St. Louis Pipe Rupture Spotlights Danger of Asbestos Exposure
Authored by: Gray, Ritter & Graham
On April 5, 2012, an underground steam pipe burst in downtown St. Louis, blasting asbestos insulation and other debris into the air some 40 feet. The rubble covered buildings, sidewalks, and cars for blocks, requiring days of professional clean-up.
Fortunately, after thorough cleaning and testing, it was determined that there was no remaining evidence of asbestos in the area. Continue Reading
Class Action Lawsuits Recover Billions in Securities Fraud
Authored by: Gray, Ritter & Graham
"The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed – for lack of a better term – is good."
So says the character Gordon Gecko in the movie “Wall Street.” In the movie, Gecko, played by actor Michael Douglas, is a wealthy investment executive eventually tried and convicted for illegal insider trading. Insider trading is one form of securities fraud - an umbrella term that includes a number of deceptive practices by individuals and companies during the sale of stocks and bonds. Continue Reading
Qui Tam Lawsuits Offer Incentives for Whistleblowers to Come Forward
Authored by: Gray, Ritter & Graham
Thanks to a federal law that dates back to the Civil War, private individuals can sue other individuals, companies or organizations they suspect are defrauding the U.S. government. Fraud that today runs into the billions of dollars. Continue Reading
Steps to Prevent Medication Errors
Authored by: Gray, Ritter & Graham
According to a 1999 study by the Institute of Medicine, as many as 98,000 deaths result each year from medical errors. And more than 7,000 of those fatalities are related to medications. Since 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 95,000 reports of medication errors. The actual number of errors could be higher as these are voluntary reports. A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or harm to a patient. Continue Reading
Be Warned: Others May Lay Claim to Your Personal Injury Lawsuit Compensation
Authored by: Joan M. Lockwood
Settlements or judgments in personal injury claims may be subject to various liens or claims by third parties such as hospitals, governmental agencies or entities that have paid for medical expenses or services on behalf of the injured party. Insurers paying benefits to insureds as a result of injuries caused by third persons often claim an interest in recovering those costs if the insured obtains a settlement or collects upon a judgment against a third party. A medical lien is a claim that requires you to pay for your treatment when you settle your claim. This can be created by statute, by policy or even by something you do. Insurers frequently attempt to draft policy provisions or establish requirements that allow them to seek reimbursement from the insured in such situations. Continue Reading
“Caps” or Consequences: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of “Cure”
Authored by: M. Graham Dobbs
In 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report which concluded that up to 98,000 people die annually due to errors in hospital treatment. In follow up, over the last decade, Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, has concluded that little has changed. Their research indicates that preventable medical errors cause more than 100,000 deaths each year. Likewise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that almost 100,000 people die from hospital acquired infections alone, most of which are preventable. Continue Reading
Morry Cole's article, "Trial Tips for the 'City' Lawyer Who Ventures Outstate," appeared in The Missouri Trial Attorney publication.
Tom Neill's article, "Think Adding An In-State Defendant Will Keep You Out of Federal Court? THINK AGAIN" recently appeared in The Missouri Trial Attorney, a publication of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
"The Rules of Appellate Brief Writing" Published in The St. Louis Bar Journal 
Gretchen Garrison's article, "The Rules of Appellate Brief Writing" appeared in the Summer 2009 issue of The St. Louis Bar Journal, a publication of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Appears with the permission of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and The St. Louis Bar Journal.
Lockwood on Recent Appellate Decisions
The Missouri Trial Attorney, a publication of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys regularly publishes articles by Joan Lockwood. These "Appellate Case Notes" present a summary and analysis of recent decisions that have significant impact on litigation practice. Ms. Lockwood's articles are listed below and may be viewed by selecting the appropriate links:
- "Notice Statute Inapplicable in Wrongful Death Claim Based on Defective Design of Intersection."
- "Western District Upholds Verdict for Personal Injuries Based on Negligent Misrepresentation By Insurance Company"
- "Missouri Supreme Court Rules that Rule 51.03 (Small County Venue Change) Survives Tort Reform"
- "Physician Patient Privilege Protected in Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Case Because Claimant Did Not Seek Damages For A Medically Diagnosable Injury, Only "Garden Variety" Emotional Distress".
- "Employees Have a State Constitutional Right to a Jury Trial on MHRA Claims"
- "The Standard for Admission of Expert Testimony in Missouri is Controlled by State Statute, Not Frye or Daubert"
- "Individual Defendant In An Auto Products Liability Case Was Not Fraudulently Joined Though He Had Previously Settled His Case With The Plaintiffs";
- "Evidence of Accidents Involving Similar Products by Same Manufacturer Admissible"
- "Swartz v. Gale Webb Transportation Company"
