More than A Dozen Injured In Passenger Van Collision
RESEDA (KTLA) — A passenger van carrying about 15 elderly people collided with two other vehicles leaving several people with injuries.
The accident happened on N. Wilbur Ave. near Kittridge Street around 9 a.m. Thursday morning, according to officials.
Paramedics were on scene attending to more than a dozen people who reported minor injuries.
The van was carrying passengers from Genesis Adult Day Health Care.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Numerous organizations, groups and commercial shuttle companies use 15 passenger vans due to the fact that they can transport a large group of people to their destination. Virtually all of the drivers and passengers of these 15 passenger vans are unaware of the inherent risks of a dangerous propensity for van rollover accidents resulting in deaths.
The 15 passenger vans manufactured and dangerously designed by Ford and Daimler-Chrysler are inherently defective and have caused serious injuries and deaths. In particular, the 15 passenger Ford E350 van and Daimler-Chrysler Motor Companies Ram 350 are more likely to rollover than any other 15 passenger vans due to the inherent flawed design of the large van. When fully loaded the van becomes unstable, causing fishtailing that results in a rollover accident. Usually the 15 passenger van rolls over, the roof is crushed, seatbelts fail and passengers are ejected resulting in serious injuries and deaths.
The 15 passenger van manufacturers know how to manufacture a more stable van which will not fishtail and rollover. Unfortunately, Ford and Daimler-Chrysler have been extremely slow to respond to plaintiff’s (victim’s) complaints that their 15 passenger vans are succeptable to fishtailing and rolling over. The corporate automobile manufacturer’s have done little or nothing to protect drivers and passengers of the 15 seat passenger van. Corporate car manufacturers mentality is that corporate profits and cost-cutting is more important than saving lives.
Demand accountability from the automobile manufacturers and component part manufacturers. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have handled complex automobile product liability cases for twenty years. We have the litigation experience to handle complex automobile van cases. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial. Remember, the automobile manufacturers are a formidable foe and must be fought against aggressively.
The laws regarding 15 passenger van rollover cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death/automobile products liability lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California automobile products liability attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its 15 passenger van rollover/products liabilty cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the track record and reputation for aggressively representing our clients to recover the maximum financial compensation for their losses. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler for a free consultation regarding your or your loved one’s 15 passenger van rollover case today.
Man arrested for crash that killed teen bicyclist in Clackamas
CLACKAMAS, Ore. — A teen bicyclist was killed in a hit and run crash early Saturday morning in Clackamas, and the driver turned himself in hours later, police said.
Michael Vu, 18, of Clackamas, was headed home just after 1 a.m. when he was struck by a pickup truck on the shoulder of Mather Road, according to Sgt. James Rhodes.
Neighbor Lisa Bartlette called 9-1-1 after hearing the crash and reported a man was lying in the roadway.
Vu was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It looks like the bicycle rider went up into the windshield of the vehicle and was carried a short distance before he came off onto the roadway but then the bike stayed with the vehicle for quite a distance,” investigator Tim Bailey said.
The suspect vehicle left before police arrived.
“Regardless of whether the person was intoxicated right is right and you stop,” Bartlette said. “And it sounds like he hit the curb maybe and he was out of control before he hit the boy.”
Sgt. Rhodes said 28-year-old Artyom Pavlenko (pictured, left), of Clackamas, turned himself in to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office just before noon and admitted his involvement in the crash.
He was jailed on charges of manslaughter and felony hit-and-run. Investigators applied for a search warrant to seize the car.
A family spokesperson said Vu had just graduated Clackamas High School and was the full-time caregiver for his father, who suffered a traumatic brain injury one year ago.
Bicycles have as much right to be on the road as other vehicles. When automobile drivers violate the rights of a bicyclist, serious injuries and death can occur.
When you suffer serious/traumatic injuries or a loved one’s death, you are entitled to compensation (medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, future wages and pain and suffering). The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler will aggressively represent you and fight for your rights against the insurance companies for the monetary damages you deserve.
The laws regarding pedestrian and bicycle accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced pedestrian and bicycle accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The Western United States pedestrian and bicycle accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a pedestrian/bicycle accident. Such accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and pedestrian/bicycle accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all pedestrian and bicycle accidents and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.
Longtime Lanai fisherman killed in collision with tour boat
Free divers say sharing Lanai’s Kaumalapau Harbor with tour operators has been dangerous. On Sunday, it proved deadly.
Fisherman Alan Amoncio, 51, was struck and killed by a whale-watching tour boat. Lanai is home to a small, tight-knit community, and news of his death spread quickly.
Friends say Amoncio was well-known by students on Lanai because he worked as a school custodian. They describe him as a kind-hearted man with a passion for spearfishing that began when he was in high school.
“All these years we’ve been doing that thing, you know, diving and catching fish and food for the family,” Wendell Sarme, victim’s friend, said.
But his ocean adventure on Sunday turned deadly. The 51-year-old was free diving at popular fishing spot Kaumalapau Harbor on the west coast of Lanai at about 10:35 AM, when a boat’s propeller struck him.
Friends say he was with his wife, Kiki, at the time.
“He’s a very nice guy,” Jonie Sarme, victim’s friend, said. “Him and his wife, they’re very nice people. We’re just saddened by this tragic loss.”
“He’s a safe diver,” Wendell Sarme said. “He always dives with his flags and his floaters and stuff.”
Maui fire officials identified the boat involved as the Wiki Wahine, a tour zodiac operating out of Lahaina Harbor. On its web site, Ultimate Whale Watch Maui says its 30-foot vessel is capable of speeds up to 50 miles an hour.
“They’re just going fast, just cruising the coastline, every bend and every turn, just hogging the coastline, just to give the tourists a thrill,” Wendell Sarme said. “It’s like they don’t got no respect over here.”
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed that the victim had set up flags marking his position in the water.
“It could have been prevented,” Jonie Sarme said. “So for this to happen to Alan, it’s so, we’re sad. The Lanai community, we’re sad.”
No one on the boat was injured. The tour company did not return our phone call.
DLNR and the US Coast Guard are investigating.
Although the official cause of the accident has not been released, police are investigating why the boat operator ran directly into the fisherman.
Based on this news report by Maui News, it appears that the boat driver was operating his watercraft recklessly and will be held liable for the local fisherman’s injuries. The operator steered his boat too close to the fisherman, a violation of boat safety regulations.
Boating Accident Personal Injury Liability
The most common boating accidents are collisions with other boats, sinkings, capsizings and boat disappearances.
Boating accidents occur very quickly and in many different places. Lakes, canals, rivers, intercoastal waterways and oceans are where tragedies normally occur. Last year in California, there were 744 boating accidents involving 439 injuries and 44 fatalities.
According to the United States Coast Guard each year there are more than 8,000 boating accidents in the U.S. that result in 4,000 serious injuries and 800 deaths.
Many times a boater will have been speeding or may have had too much alcohol.
There are specific boating laws that must be followed or fatalities can occur. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is familiar with the different state’s boating laws. We know the boating liability issues and will inform you of your true state, local and Federal boating rights and legal options which will result in successful outcome in your case.
It is a general rule of law that the operator of a boat and its owner has a duty to exercise a reasonable degree of care in order to prevent injuries to others. The most common boating accidents are collisions with other boats, sinking and boat disappearance. Boating injuries usually occur because of a reckless or careless operator, alcohol, boat malfunctions or an inexperienced boating (captain) operator.
Operators of boats have a legal obligation to operate their watercraft in a safe and prudent manner. The overwhelming majority of boating accidents are caused by factors that can be controlled by the operator of the boat. The primary cause of boating accidents nationwide was operator inattention, followed by careless/reckless operation, operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed, and failure to have a proper lookout.
Common violations of the duty of ordinary care in a maritime setting include a failure to warn against foreseeable harm, violations of “rules of the water,” such as excessive speed, failure to have proper lights, failure to yield, intoxication and others. Owners may also be held liable under the theory of vicarious liability. For example, an owner may be held liable for an operator’s failure to warn passengers of intended maneuvers, overloading the boat or permitting the guest to sit in a dangerous position.
Accidents involving bystanders, such as swimmers or water skiers, are typically treated in the same manner as cases involving social guests. The law and courts where the accident occured will generally control any lawsuits brought by injured bystanders unless the defendant boat owner asserts admiralty jurisdiction.
The laws regarding boating accident (drowning) cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced boating fatality lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The United States wrongful death attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one in a tragic boating fatality (drowning) accident. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death/drowning/boating fatality cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your boating fatality/drowning accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our atorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the successful track record and reputation for aggressively representing our clients for recovering tens of millions of dollars in boating fatality cases in Hawaii, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Florida in both State and Federal Counts.
Man Tragically Killed in Fiesta Island Boating Accident
SAN DIEGO COUNTY – A man was tragically killed in a Fiesta Island boating accident Sunday evening, reports NBC San Diego. According to San Diego Lifeguards, the man was in an inner tube being towed by a boat when he fell off and disappeared. Friends of the victim located his life jacket, but were unable to locate the man, whose identity has not been released. The man’s friends contacted lifeguards shortly before 6:00 pm, minutes before he was discovered faced down in the water by another vessel. Before transporting him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, emergency crews tried to revive the man at the scene of the accident for 20 minutes. Lifeguards are currently investigating the cause of the July 24, 2011 accident, but believe faulty inner tube equipment or improper life vest fastening may have contributed to the man’s tragic death.
Boating Accident Personal Injury Liability
The most common boating accidents are collisions with other boats, sinkings, capsizings and boat disappearances.
Boating accidents occur very quickly and in many different places. Lakes, canals, rivers, intercoastal waterways and oceans are where tragedies normally occur. Last year in California, there were 744 boating accidents involving 439 injuries and 44 fatalities.
According to the United States Coast Guard each year there are more than 8,000 boating accidents in the U.S. that result in 4,000 serious injuries and 800 deaths.
Many times a boater will have been speeding or may have had too much alcohol.
There are specific boating laws that must be followed or fatalities can occur. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is familiar with the different state’s boating laws. We know the boating liability issues and will inform you of your true state, local and Federal boating rights and legal options which will result in successful outcome in your case.
It is a general rule of law that the operator of a boat and its owner has a duty to exercise a reasonable degree of care in order to prevent injuries to others. The most common boating accidents are collisions with other boats, sinking and boat disappearance. Boating injuries usually occur because of a reckless or careless operator, alcohol, boat malfunctions or an inexperienced boating (captain) operator.
Operators of boats have a legal obligation to operate their watercraft in a safe and prudent manner. The overwhelming majority of boating accidents are caused by factors that can be controlled by the operator of the boat. The primary cause of boating accidents nationwide was operator inattention, followed by careless/reckless operation, operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed, and failure to have a proper lookout.
Common violations of the duty of ordinary care in a maritime setting include a failure to warn against foreseeable harm, violations of “rules of the water,” such as excessive speed, failure to have proper lights, failure to yield, intoxication and others. Owners may also be held liable under the theory of vicarious liability. For example, an owner may be held liable for an operator’s failure to warn passengers of intended maneuvers, overloading the boat or permitting the guest to sit in a dangerous position.
Accidents involving bystanders, such as swimmers or water skiers, are typically treated in the same manner as cases involving social guests. The law and courts where the accident occured will generally control any lawsuits brought by injured bystanders unless the defendant boat owner asserts admiralty jurisdiction.
The laws regarding boating accident (drowning) cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced boating fatality lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California wrongful death attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one in a tragic boating fatality (drowning) accident. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death/drowning/boating fatality cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your boating fatality/drowning accident case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our atorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the successful track record and reputation for aggressively representing our clients for recovering tens of millions of dollars in boating fatality cases in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Florida in both State and Federal Counts.
Woman who died after 4 vehicle collision ID’d
IRVINE – Authorities have identified a 22-year-old woman who died after a four-vehicle collision at an Irvine intersection Tuesday afternoon that left one other woman injured.
Orange County Coroner’s Office officials late Tuesday identified Elizabeth Eddleman of Irvine as the woman who died after her car was reportedly struck in an afternoon collision. 
Officers about 4:15 p.m. responded to an accident at the intersection of University Drive and Rosa Drew Lane, just before Rosa Drew turns into Ridgeline Drive in the University Park community, Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen said.
Police say that according to their preliminary investigation, a 2010 BMW coupe traveling south on Rosa Drew Lane was struck by a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer traveling west on University Drive.
The SUV apparently crashed into the BMW on the driver’s door, police said, causing the two vehicles to careen toward a postal truck and a minivan in the intersection.
Eddleman, who was driving the BMW, had to be cut from the car before being taken to a hospital in critical condition, Engen said. She died after being taken from the scene.
The driver of the SUV, who police identified only as a 26-year-old Corona del Mar resident, was taken to a hospital in serious condition. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The occupants of the minivan and the postal truck were not injured.
The eastbound lanes of University were closed for more than five hours after the crash, snarling traffic in the area.
Investigators have not yet determined which vehicle had right of way in the intersection.
Cause of the Irvine Car Accident
If news accounts from the Orange County Register reports are accurate, the SUV driver likely is responsible for causing this accident. However, the incident is still under investigation by the Irvine Police Department.
If you have been involved in a California automobile accident you may be entitled to compensation by the negligent party’s insurance company and/or your own if the negligent driver was uninsured or underinsured. Never proceed with a negligence claim without first obtaining legal advice from an experienced California lawyer who knows how to deal with the insurance companies and will make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries and damages.
California automobile accident lawyer Gary A. Kessler will promptly investigate the crash, determine fault, and seek to recover all legal damages.
Regardless of who was at fault in the accident, victims should immediately seek the counsel of an experienced automobile attorney to protect your legal rights. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost or destroyed and witnesses may become hard to find.
The laws regarding automobile accidents are complex and include many facets of the law.It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced automobile accident lawyer such as Gary A. Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California automobile accident attorney Gary A. Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with an automobile accident. Such accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and automobile accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your case.
The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for the trial of your case. As in all automobile accident and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler today so we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible parties.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member has sustained fatal injuries from an automobile accident you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. The laws and time limitations can be complex so protect your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.
Corona: 2 die in plane crash
A small aircraft went down Saturday in the Cleveland National Forest south of Corona, killing two people, Corona police said.
The crash occurred around 10:25 a.m. near Suzie Circle, south of East Upper Drive. It sparked a small fire in dry brush and trees, prompting a response that included air tankers and helicopters dropping fire retardant and water.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash and have not released information on the victims, but a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said Saturday afternoon that there may have been two people in the aircraft. Police later confirmed it
Russ Hoch, a Corona resident whose house overlooks the forest, said the aircraft looked like an ultralight. Hoch said his girlfriend heard the crash, and he ran out of the house to see what had happened. The aircraft had come down in a small clearing in the forest, he said.
“It looked like PVC pipe with fabric melted on it,” and the engine was lying about 15 feet behind the craft’s tail, which didn’t appear to have a number on it, Hoch said. “There was nothing identifiable.”
Planes are typically identified by a tail number that is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Hoch said he yelled to check for any survivors but didn’t see or hear anyone, and he soon had to move away because trees were bursting into flame.
Whoever was in the aircraft may have been thrown some distance from the crash, officials said.
The fire was reported to be 3 to 5 acres and was quickly put out by firefighters from Corona, the U.S. Forest Service and state Department of Corrections hand crews.
Corona Deputy Fire Chief John Medina said three firefighters were injured by bee stings, and one was taken to a hospital. Flushed out by the smoke, the bees may have been attracted to the firefighters’ yellow Nomex jackets.
A plane crash is one of the most devastating accidents that can occur. Usually in an airplane crash (small planes, helicopters, commercial airliners, hot air balloons etc.) all passengers and crew members are killed.
At the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler, we are experienced in aviation law with a reputation of success in aircraft accident cases. We have the knowledge and experience to identify those responsible in the airplane crash (i.e. pilot error, mechanical failure of the sircraft and/or its component parts).
If you are considering filing a claim against an airline or helicopter tour company, small aircraft company, commercial airline or a “hot air balloon company” to recover damages suffered by you or your family, seek advice from a lawyer such as Gary A Kessler who has experience in “aviation law.”
With an array of engines, aviation professionals and pilot witnesses we consult with nationally recognized experts in order to isolate the causes that led to the aviation death(s). Our office has 20 years of litigation experience providing a level of expertise unparrelled in the preparation and presentation of our client’s case. By using multi-media technology, Gary A. Kessler presents video and Powerpoint presentations that clarify the complex issues of liability so that jurors, judges and mediators can understand.
In cases involving commercial airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be involved. Our office knows how to professionally interact with these federal agencies and get the answers to our client’s case.
In most states, if the death of a relative or spouse was caused by an air crash, surviving family members can file a wrongful death/aviation lawsuit against the responsible parties. In order to file a wrongful death/aviation law claim, you must be able to prove that you will experience future emotional and financial hardship because of the loss of a relative, family member or spouse.
Demand accountability from those responsible for the aviation (airplane, helicopter, hot air balloon rides, etc.) accidents. Many times the insurance companies will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex case, We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.
Aviation law cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced aviation accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California aviation accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its aviation accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your aviation accident case.
It is essential to isolate the causes of an aircraft accident. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler has the expert witness resources and investigation team necessary to uncover the causes of an aircraft accident. We are prepared to front the intial costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses. In an aviation accident case, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney’s fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorney’s fees or costs are owed to our firm, thus in all personal injury cases handled by the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, our fees are recovered as a percentage of any settlement or verdict awarded to our clients.
Boy-7-dies-after-near-drowning-in-New-Milford, Conn.
NEW MILFORD — The 7-year-old boy pulled from a private pool in New Milford Tuesday has died.
The child never regained consciousness after being pulled from the water by adults at a party on Eastern Lane, said New Milford Police Lt. Larry Ash.
He died at approximately 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Connecticut Medical Center in Hartford where he had been transported by Life Star Tuesday, Ash said.
The boy’s name was not released. He was a foster child from New Milford in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families, police said.
DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt said Thursday that the boy’s name was withheld, “out of respect for the family.”
The boy had been in foster care in “a therapeutic foster home licensed by a private agency,” Kleeblatt added.
DCF Commissioner Joette Katz expressed “deep regret and sorrow” Thursday over the child’s death in a prepared statement.
“The loss of a child is an incomparable one,” Katz said. “Our hearts go out to the boy’s family.”
Katz said the birth family and foster family were together with boy at the hospital around the clock and were working together to support one another and the boy. DCF staff was also at the hospital, Katz said.
“I want to recognize the remarkable way the birth and foster families were together at the hospital, supporting one another over these last days,” Katz said. “I also want to thank our staff and the medical team.”
New Milford police are investigating the incident as well as DCF. Katz has ordered that a special review be conducted. Kleeblatt said this often happens with an open case.
New Milford Police are waiting for results of a medical examination for the official ruling regarding the cause of death.
Leading Foster Care Lawyer Seeking Justice For Victims of Abuse
Abuse perpetrated by an authority figure is an appalling reality for far too many children and adolescents across the country. Foster care parents, teachers, day care workers, and other trusted adults who negligently supervise children ruin lives and cause irreparable psychological damage and death.
The individual foster care parent can be tried as a criminal, but can rarely be held financially accountable. His or her sponsoring or employing organization—the foster care agency, or other public or corporate entity—may be liable for its failure to adequately supervise and screen the foster care parent.
For more than 20 years, trial lawyer Gary A Kessler has represented children and adolescents abused by trusted foster care parents. Our law firm has the resources and the professional will to thoroughly investigate, prepare, and present abuse and foster care negligence cases. We take systematic depositions from the victim and his or her psychotherapist, from psychiatric child abuse experts, from any witnesses, and from the perpetrator’s supervisors and organizational leaders. We seek to reveal all relevant facts and evidence, to establish psychological harm, and to demonstrate fault within the organization where appropriate.
No monetary amount can compensate for the damage that foster care abuse causes. However, damage awards can be powerful financial incentives for foster care parents, foster care agencies, schools, and other organizations to screen and monitor their employees who regularly interact with children and teenagers. Adequate financial compensation can also defray the cost of long term psychotherapy and psychiatric care.
Throughout our personal injury practice, we devote our full personal attention to every case that we accept. We believe that effective representation in child foster care abuse cases requires not only exceptional legal skill, but the ability to respond to psychologically damaged children and outraged parents. If you or a loved one has experienced foster care negligence or abuse by a person in authority, please contact our law firm today.
Young Woman Killed in Huntington Beach Hit-and-Run
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) — Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a hit-and- run accident that killed a young woman in Huntington Beach.The accident happened early Friday morning at the corner of Brookhurst Street and Atlanta Avenue.Police say the woman, who was in her 20s, was leaving a bar with some friends just before 2 a.m. when she was hit while crossing the street.
accident is ongoing.As a pedestrian you should be able to walk in the crosswalk, feeling safe and confident. Unfortunately, in California we know all to well that car drivers do not take the time to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks, and innocent pedestrians get seriously injured and sometimes even killed.
When you suffer serious/traumatic injuries or a loved one’s death, you are entitled to compensation (medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, future wages and pain and suffering). The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler will aggressively represent you and fight for your rights against the insurance companies for the monetary damages you deserve.
Unfortunately, the reality of most pedestrian accident victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death. Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.
Demand accountability from those responsible for the pedestrian accidents. Many times the insurance companies will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex case. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.
The laws regarding pedestrian accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced pedestrian and bicycle accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California pedestrian accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a pedestrian accident. Such accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and pedestrian accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all pedestrian accidents and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so that we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the reponsible parties!
Freeway worker injured, driver jailed
A drunken driver careened down a closed highway entrance ramp in Riverside late Wednesday, critically injuring a freeway construction worker and angering highway safety officials who have spent the past month warning motorists to be cautious in work zones.
“This has got to stop,” said Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga, noting this is the fourth freeway incident in less than three months to kill or critically injure a worker on a highway.
Barry Steele, 52, of Beaumont, was in critical condition Thursday following the 10:40 p.m. crash on the westbound side of Highway 91 at Van Buren Boulevard.
Brandi Holmes, 21, was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run and DUI causing injuring, CHP spokeswoman Sylvia Vargas said. She and a passenger were treated for minor injuries. Holmes was taken to Robert Presley Detention Center. The passenger was not held. 
Steele was working on the ramp when Holmes, of Victorville, was driving northwest on Van Buren. Holmes drove into the left turn lane to the entrance ramp, which was blocked by cones, said Hector Davila, deputy Caltrans director for construction in the Inland area.
“The on-ramp was closed and was … under construction,” said CHP Sgt. M. Reddick.
Signs and some concrete barriers marked the closure, though the ramp was accessible as crews brought heavy equipment in and out of the construction area.
Kasinga said some members of the construction crew, most employees of Skanska U.S.A. Civil Construction, honked the horns on their trucks but Holmes never responded and continued down the ramp.
The Mazda glanced off a moving Caterpillar loader, hit a concrete K-rail and then struck Steele, Reddick said.
Witnesses told Caltrans officials Holmes then got out of the car and began walking away.
Workers at the scene corralled her until police arrived, Kasinga said.
“They said she was out of it,” Kasinga said of the workers.
Police believe Holmes tried to leave the scene, Vargas said.
Steele’s injuries come at a time when Caltrans is warning drivers statewide to pay more attention when traveling through work areas.
Three people have been killed in Southern California in the past three months while working on state highways. Stephen Palmer Sr. died after he was hit by a trolley in National City, near San Diego, on May 4. An errant vehicle struck and killed Jaime Obeso while he was working on Interstate 8 in Imperial County on June 7. Richard Gonzalez, 52, was killed crossing the freeway June 20 as he was cleaning litter along Interstate 15, near Highway 94 outside San Diego.
As a result of the deaths, Caltrans launched an aggressive public awareness campaign, pulled maintenance workers from their shifts to focus on safety issues, and urged drivers via changeable message signs on state freeways to slow down and look for workers.
Workers said they take preventative steps like arranging equipment to protect them from vehicles on the freeway, but are reliant on drivers to pay attention as well.
“It is a partnership,” Davila said. “We need drivers to know we’re out here, and stop distracted driving and drunken driving.”
Police and Caltrans officials have stressed that drivers should obey traffic laws, avoid talking on cellphones and text messaging and slow down when they see workers, tow truck drivers and emergency vehicles stopped on the road.
Officials are also highlighting the “move over” law requiring drivers, when applicable, to slow down and move one lane away from emergency and maintenance vehicles stopped on the highway.
Kasinga said Caltrans will keep reminding drivers to take care.
“We know it’s redundant,” she said. “We don’t care. We’ll do this every day if we have to.”
Steele, a well-known soccer coach in Beaumont whose son is the Beaumont High School boys’ coach in the city, is a 32-year highway worker, said his brother, Scott Steele.
Working on the freeways or around construction zones is a family tradition, Scott Steele said, noting he, his father and another brother also worked in the construction trade.
“Everyone knows that when you work out on the highway there is some danger,” Scott Steele said. “It is heavy equipment and cars moving fast around you sometimes … It is all done in a safe manner. But when you throw in the element of the public involved, and then you throw a drunk driver in it, it is just something that is dangerous.”
The collision reportedly broke Steele’s neck and one of his legs, among other injuries, officials said.
Construction sites can be very dangerous for workers, but construction companies and contractors are responsible for complying with guidelines and regulations in order to ensure a safe work environment for employees. However, employers may neglect hazards or fail to properly train employees which can lead to dangerous or fatal construction site accidents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction site accidents resulting in fatalities account for 22 percent of all workplace fatalities each year.
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12-year-old boy shot while playing with gun
RUPERT, Idaho — A 12-year-old boy is recovering at home after being accidentally shot by a friend while they played with a handgun.
The Minidoka County sheriff’s office says the two boys, aged 10 and 12, were playing with a 9 mm handgun that belonged to the 12-year-old’s parents on Friday. The children thought they had emptied the weapon by cycling the firing mechanism and removing the magazine, but when the 10-year-old pulled the trigger, the gun fired — hitting the older boy in the side.
The 12-year-old was taken by air ambulance to a Pocatello hospital. Undersheriff Vic Watson says the family had all their other guns locked up, but the handgun was unlocked for security purposes. He says the parents hid the handgun in an effort to keep it from children.
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