This week one of New Jersey’s leading auto insurance companies, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company (NJM), announced a record-breaking Special Dividend of approximately $132 million. According to NJM, this marks the 14th consecutive year that the Company is sending policyholders dividend checks, and it nearly doubles the Special Dividend issued at this time last year.  [...]

Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Target announced a voluntary recall of its Home Patio Sets.   Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.   Units: About 40,000   Importer: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.   Hazard: The chair can collapse when weight is applied to the front end of the [...]

During an initiative, which ran from August 17 through September 3, 2007, police agencies throughout the state conducted saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints as part of a national initiative designed to combat drunk driving during one of the busiest travel times of the year. A record 96 percent of New Jersey law enforcement agencies participated [...]

In 2001, the Pleasantville School District let school students go early on an unscheduled early dismissal.  Unfortunately for one student, he was hit by a car and paralyzed.  The case finally settled for $6 million dollars.  It is probable that most of the $6 million settlement will go to the cost of care of this [...]

Yes you can. The new amendments to the NJ Municipal Court Rules finally standardize the plea by mail procedures and the court form to be used. In most traffic or parking offenses, a defendant may resolve the case by way of a guilty plea by mail or may plead not guilty and submit a written [...]

Many personal injury victims resort to a pain management doctor to deal with their day-to-day pain from a car accident or a fall down.   This is usually only after these individuals have undergone chiropractic care or some sort of physical therapy. A common form of pain management care utilized today are epidural injections.   An epidural [...]

Yesterday, Special Master, Michael King, heard final arguments from all the NJ DWI defense counsel and amicus curiae (friends of the court) in Camden, NJ.   There will be no further testimony in to be heard by Judge King. Today, the Office of the Attorney General and the manufacturer of the Alcotest 7110 will argue their [...]

Only a person in PENNSYLVANIA could think of this…(not me) From the county where drunk driving is considered a sport, comes this true story. Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a bar in Clearfield, PA after last call the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so apparently intoxicated that he could barely walk. [...]

§ 3747 of the PA motor Vehicle Code requires the driver or owner of a vehicle involved in a PA accident to make report to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Even if the police do not investigate an accident, the driver of a vehicle which is in any manner involved in the PA accident shall, [...]

What’s next?  The FDA asked manufacturers of these drugs to revise product labeling after it was reported sudden hearing loss, sometimes accompanied by ringing in the ears and dizziness.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved labeling changes for erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs in the class that includes Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra, to display more [...]

A Philadelphia man was killed a few weeks ago.   Actually, it wasn’t a man, it was a 15 year old teenager holding a iron (the kind you use on your clothes, not your tires).  The Philadelphia Police were called to the scene for an alleged domestic dispute.   The Philadelphia Police shot and killed the boy.  [...]

On October 6, 2007, a Notice was posted in the Pennsylvania Bulletin (37 Pa.B. 5434) announcing a new list of approved PA breath test devices. The Department of Health (Department) has approved the following equipment for determining the alcohol content of blood by analysis of a person’s breath. Manufacturer and Model Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corp., [...]

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced yesterday that TAP Enterprises Inc., of Springhill, Kan., has agreed to pay a $100,000 civil penalty for failing to report to the government in a timely manner about defective air compressors.   In October 2004, TAP first learned of an incident involving a fire caused by the [...]

Across the country there has been ongoing litigation about certain drugs Wyeth has been distributing containing Premarin, an estrogen replacement, and Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin.  These drugs have been found to cause cancer in the women who have taken them.  These dangerous drugs have been commonly prescribed to women for menopause comfort. [...]

Is this ridiculous or not?   The town of Sea Girt, NJ has outlawed “drinking games” played on private property in public view.   Penalties include a $100 fine for a tenant and possibly the landlord. So, it appears that consenting drinking adults (of the legal age) who want to play a friendly game—without making any noise [...]

Out of 723 car accident deaths in 2006, by far, the driver was the most probable person to die in a PA car accident (74% of crash deaths).   17.7% of all 2006 PA car accident deaths were the right front passenger of the car.  PA right rear passenger car accident deaths almost doubled the amount [...]

Today, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is initiating a voluntary recall of 18 oz Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Country Wheat Rolls with best-if-used-by date of October 10. This product is being recalled because the package may actually contain potato rolls, which contain a milk allergen not declared on the label.  The bread was produced [...]

Governor Corzine just signed an amendment to NJ motor vehicle law (N.J.S.A. 39:3-17.1).   This law requires people who are now living or residing in New Jersey to register their vehicle with the State of NJ and get a NJ driver’s license within 60 days. The new part of this law adds more penalties.   A 3rd [...]

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: IonizAir™ Table Top Air Purifiers Units: About 83,000 Importer: P3 International, of New York, N.Y. Manufacturer: Leaven Enterprise Co., [...]

The New Jersey Law Journal just published its list of the top 20 NJ personal injury awards from July 10, 2006 through September 3, 2007.  Here they are:  Tropicana Garage Collapse: $101 million Vioxx case: $47.5 million Disabled car – truck accident: $31 million Wrongful Birth: $28 million Pedestrian Accident in car dealership lot:  $14.7 [...]