How Do Dram Shop Laws Benefit Children?
Perhaps one of the most misused arguments in favor of a law or government program is that "it's for the children." People who use this argument often do so in order to stop a debate, instead of starting one. This will not be one of those occasions. I recently read about a horrific crash in...
Harris County Drunk Driving Chronicle
Texas continues to be infamous for leading the country in drunk driving fatalities. Partly due to its size, but also due to a high rate of drunk driving, Harris County (primarily Houston) contributes more to that dubious distinction than any other jurisdiction in the state. In an ideal world, we would be able to analyze,...
Am I Too Late to File An Actos Claim?
The prescription drug Actos has been known for some time to increase a patient's risk of developing bladder cancer over the course of their diabetes treatment. Most of the Actos cases we handled on patients' behalf are long since resolved, but lately we have noticed an uptick in calls from people scrambling to file suit...
Is There A Better Argument for Dram Shop Law Than a Fatal Crash With a Drunk Bartender?
Anyone who has spent time sitting at a bar may have seen its tender have a few drinks. Sometimes it's just a beer over the course of a shift, and other times she takes a few shots in a row with a group of regulars. Most bartenders know and maintain their limits like professionals (if...
Only In Houston: Two DUI Drivers Hit Disabled Car in Fatal Crashes
I've mentioned before that Houston ranks uncomfortably highly in matters of drunk driving. Not only does it have the most DUI-related deaths of any Texas city, but it consistently ranks in the top 5 cities throughout the entire U.S. Sometimes it seems like Houston actually wants to remind everybody who wears that tarnished crown in...
Fentanyl, The Opioid Crisis, and Products Liability Law
You've probably heard or read the phrase "opioid crisis" in the news. Better and more careful explanations of the growing worldwide problem are available with a quick Google search. For now let me just say that one of the panic's major elements is the pharmaceutical opiate fentanyl. Everyone from medical professionals to government agencies seem...
Garland Apartment Complex in Hot Water Over Murky Pool
It's been big news in Dallas that a 4-year-old Garland girl, Mariah Anthony, drowned in a pool at the Meadow Creek apartment complex this past Sunday. This incident was different than most other pool drownings, because the media and emergency response personnel both noted how murky the water in the pool was. One news outlet...
Haeger Revisited: Faulty Goodyear Tires and the Statute of Repose
Recently the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary investigation into the field performance of tire manufacturer Goodyear line of "G159" model tires. According to records that were ordered unsealed by a judge last year, the tires--often used on motor homes despite being unfit for the purpose--may have caused wrecks that injured or...
Asbestos Continues to Wreak Havoc on Generations of Workers
Society has a complicated history with technological progress. It seems like many major developments in the industrial and consumer sectors were found to be pretty awful ideas after a generation or so of use. Just think about it: From the 1930's through the 50's, cigarettes were endorsed by doctors for the pep that a jolt...
Positive Train Control: What Use is an Inactive or Absent Safety Feature?
The past few months have certainly not been good for trains. Multiple high-profile wrecks--three in as many months--have brought the public's gimlet eye down upon Amtrak, one of the most recognizable names in train transportation. For those who don't follow the news (who could blame you these days?), here's a quick summary of the most...
