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• Nurse's Aid on Trial for Abuse at Nursing Home

  Shannon Weidemann | February 27, 2007 1:49 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  A former worker at the Kingston Commons Nursing Home is on trial for allegedly sexually abusing a patient at the home. The victim is 90-years-old and suffers from advanced dementia and is unable to communicate. "It's horrible. It's a disgusting case, but yes, it is it's very important. We're going to do the best job we can and we're going to, we're going to let the wheels of justice keep...

• Opening Medical Malpractice Cases to the Light of Day

  Ryan Nute | December 14, 2006 3:22 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  Confidentiality in medical malpractice suits is an issue which is receiving increased scrutiny. Especially where the appropriate authorities are kept in the dark.As reported by the Seattle TImes, two lawsuits against a Seattle-area physician (Dr. James H. Greene) illustrate the current concern. Significant settlements were paid by the doctor's employer after he was accused of negligence. ...

• State Pays $2.5 Million for Rape of Mentally-Ill Woman

  Chelsea Gilbert | September 19, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  A $2.5 million dollar settlement was reached on Tuesday to settle the claims of a mentally-ill woman who was raped while she was a patient at Eastern State Hospital in 2004.$1.5 million of that settlement will go towards the victim's future care, an amount declared "reasonable" by Jerry Cartwright, the assistant attorney general who represented the state, considering the amount of care the woman...

• Statute of Limitations May Run Soon for Windstorm Property Damage Claims

  Ryan Nute | November 01, 2007 9:39 AM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  Many of you experienced damage to your houses during the wind storms last year. The majority of the losses occurred on December 14 or 15, 2006. Generally homeowners' insurance policies in Washington have a one year statute of limitations: that is, any claims against the homeowner's carrier must be brought within one year of the incident. Failure to bring a claim in time means it might be...

• Company Fined in Connection With Lineman's Death and Teacher's Injury

  Michael Myers | December 13, 2007 2:53 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  Last spring Hiawatha Elementary School in Othello was conducting their annual science experiment where students make protective egg cases that they test by dropping eggs from various heights.The experiment took a tragic turn when the boom lift truck holding a line worker and a teacher broke, causing both to fall 20 to 30 feet to the ground. Robert D. Smith, 50, died and a teacher, Melissa...

• Worker Memorial Day Honors Those Who Died on the Job

  Ryan Nute | May 09, 2007 8:47 AM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  112 Washington residents died in 2006 because of injuries sustained in the workplace. A memorial was held by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries in April, which was attended by Governor Chris Gregoire. The ceremony has been held at the Department's headquarters in Tumwater for the past fourteen years. Many people are surprised to learn that injured workers are generally limited to...

• Court Imposes Stringent Disciplinary Standard

  Ryan Nute | December 15, 2006 12:28 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  Medical malpractice cases sometimes involve related disciplinary proceedings against providers. In a recent ruling the Washington Supreme Court imposed a higher burden of proof in connection with disciplinary proceedings against nursing assistants.The Court ruled that "clear, cogent, and convincing proof" was required (rather than that the disciplinary allegations be proved by a "preponderance...

• Bodee LLC, Inc. Recalls Encore Tabs Due to Harmful Undeclared Ingredients

  Jenny Albano | November 27, 2007 11:27 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  Bodee LLC, Inc., in conjunction with the CPSC, is recalling its dietary supplement product sold under the name Encore Tabs.The drug was recalled after the FDA found that one lot of Encore Tabs contained a potentially harmful undeclared ingredient called aminotadala. Aminotadala is an analog of tadalafil, which is the main ingredient in Erectile Dysfunction (ED) drugs.FDA maintains...

• Riding Mowers Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

  Chrissie Cole | March 17, 2009 9:48 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  Kubota Manufacturing of America Corp., in conjunction with the CPSC, is recalling Kubota Zero Turn Riding Mowers because the carburetor can fail causing a fuel leak which can pose a fire...

• Redmond Worker Injured when Boom Truck Falls, Potential "Third-Party" Claim

  Michael Myers | October 12, 2007 4:18 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  On October 9th a construction worker at Microsoft in Redmond was injured when a boom truck tipped over. The Department of Labor & Industries, an agency designed to protect and advocate for workers, will do an investigation as to the cause of the accident. It will focus on the cause of the accident and what the general contractor could have done to make the construction site safer for not only...