Attorney Blog

Injured at work |Middletown | Hartford Workers Compensation Attorney

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (Blog Author)27452 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The tragic industrial accident in Middletown, CT has shaken a community and taken the lives of seven workers. It cannot be overstated how sad and sobering this event was. What is most disturbing is the possibility that the companies overseeing the construction project did not do enough to protect their employees.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of two injured electricians asserts that workers were not warned of the dangers of the purged gas. Investigators are pointing to this purged gas, in combination with live electricity, active welding and a gas fueled torch heater as possible reasons for the massive explosion.

The questions that this lawsuit and others like it must answer are: What could the companies in question have done to prevent the explosion? Were workers warned of the potential for a deadly explosion? Did supervisors and managers do all they could to prevent the accident?

Only time will tell if the injured workers filling the suit are able to recover from their injuries and receive the justice they deserve.

The families of the workers who lost their lives are in our thoughts every day. The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost a loved one. We sincerely hope that the injured workers are able to heal quickly and fully from their injuries.

Injured in a slip and fall accident in Connecticut?

LeonardBren@glkb-law.com (Blog Author)27371 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

If so there are some crucial steps you need to take. Time is not on your side. Evidence needs to be gathered immediately, you should be seen by a doctor and you should NOT sign any insurance paperwork or forms provided by the business in question.

Why are slip and fall cases so hard to prove? In Connecticut the law requires that the property owner must be negligent. Proving this negligence can be tricky as the law is very specific about the requirements that must be met. In addition, managers and store owners may work quickly to clean-up a spill or remove evidence of negligence.

If you have been injured while shopping or visiting a business are the cards stacked against you?

Maybe. But even if they are, your chances of getting maximum compensation greatly increase when you have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side.

At Glass Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren we have been fighting for the rights of slip and fall victims for over 30 years. If you want a truly dedicated attorney who consistently wins cases please contact our attorneys today. We work to protect the injured in Hartford, Norwich, Rocky Hill and anywhere in Central or Eastern Connecticut.

I was attacked by a dog. Is there anything I can do?

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (Blog Author)25786 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Yes, there is something you can do after being bitten or attacked by a dog. First and foremost please be seen by a physician. Even a small bite can cause a dangerous, even deadly infection.

When you have been treated for your injuries you may need the advice and counsel of an experienced dog bite attorney. If the dog's owner has insurance an adjustor may be contacting you very soon. He may pressure you into signing forms that undervalue your injuries, both mental and physical.

Only an attorney with experience in dog bite cases can properly assess your case. The cost of lost wages and ongoing medical care is often not figured into the insurance agents estimate.

At Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren we have the experience and the record to prove that we understand how to win dog attack cases. We strive, everyday, to win maximum compensation for our clients. We treat each client as an individual and pride ourselves on the care and time we take with each case. Please contact your personal injury attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren today for your free consultation.

With represent cases in Central and Eastern Connecticut, including Windham County, Tolland County, New London County, Hartford County and Middlesex County.

Deadly Bus Accident Investigation Continues

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (Blog Author)25434 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

The bus that recently crashed, taking the life of a Rocky Hill, CT student, was taken off the road months before the accident occurred. The bus was briefly taken out of service but its driving status was reinstated when the shop manager for the bus barn issued a written statement that claimed that the faulty brakes and other safety issues had been resolved.

Though the DMV routinely accepts these statements and does not require further proof of repair the company that maintains the fleet of buses has come under fire for lying about repairs. Last year, Specialty Transportation and Autumn Transportation were cited for submitting a false report to the DMV and filing a false statement. These citations were issued after inspectors found that work reported to be done on the buses was not completed.

Even though the charges were cleared before this month's collision the honesty and integrity of companies that provide buses for hundreds of children have come under fire. Both companies were already on an informal "watch list" because of ongoing problems repairing their buses.

The attorneys and staff at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Vikas Parikh, who was killed during the accident.

Is pedestrian safety anybody's priority?

LeonardBren@glkb-law.com (Blog Author)23733 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

According to a new national study, Connecticut under-invests its federal transportation dollars in pedestrian safety.
Statistics gathered by Transportation for America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership show that 12.6% of our state's traffic fatalities in 2008 were pedestrians. But when it comes to spending for pedestrian safety, less than 2% of the transportation funding we got from the federal government was used to make roads safer for walkers and joggers.
When the pressures of hard economic times seem to bring out the worst in many of our drivers, when more people are walking to get where they have to go, and when even Governor Rell urges us to vacation close to home and enjoy our cities' cultural events, doesn't it make sense to devote a larger share of our federal transportation dollars to protect pedestrians? This is not a call to spend more-just to consider spending what we're already getting a little differently than we have been.
Of course, there are worse places to be walking than in Connecticut. In fact, the most dangerous large metropolitan area in the country for pedestrians was in Florida: Orlando-Kissimmee. So if you choose to travel to Disneyworld instead of visiting a nearby Connecticut attraction, think twice before you walk outside the resort!

If you want to read the entire report, you can find it at:
http://t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign/

Connecticut Warehouse Receives Fines for Worker Safety Violations

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)13257 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

OSHA investigators recently performed an inspection of the food distribution warehouse of Bozzuto's Inc. The investigation found that multiple safety violations were putting workers at risk. The company has been cited for 25 violations. The violations included many that created a hazardous and potentially injurious situation for workers.

Those employed at the Bozzuto's warehouse, located 25 miles south of Hartford, CT, were being exposed to electrical, mechanical and exit hazards. These hazards pose a serious risk to workers who could be cut, electrocuted, caught in the machinery or prevented from leaving the building in case of a fire. These injuries are some of the more common on the job injuries.

The acting area director for OSHA, Kang Yi, stated that, "it is imperative that the company take effective action to ensure that all such conditions are corrected and do not reoccur."

Work condition safety violations included 20 serious citations with fines of over $550,000. Five other citations warranted another $3,000 of proposed fines. These fines were levied against the company for failing to keep accurate records of injury or illness.

The Hartford worker's compensation attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren hope that all of the safety violations are taken care of immediately and that no workers have been injured due to the companies negligence.

Children Injured in Hartford Bus Accident

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)13115 — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

An afterschool bus accident injured nine children in Hartford, CT. The bus was driving too close to an SUV in front of it and rear ended the vehicle at an intersection. At the time of the accident the bus driver, Linda Torres, was taking the students home from an after-school program at Global Communications Academy. The principal of the school and several parents were at the scene of the accident.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Weston and Jennings Road in Hartford. Police and emergency medical services responded to the accident and worked to treat and access the condition of the children. 21 students, ages 6 through 14 were on the bus and nine were taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center by ambulance. All of the injured students were treated and released the same day.

At the time of this report the condition of the occupants of the SUV were not available.

The bus driver, Linda Torres, was unharmed in the accident. Police issued her a ticket for tailgating.

Unfortunately bus accidents have been a regular occurrence in Connecticut recently.

The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren hope that all of the injured students heal quickly and recover fully from their injuries.

Injured Workers File Lawsuit after Middletown Power Plant Explosion

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)13118 — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The February 7^th explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown, CT was a tragic example of what can go wrong on an industrial worksite. To date seven workers have lost their lives and at least 20 sustained serious injuries. Two of the injured workers have filed a lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that O&G, Keystone Construction and Maintenance Services and Kleen Energy Systems failed to contain the natural gas being purged. They allege that the purging was allowed to escape, ignite and cause the explosion.

An attorney for the injured electricians, Timothy Hilliker of Glastonbury and Harold Thoma of Bolton, filed the lawsuit in Hartford Superior Court. The workers' attorney said that proper safety precautions were not followed. He asserts that safety violations such as live electricity running through the site, workers welding and a gas fueled torch heater may have caused the gas to ignite.

The lawsuit maintains that workers were not warned of the dangers of the uncontained, purged gas.

The electricians suffered head injuries, loss of consciousness and severe pain.

The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family members who lost loved ones during the accident. We hope that all injured workers heal completely and quickly from their injuries.

Tolland County Bus Driver Arrested for Multiple Accidents and DUI

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)13057 — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A Tolland County bus driver was arrested after causing two accidents in one day. The first accident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. The driver, Dina Johnsen of Vernon, was traveling on North River Road in Coventry when she struck a guardrail. The accident went unreported and would have remained unreported if a student on the bus hadn't told his mother about the crash. The students' mother immediately called the police to report the incident. The boy suffered minor injuries.

Later the same day Johnson was driving a minivan in Vernon when she crashed into a car that had stopped for a school bus on West Street. When police arrived on the scene they administered breath tests to Johnsen. The bus drivers blood alcohol level was found to be .196 and .186 percent. This is well above Connecticut's legal limit of .04 percent.

Johnsen, who was employed by Access Transportation, was reportedly fired the day of the crash.

Johnsen has been charged with risk of injury to a minor, second-degree reckless endangerment, evading responsibility and driving too fast for conditions. She was released without having to post bail and will have to report to court on March 1 in Rockville.

The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren hope that the injured student is able to make a fast and complete recovery.

East Hartford Lawmaker Proposes Mandatory Motorcycle Training Course

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)12994 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Stephanie Pelletier lost her 19-year-old son, Nicholas Cohen, in a motorcycle accident in 2008. The East Hartford mother has asked lawmakers to change the now optional safety training course to a mandatory course for first-time motorcycle drivers. Rep. Timothy D. Larson, D-East Hartford, spoke with Ms. Pelletier and has proposed that the course be mandatory for all new bikers.

Pelletier believes that a mandatory safety training course may help reduce the number of motorcycle accidents in Hartford and across Connecticut. Though she knows the proposal may take awhile to become law, she is hopeful.

"I know it's going to be a long process, but at least we got the ball rolling," she said.

Another concern of both Pelletier and Larson is that many people, Pelletier's son included, never get a permanent motorcycle license. Instead bikers may test for a temporary permit twice a year. Even if a motorcycle driver fails their road test they can reapply for a permit. This can leave unqualified bikers on the roadway.

Larson believes that a change in DMV policy may reduce the number of motorcycle crashes in Connecticut. The Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles Robert M. Ward agrees. Ward has spoken with Pelletier and Larson and has indicated that the department is in favor of the proposal.

If passed, the law would require that every driver seeking a motorcycle license endorsement for the first time take the Connecticut Rider Education Program. The program, offered by the Connecticut DMV, can be taken at several locations across the state. The cost of the program is currently $200.

The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren would like to extend our condolences to the family of Nicholas Cohen.

Investigations into Middletown, CT Gas Explosion Continue

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)12921 — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The Middletown gas explosion that has now claimed a sixth victim is still under investigation by local police and fire officials, OSHA and the State of Connecticut. New information has revealed that a worker issued an evacuation announcement moments before the blast occurred.

The last-minute warning was issued when monitors picked up a spike in airborne natural gas. One of the men watching the monitors was killed, the other seriously injured, when the gas ignited, causing an enormous explosion.

Investigators believe that the purging of gas lines, done to clear other gasses and debris from the lines, caused the gas to pool in a courtyard. The courtyard was located between two 200-foot-tall towers. The concern is that the lack of air flow caused the gas to collect in the confined area. According to a combustion engineer a lack of ventilation may have caused the gas to remain in one area.

"You'd be relying on natural ventilation. If the air flow is impacted, dilution is affected."

Normally wind and air currents would disperse the gas. However it is believed that the gas pooled into the area and made its way into the building by way of temporary wooden doors. Investigators have seen signs that point to the blast coming from the courtyard into which the gas was being purged.

Many workers had been concerned over the smell of gas. There are reports that some of the workers complained of lightheadedness. Some workers left the building on their own accord before the warning was issued. Others aired their concerns over the safety of having welders working while the odor persisted.

Investigations are ongoing and today yet another worker lost his life due to the injuries he sustained in the explosion. Six people have lost their lives and a dozen were injured during the catastrophic accident.

The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families who have lost a loved one. We sincerely hope that every injured worker makes a full and rapid recovery.

Three Branford Roofers Injured When Ladder Hits Power Line

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)12534 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Roofers with All Aspects of Carpentry were beginning work on a commercial building in Branford, Connecticut when the ladder they were moving tipped and struck a power line. Two of the men went into cardiac arrest and had to be revived by a coworker and paramedics. One worker suffered severe burns.

All three are recovering in area hospitals. The owner of the company, William Twyford, was listed in stable condition. The other men, brothers Roy and Travis Moody, were listed in critical and serious condition.

The power line is close to a substation and runs the length of the street. Because of this the voltage in the line was very high, estimated at 13,200 volts. The line is about 15 feet away from the building that the men were working on.

Fire Chief Jack Ahern reported the accident to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Officials from OSHA have begun an investigation into the incident.

The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren are heartened to hear that the conditions of the men are improving. We will keep them in our thoughts as they begin to heal and recover.

Accident in Middlebury, CT Involves Tanker, Delivery Truck

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)12521 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Police and emergency medical services responded to an accident involving a tanker and delivery truck in Middlebury, CT. The tanker was holding 1,500 gallons of propane when it hit the delivery truck.

Both vehicles were traveling east on I-84 at about 60 MPH when the tanker lost control around a bend. The tanker struck the delivery truck, sending the tanker into a guardrail. The tanker then began to leak, prompting authorities to close the interstate for several hours.

The propane truck driver was injured in the crash, complaining of back pain. He was taken to Waterbury Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries. The trucker was ticketed for speeding and operating with defective equipment.

The driver of the delivery truck was not injured. However, he was cited for operating a motor vehicle without a license.

The attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren are glad to hear that only minor injuries were reported in this potentially serious crash. We hope that the injured driver recovers quickly from his back injury.

Slip and Fall Law Suit Settled

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)12496 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

The family of a woman who died after slipping and falling in a Wal-Mart will soon be done with a lengthy legal battle. The husband of the accident victim filed a slip and fall lawsuit against Wal-Mart in the death of his wife.

The case has been settled out of court a month ahead of a scheduled trial.

David Lehman, the victim's husband, accused the store of negligence in the death of his wife, Julie. He alleged that a slip and fall in the automotive department of the store led to his wife's death a week later. Mrs. Lehman was in a Rapid City, SD hospital undergoing surgery for a blood clot in her brain when she died.

The amount of the settlement is not yet available as it must receive the courts approval.

The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren hope that the Lehman family finds peace in the decision. We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Julie Lehman.

Dogs Attack, Kill Man in His Own Home

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)12440 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A Chicago man was found dead in his home earlier this month. It is believed that the victim, 56-year-old Johnny Wilson, was killed by a pack of dogs that lived in the house. Wilson's daughter lived with him and found her father when she came home. The daughter was raising the dogs, which included at least four adults and two puppies.

Wilson was said to have suffered extensive head, chest and upper body injuries. The official cause of death was listed as hemorrhaging caused by the multiple bites.

A niece of Wilson's, Tracy Wilson, was distraught to hear the news of her uncle's passing.

"He'd give the shirt off his back, that's just how he was," she said.

Neighbors, such as Avantis Smith, were shocked to hear the news. Smith has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years and had seen Wilson walking the dogs in the past. Others believed that the father and daughter had good control over the dogs.

Animal behaviorist Suzanne Hetts believes that this attack might have been caused by the pack mentality that groups of dogs often have. She believes that when one dog acts the others can "jump in and do the same thing."

The attorneys and staff at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Wilson.

Bus Accident on I-84 Raises Safety Issues

cdejohn@glkb-law.com (News Author)12295 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

The January 9^th bus accident that ended the life of a Rocky Hill, CT teen is under investigation by both police and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The DMV is responsible for inspections of school buses and their drivers. Inspections usually occur annually, and during a 2009 inspection the bus involved in the crash was found to have five separate violations. According to the inspection report the more serious of these was a "brake lining loose and missing sections".

Though the bus was taken out of service that day a document signed by the shop manager for Autumn Transportation and Specialty Transportation Inc. stated that the brakes had been repaired the same day. The DMV uses these statements to clear buses for use and usually does not require a second inspection.

The concern in this case is that before the recent accident Specialty Transportation and Autumn Transportation had been cited with submitting a false report to the DMV and filing a false statement. These charges were filed after inspectors returned to find that buses had not been repaired, despite written statements that they had been.

Both companies were on an informal "watch list" within the DMV due to ongoing problems repairing their buses. DMV inspectors have checked the bus involved in the fatal accident for signs of equipment failure. However, officials have not released the report due to the ongoing police investigation.

The attorneys and staff at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren would like to offer our condolences to the families of those injured and killed in the January 9^th accident.