Police stun guns, legal liability and you
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on November 12th, 2010
Police departments around the nation routinely use TASER and other brands of "stun gun" devices to temporarily disable suspects who are aggressive or combative when authorities try to arrest or question them. For police, the devices are seen as equalizers that allow officers to get the upper hand over dangerous suspects in difficult situations when police arrive to make arrests or investigate a crime. The problem, though, is that these devices can also be dangerous....
Alcoholic energy drinks, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, legal liability and you
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on November 9th, 2010
The PLCB asks retailers to stop selling Four Loko and other energy drinks containing alcohol and caffeine until health impacts are understood In an unusual move last week, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) asked every one of the 17,000 beer distributors, restaurants, bars and other organizations that sell alcoholic beverages in the Commonwealth to voluntary and immediately stop selling "alcoholic energy drinks." The drinks, which come in colorful cans and usually have fruity flavors,...
Racial profiling suit filed in Philadelphia, but the problem persists across our nation
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on November 4th, 2010
It's 2010, and still across the United States, people are stopped by police for no other reasons than the color of their skin or that they're in the wrong place at the wrong time. The problem is that police departments and cities across the nation still insist on stopping people based on "profiles" of observable behavior or actions that could indicate criminal activity. In these cases, though, there's not yet any evidence of any criminal...
Airport body scanners, security, privacy and you
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on November 3rd, 2010
The introduction last week of the first full body security scanners in Terminal F at Philadelphia International Airport means that air travelers here will have more decisions to make in balancing convenience, privacy and personal security when they fly. The full body scanners – which produce detailed images that allow Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel to see if a traveler is carrying a concealed weapon or bomb device underneath their actual clothing – have been...
Birth injuries and your legal rights
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on October 26th, 2010
The birth of a child is a joyous and wonderful event as a new life comes into the world and into our lives. Sometimes, though, complications and medical errors can arise, with catastrophic consequences for a family. Doctors can make critical mistakes, hospitals and nursing staffs can introduce errors in patient care and other problems can arise during births, leaving a family unsure of their legal options and responsibilities. Last week, a Pennsylvania Superior Court...
Your children are playing sports: Is their safety equipment protecting them?
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on October 25th, 2010
Serious injuries, including concussions, have been occurring more and more lately in football games from the pros to colleges to youth football leagues across the U.S. A junior at Rutgers suffered a spinal cord injury during a football game on Oct. 16, rendering him paralyzed from the neck down. Concussions during NFL football games have been happening at a brisk pace in recent weeks, as hard hits have led to serious injuries on the field...
Medical misdiagnosis: What you need to know to protect your loved ones
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on October 18th, 2010
When you go to a doctor because something isn't feeling right, you should expect excellent care, diagnosis, treatment and ultimately positive results. But sometimes, the care that you receive is marred by mistakes by medical professionals, from misdiagnosed illnesses to conditions that are simply missed by doctors and hospitals. That's when you need a lawyer to help you fight for damages from medical professionals who have not done their due diligence in protecting your health...
What to do if you are injured in an accident: take notes, get witness corroboration and talk with a competent attorney
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on October 12th, 2010
Life is uncertain, and accidents do happen. But if an accident happens to you and results in a serious injury, then you need to be your own best advocate and get the help and support that you need to collect damages for your medical bills, lost wages and for your pain and suffering. That means taking all the right steps right after a serious injury so that you protect your rights and any future legal...
Jailing people for stupidity isn’t solving our core problems
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on September 29th, 2010
By now you've almost certainly seen the violent online videos and witnessed the horrendous conduct of a 39-year-old Palmetto, Fla., woman who vocally encouraged her 16-year-old daughter and cheered her on as the girl engaged in a fist-fight with another 16-year-old girl. The five-minute-long physical battle that occurred almost two weeks ago involved a confrontation over an ex-boyfriend, according to a story in The Bradenton Herald newspaper. The videos, which were taken by other teens...