Personal Injury Roundup No. 46 (8/14/09)

Most of us are gearing up for classes next week.  I hope you enjoyed your last week of summer.

Reform, Legislation, Policy

• Richard Epstein on preemption in Forbes (Via Drug and Device Law)
• "Fumbled" health care "handoffs" (The PopTort)
• NY:  Gov. Patterson has extended the state's med mal insurance rate freeze (National Underwriter Property & Casualty Insurance News)

New Lawsuits

• WV:  An asbestos defendant argues it was forced to follow the directives of the U.S. Navy when it manufactured products for a ship.  (LegalNewsline) 
• MD:  The family of a man who died after transplant surgery at the University of Maryland has sued, alleging a staffer drained out all of the decedent's blood.  (AboutLawsuits.com)
• IL:  Woman sues ex-boyfriend for posting nude photos of her (ABA Journal)

Trials, Settlements and Other Ends

• MD:  Over $1M truck accident verdict in Baltimore (The Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog)
• NM:  A blow to assumption of risk in those baseball-into-the-stands hypos (Olson/Overlawyered)

Damages

• NY:  Recent elbow fracture pain-and-suffering verdicts in excess of $1M (Hochfelder/New York Injury Cases Blog)

Miscellaneous    

• Franklin County Circuit Judge William Alexander will preside over two trials against the state stemming from the Virginia Tech shootings.  (VLW Blog)
• Dog Bite Case Website (Day on Torts)

--CJR