Las Vegas Litigation Law Blog

Legionella bacteria found in Atlanta hotel

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in premises liability on Tuesday, August 20, 2019.

Nevada residents may be aware that at least one death has been attributed to a recent outbreak of Legionnaire's disease at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed 13 cases of the disease and identified a further 66 probable cases. A GDPH representative said on Aug. 15 that traces of Legionella bacteria had been found in water samples collected from the Sheraton's cooling tower and an atrium fountain.

Legionnaire's disease is a potentially deadly form of pneumonia spread by a bacteria that lives in freshwater. The bacteria poses a public health hazard when it enters a building's water system and collects in hot water tanks and cooling towers. Symptoms of the disease include chills, fatigue, nausea, breathing difficulties and bouts of coughing. These signs can persist for two months after patients start receiving treatment.

Most accident-prone vehicle is the Subaru Crosstrek

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in car accidents on Monday, August 19, 2019.

According to an Insurify survey, the Subaru Crosstrek is the one vehicle in the U.S. that sees the most at-fault accidents. Nevada residents should know that Insurify, an auto insurance comparison site, has gathered statistics from more than 1.6 million insurance quotes and come up with a list of 10 of the most accident-prone vehicles.

It is somewhat ironic that the Subaru Crosstrek should top the list because the 2019 model has been given the highest possible safety rating by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The survey said that 25.81% of accidents have involved Crosstreks, but the fortunate thing is that many of these accidents do not end in serious injuries. The Crosstrek is also affordable and fuel-efficient.

Lawsuit arises over woman bitten by Wayne Newton's pet monkey

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in premises liability on Wednesday, August 14, 2019.

Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton was one of the defendants named in a lawsuit filed with the Nevada State Court on Aug. 7. The plaintiff is the mother of a girl who was allegedly bitten by Newton's pet monkey during a tour of the Casa de Shenandoah. This incident took place back in October 2017.

The Casa de Shenandoah, Newton's former estate, is a 40-acre mansion with gardens, horse stables and exotic animals. Sold to investors in 2010, it was turned into a museum and tourist attraction. The company that runs the museum and tours is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Actor Wil Wheaton files breach of contract lawsuit

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in contract disputes on Wednesday, August 14, 2019.

Nevada residents may know Wil Wheaton as the actor who played Wesley Crusher in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation" and himself in several episodes of "The Big Bang Theory". The 47-year-old is widely respected in the entertainment industry for his professional approach, which apparently extends to taking legal action when he feels he is not being paid as agreed.

Wheaton and his company Media Dynamics filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Aug. 5 against Legendary Geek & Sundry that accuses the digital entertainment firm of breach of contract. Wheaton is seeking damages of at least $100,000 and wants the court to order Legendary to submit to a full accounting audit. At the heart of the lawsuit are lucrative licensing agreements that Legendary has entered into with Hulu, Pluto TV, and Sinclair Broadcasting.

Various types of slip and fall claims

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in premises liability on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

A Nevada resident who slips, trips and/or falls on another's property may be able to file an injury claim. There are various types of slip-and-fall claims; these cases could arise from different forms of negligence on the property owner's part.

Property owners have a duty to ensure the safety of all lawful entrants, including guests, customers and employees. They may fail in this duty by having inadequate facilities. This category can include signs of negligence like dim lighting, torn carpeting and the haphazard placing of cords and cables. Someone who has been injured as a result of inadequate facilities must show that the owner failed to address the issue in a reasonable amount of time.

How to avoid distracted driving

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in car accidents on Monday, August 5, 2019.

Distracted driving is a major problem in Nevada and nationwide. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 3,166 Americans were killed by distracted drivers in 2017. In order to reduce the risk of distracted driving accidents, traffic safety experts recommend that drivers follow several safety tips.

Texting and driving causes thousands of distracted driving car crashes each year. To avoid this, drivers should never use their cellphone while operating a vehicle. Instead, they should place their phone in "Do Not Disturb" mode and pull over in a safe location when they need to text, browse social media or make phones calls. It is also important for drivers to avoid eating food while driving. Opening food packaging, eating and trying to prevent spills while behind the wheel can be very distracting and lead to collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles.

An effective business plan can increase the chances of success

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in business formation and planning on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

Entrepreneurs in Nevada and around the country are usually energetic and enthusiastic individuals, but their eagerness to get a project off the ground quickly can sometimes be their undoing. Launching a new commercial venture without a solid plan increases the chances of failure, even if the idea is a good one, which is something that should be taken seriously if family members or financial backers are relying on a successful outcome.

Effective business plans are not a series of steps that are cast in stone and must be followed to the letter. Instead, they are roadmaps to success that may be modified or amended as lessons are learned, and situations change. However, they should feature clear goals and a list of the obstacles that must be overcome in order to achieve those aspirations. Entrepreneurs should be honest about their strengths and weaknesses when drafting a business plan as this can help them identify areas where they may need assistance.

Rear car seat safety lagging behind front seats

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in car accidents on Monday, July 29, 2019.

Nevada residents should know that most rear-seat safety has hardly progressed since the 1990s. Improvements in front car seat safety have made rear seats a danger zone, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. For example, most rear seats lack side curtain airbags to keep passengers from bouncing off hard surfaces. They also lack forward airbags, though these are being developed.

The IIHS mentions two other ways in which rear seat safety can improve. One is the installation of force limiters, which uses webbing in the seatbelt to reduce the force with which the belt tightens against the passenger. Another is the strengthening of front seat backs.

Woman sues Drake, Madison Square Garden over head injury

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in premises liability on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

Drake fans in Nevada may be interested to learn that a 24-year-old New York woman is suing him over a head injury she suffered at one of his concerts. Madison Square Garden, one of the venue's employees and concert promoter Live Nation are also named in the lawsuit.

According to court documents, the plaintiff was "violently struck" by a beer bottle thrown during a Drake concert at Madison Square Garden on Aug. 8, 2016. The lawsuit claims that the incident was malicious and occurred without provocation. The suit also contends the plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury and seizures as a result of the attack and can no longer attend medical school.

Researchers develop new traumatic brain injury treatment

On behalf of Aldrich Law Firm, Ltd. posted in brain injury on Monday, July 22, 2019.

Patients in Nevada and elsewhere may soon have access to a promising new treatment that could reduce brain damage that occurs after traumatic brain injuries. The treatment was developed by a team of researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Each year, nearly 3 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, which is caused by a blow, bump, jolt or penetrative injury to the head. TBIs can cause inflammation and abnormal electrical activity in the brain and break down the body's critical blood-brain barrier. This can cause a variety of symptoms, including memory loss, loss of balance and coordination, changes in speech, muscle weakness, personality changes and seizures. There is currently no treatment for TBI.