Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyer - Class Action

Loose Truck Wheels Cause String of Accidents

Mark McLean — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:53:19 GMT

A string of automobile accidents caused by loose truck wheels have caused a number of personal injuries and even wrongful deaths. Now, the unusually high number of accidents has led to investigations by both the American and Canadian governments.

Officials with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance -- the association of state and federal officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States that helps make trucking safety standards -- launched a preliminary inquiry after the string of wrecks, said Steve Keppler, policy director for the Washington, D.C.-based organization.

Two important legal points are presented by this situation. First, people injured and killed in the accidents caused by these loose truck wheels can bring claims against the defective manufacturer based on Washington's Product Liability Act, which contains very consumer-friendly laws. Second, consumers who have purchased these defective tires can band together and bring a class-action lawsuit.

Experienced attorneys can answer questions you have about these issues.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mark McLean

Verdict Reached in WTO Trial

Ryan Nute — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:18:14 GMT

A federal jury found that the City of Seattle was liable for the improper search and seizure of 147 people who were arrested during the tumult surrounding the 1999 WTO meeting and protests. The jury found that the plaintiffs' First Amendment rights had not been violated.

The case now moves to the issue of the plaintiffs' damages, which may be postponed pending an appeal by the city.

A federal judge had already ruled that the City had violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. However, for the city to be civilly liable to the plaintiffs they were required to prove that the city had a policy to specifically arrest WTO protesters because of their views or that city officials approved the illegal arrests.

Reportedly the city of Seattle has paid $800,000 to settle more than a dozen lawsuits and claims arising out of the WTO incidents and this case could cause it to pay several million more.

Schools Held Accountable in Discrimination Suit

Staff Writer — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 07:54:50 GMT

A class action discrimination suit against a central Washington school district by Latino parents went to the U.S. District Court in Spokane. The parents alleged that the school district was discriminating against their children based on their race and that their civil rights were being violated.

In a landmark agreement, the Washington school district agreed to meet the demands of the parents who filed the class action lawsuit. The agreement, which will be written and signed in November 2006, will include monetary damages and a variety of measures implemented by the school system to help prevent future discrimination of Latinos.

An article on spokesmanreview.com detailed the changes that the court will ensure are implemented in the Brewster school district:

Among the changes, the school district must establish an office of minority affairs to investigate allegations of discrimination and racial harassment, implement a multiracial panel to assess and prevent discrimination in athletic programs and collaborate with an organized group of Latino parents and educators on curriculum that exposes all students to Latino culture.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer