There are a lot of lies being told about medical malpractice. A new paper called Five Myths About Medical Negligence tackles the issue head-on. Myth #1: There are too many ‘frivolous’ malpractice lawsuits. Fact: There’s an epidemic of medical negligence, not lawsuits. Only one in eight people injured by medical […]
Bank of America Agrees to Stop Forcing Customers into Arbitration
Bank of America Corp., one of the nation’s largest banks and credit card issuers, recently ended a requirement that disputes with the bank’s customers be settled through binding mandatory arbitration (“forced arbitration”). The announcement by the bank followed statements by two large arbitration services that they would no longer handle […]
North Carolina Enacts Important Foreclosure Assistance Legislation
A very important piece of consumer protection legislation was recently passed by the North Carolina Legislature and signed into law by Governor Bev Perdue. The Consumer Economic Protection Act of 2009 provides important protections for homeowners dealing with delinquent mortgage payments and foreclosure threats. The protections provide for a lower […]
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits and Health Care Spending
Economists estimate that spending on medical malpractice– including administrative costs as well as paying jury awards and confidential settlements– adds up to less than one-half of a percentage point of medical spending. A recent New York Times column explored whether this can really be the reason that American health care […]
New Surgeon General Statement on Asbestos Risks
The Surgeon General, Steven Galson, has issued a statement for National Asbestos Awareness Week, urging citizens to be aware of the health risks from asbestos and to protect themselves from asbestos exposure. While certain asbestos product manufacturers, mining companies and distributors have tried to argue that there are safe levels […]
WC: Nale v. Ethan Allen — No Evidence of Causation
On September 1, 2009, the Court of Appeals (‘COA’) published another batch of opinions, several involving workers’ compensation claims. Among them is Nale v. Ethan Allen, in which the COA reversed the Industrial Commission’s determination that the worker’s left knee injury was caused by the admittedly work-related injury to her […]
Bias of Arbitration Service Exposed
The National Arbitration Forum (“NAF”), the largest arbitration company in the nation, recently announced that it would discontinue conducting consumer arbitrations. The move comes as a result of a lawsuit filed against NAF by the Minnesota Attorney General. That suit and others followed accusations that NAF, though holding itself out […]
The Synergistic Effect of Asbestos Exposure and Cigarette Smoking
Research has proven that exposure to asbestos is a cause of lung cancer in humans. Cigarette smoking is another known cause of lung cancer. However, the combination of asbestos exposure and smoking is far more likely to cause lung cancer than either factor by itself. This is known as the […]
NC Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rate May Drop
According to a story published on WRAL.com, the North Carolina Rate Bureau has requested a 9.6% decrease in workers’ compensation insurance rates. If the rate adjustment is approved, North Carolina business could save more than $119 million. The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce is constantly clamoring about the need to […]
Owens Corning Bankruptcy Trust Reduces Payment Percentage
In 1953, Owens Corning began distributing asbestos-containing insulation (under the Kaylo brand name). This later resulted in numerous lawsuits filed by individuals who developed asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos from Owens Corning insulation. In October 2000, Owens Corning filed for […]