the collision, the plaintiff suffered symptoms of drop foot. Proving the injury was complicated as both the defense neurologist and the plaintiff’s neurodiagnostic expert could not locate any nerve injury causing the foot drop symptoms. The plaintiff’s RSD/CRPS condition – a chronic pain disorder – was also missed by her treating physicians.
Complicating the case still further, the plaintiff was an exceptionally intelligent college student and had experienced only very limited loss of earnings.
To increase pressure on the defense, CZ&R sought to prove the elderly defendant’s vision was sufficiently degraded that he should not be driving. CZ&R hoped to prove that driving with degraded vision is so reckless that punitive damages should be imposed. As all litigators know, a defendant is generally entitled to conduct a medical examination of a plaintiff in order to cross-examine the plaintiff about her injuries at trial. In this case, CZ&R used a little-known statute to turn the tables on the defense. CZ&R demanded that the defendant be examined by plaintiff’s eye doctor.
The defense settled for $3.5 million – the full policy limits – shortly after the defendant’s vision examination was demanded.
The Los Angeles law firm of Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley recently made a donation to the Imagination Workshop, a non-profit dramatic arts organization at UCLA that provides mentally ill and at-risk individuals with the therapeutic benefits of theatre and poetry.
The Imagination Workshop combines the transformative power of writing, directing, and acting in plays with the healing guidance of traditional therapy. Participants, such as senior citizens, homeless veterans, at-risk youths, and the mentally ill, find a creative outlet that allows them to heal and communicate their feelings in a new way with the help of specially trained actors and theatre artists.
Actress Margaret Ladd and writer Lyle Kessler started the Imagination Workshop in 1969 to give individuals who may otherwise be overlooked the opportunity to experience the positive, empowering environment that the theatre arts offers. “We give them the mask of a character which soothes and protects the injured self behind which, as it heals itself, begins to share its lovely yearnings,” explains Ladd.
To learn more or to make a donation, please visit www.imaginationworkshop.org
The personal injury attorneys at Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley are committed to defending those who need help both in and out of the courtroom. If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered injustice due to another’s negligence or wrongdoing, contact our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at (310) 273-1230 for a free consultation.
Earth Day, April 22nd, is a chance to strengthen and mobilize the public all over the world to demonstrate their commitment to environmental awareness. The Earth Day international network champions environmental initiatives all over the world.
The explosion in Los Angeles’ population over the past 100 years is putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the environment. Inadequately treated sewage caused dead zones in the Santa Monica Bay as the quality of water became harmful to all life. The efforts of Heal the Bay and those who supported its environmental work resulted in the EPA mandating strict processes for the treatment of sewage. Water quality in the Bay has since improved.
The Bay still faces ongoing challenges, however, from over harvesting of fish to marine debris. By addressing the issue of ocean pollution, Heal the Bay has made positive change possible and continues to facilitate regulations and legislation that will help keep our Bay clean for future generations.
One of Heal the Bay’s goals is that the state of California should assume the leading role in preventing marine debris from destroying marine life and harming the coastal economy. The group supports and sponsors legislation that benefits our Bay and our coastline. For a complete list of bills intended to address the problem of debris in our ocean and on our coastline, you may go online to www.healthebay.org.
In honor of Earth Day, April 22nd, 2013, attorneys at the Los Angeles law firm of Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley, one of the largest law firms in California dedicated exclusively to representing injured people, has made a generous contribution to Heal the Bay. We support the efforts of Heal the Bay to maintain the ecological, economic, and recreational value of our ocean and our coast.
As reported by the Associated Press on April 10th, 2013, Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody on Tuesday listened to arguments as to whether lawsuits accusing the National Football League of concealing known risks of brain injuries belong in court or in arbitration.
4,200 former NFL players are pursuing lawsuits against the NFL. Brody could rule in favor of the NFL, determining head injuries are covered in collective bargaining agreement health provisions. She could rule in favor of the 4,200 former players and allow them to go forward with their litigation. Her decision could also be a split decision, allowing only part of the negligence and fraud claims against the league to move forward in court.
Eleanor Perfetto’s husband, Ralph Wenzel, played for San Diego and for Pittsburgh during the years 1966 through 1973. Perfetto said some people are not going to live long enough to see this case conclude. Her husband was one. He died in June, 2012. Near the end of his life he suffered from extremely severe and debilitating dementia.
Attorney for the NFL, Paul Clement, argued in court Wednesday that NFL teams are chiefly responsible for the safety and health of players along with the players themselves.
The players’ argument is that the NFL encouraged violent hits and through NFL Films, profited from glorifying vicious hits to the head. Studies that connected concussions to neurological risks were hidden away for decades according to David Frederick, attorney for the players. Frequently concussed athletes have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy after death, such as Junior Seau. Other former players are suffering depression, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease.
If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury due to the negligent actions of another, that individual or organization should be held accountable. Our Los Angeles traumatic brain injury (TBI) victim attorneys at Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley, LLP want you to become informed about the serious repercussions of brain injury. We understand the impact that a TBI can have on your life and your family’s lives. Please call (310) 273-1230 to learn how we can help.
At the law firm of Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, we are proud of our new published author, Nicholas C. Rowley.
Attorney Rowley has compiled a remarkable history of trial verdicts, becoming one of America’s great trial lawyers. He has represented clients in more than 70 jury trials. In 2012, he completed a 12-month run of back-to-back trials resulting in more than $140 million in wins.
With clients, judges, witnesses, and jurors, Mr. Rowley of the firm Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, is known for his distinctively human approach. His new book, Trial by Human, takes its name from that approach. Trial by Human is a deeply personal and passionate treatise. In it Rowley and co-author Steven Halteman share their “trial by human” method.
Mr. Rowley was born in Iowa and lived the first years of his life on a small farm. His parents divorced. At age fifteen he moved out on his own and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on his seventeenth birthday. He served as a combat medic and member of a special operations unit whose job was to rescue wounded soldiers and civilians. He learned about emergency medical care and traumatic brain injuries firsthand. His focus in the firm of Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley is on jury trials.
The “trial by human” approach brings to the courtroom a combination of brutal honesty and humanity. In Trial by Human Rowley and Halteman illustrate the importance of feeling and understanding the injustice experienced by clients. You can’t expect a jury to comprehend that injustice if you haven’t taken the time to do so yourself. Attorneys must step out of the conference room and into the lives and homes of their clients.
Through relating stories of their own trials with brutal honesty, Rowley and Halteman dissect their methods, sharing what has and has not worked for them and the lessons they have learned in the process. Nick’s approach to trial is unique, “My clients are family to me. I give them my all.” Nick takes pride in his ability to help juries discover the truth in order to deliver justice to his injured clients. His approach to working with client victims and their families is empathetic and caring.
In Connecting with the Jury, a CD & DVD set, Nicholas Rowley demonstrates his unique approach to cases. You will learn how you can adopt his methods in order to achieve similar success—positive results for your clients.
Connecting with the Jury and Nick’s new book, Trial by Human, can both be ordered online at www.trialguides.com.
As reported by the Associated Press on April 13th, 2013, a West Hollywood man, age 33, has been declared brain dead after contracting bacterial meningitis earlier in the week. His illness has prompted warnings about the potentially deadly strain of meningitis to gay men who are sexually active.
The man began to feel ill on Monday, April 8th, 2013. He went to the emergency room on Wednesday and was in a coma by Thursday. On Friday officials warned gay men who are sexually active to be aware of the potentially deadly threat to their health after the case was detected in Los Angeles County. In 2010, 22 New York City gay men were infected by a strain of meningitis. Seven died. Tests are being performed to determine whether this strain is similar to those meningococcal infections.
The illness cannot be spread through casual contact. It can be spread by kissing and sex. Symptoms of bacterial meningitis usually appear three to seven days after being exposed. Symptoms include the following:
- Headache
- Fever
- Stiffness in the neck
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confused, altered mental state
- Sensitivity to light
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bacterial meningitis is normally severe but contracting the illness is not always a death sentence. There were approximately 4,100 cases in the U.S. between 2003 and 2007 with 500 deaths, according to the CDC.
West Hollywood Councilman, John Duran, is planning to appropriate $20,000 to purchase vaccines for anyone who could not otherwise afford them. Gay advocacy groups are joining in partnership with the city, posting health notices in gyms in West Hollywood.
The Los Angeles medical malpractice attorneys at Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley represents individuals and family members of individuals who have been harmed by medical errors such as misdiagnosing, administering the wrong medication, using unsanitary needles, etc. If a medical professional has made a mistake in your case or in the case of a family member, our Los Angeles injury lawyers can help. Please call (310) 273-1230 or complete our online contact form for a free consultation.
According to an announcement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made on Friday, April 5th, 2013, closures of many contract airport control towers across the U.S. are being delayed. Beginning on Sunday, April, 7th, 2013, some towers were expected to shut down. A tower in San Diego was scheduled to close on May 5th, and one in Lancaster was scheduled to shut down on April 21st. Traffic control towers in Fullerton, Pacoima, Ramona, and Riverside will also remain in operation longer now than was expected.
Courtesy of CBS 8 KFMB-TV, the FAA proposed closing almost 200 towers across the country, including the control tower at Hawthorne Municipal Airport. The decision to close the Hawthorne facility was reversed because the FAA decided closing the tower would have a negative impact on the national interest. The closings are needed to meet required cuts of $637 million mandated under budget sequestration. Closures have been delayed until June 15, 2013.
Some airport authorities across the country have informed the FAA that they have plans to fund airport control towers themselves rather than allowing them to close. The delay would give those local airport authorities time to make those plans final. There have also been legal challenges to the closings, and the agency will have some time to attempt to resolve some of those prior to the June 15th deadline.
Time is also needed to make certain pilots understand the changes that will occur at their local airports.
Aviation safety must be a top priority because when aviation accidents do occur, the results are usually fatal. If you have lost a loved one in a plane or helicopter crash, our San Diego injury attorneys at the firm of Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley, LLP are well qualified to investigate all possible causes of the crash including poor performance from air traffic controllers or pilots, poor maintenance, etc. Call us at (619) 814-9000 for a no-cost consultation.
