February, 2012 | Orlando Accident & Injury Blog Archive
NTSB Cites Pilot Error in Fatal 2010 Aviation Accident
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators recently finished looking into a fiery aviation accident that killed four people in November 2010. In their report, the NTSB cited errors made by the pilot and a certified flight instructor that led to the crash at Palm Beach International Airport. The NTSB report stated that the Piper PA-44 Seminole bound for Melbourne from the Bahamas crashed nose first into the runway right after takeoff around 6:05 p.m. on November 11, 2010 and subsequently caught fire, killing all four people aboard. All the victims were either employed by or attended the Florida Institute of Technology’s FIT Aviation School near Melbourne.
Florida Lawmakers Pass Bills to Toughen Nursing Home Abuse
A series of articles published in recent months in the Miami Herald have shed light on elder abuse occurring in many state-run assisted living facilities, and it appears that Florida lawmakers are taking steps to toughen oversight of these facilities. The newspaper found that elder abuse is rampant in state facilities, often with little or no repercussions for the at-fault parties or the state agencies responsible for oversight. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham was alarmed to learn of the abuse in many state nursing homes and applauds Florida legislators for the recent passage of committee bills 7176 and 7174.
Legoland Reports Six Accidents in First Three Months of Operation
Legoland Florida is a newcomer to our state’s crowded amusement park scene and is located in Winter Haven. The new amusement park recently announced that there were six accidents during the first ten weeks since the park opened. Fortunately, none of the accidents resulted in serious injuries for the guests, but the news shed some light on amusement park incidents at Florida theme parks that sometimes get overlooked in the news. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has first-hand knowledge of amusement park accidents. He and other Orlando amusement park accident lawyers help ensure that our state’s many theme parks take guest safety seriously by raising awareness about lapses in safety measures and maintenance protocols that endanger guests and workers.
Gas Furnaces Recalled for Fire Risks
York International has issued a recall for nearly 226,000 gas furnaces for manufactured homes made by Unitary Products Group (UPG) due to fire concerns with some models. The furnaces affected by the recall were sold under the Coleman, Coleman Evcon and Red T brands and were subject to a similar recall in 2004. York has said that some models are prone to overheating, which can cause the heat exchanger to crack, creating openings that can allow flames to reach the outside of the furnace. The company reports that if this occurs, drywall, paneling and other nearby combustibles can catch fire, which poses a serious fire and smoke hazard to anyone living in the home.
Florida Lawmakers Expected to Review Dangerous Dog Law in February
Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham and other attorneys throughout Florida will be monitoring news out of Tallahassee this coming February when lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill in the Florida House that would abolish a dangerous dog ordinance in Miami-Dade County. Florida’s current dangerous dog law was passed in 1990 and allows local governments to take appropriate action against dogs deemed dangerous after a complaint is made and served on their owners. Owners can appeal the dangerous dog classification in county court and, depending on the county’s ruling, may be required to register animals with their county’s animal control department. If an animal’s actions warrant it, the county can issue an order to have the animal impounded and/or destroyed.
Failing Artificial Hips Expected to Cost Taxpayers Billions in Coming Years
Defective metal-on-metal artificial hip implants are rapidly becoming the largest medical implant failure in years. The failure rate of these implants, the tens of thousands of patients who will need to have these implants surgically replaced, the costs of replacement and the scale of litigation involved all make this a very serious situation for taxpayers, who may be on the hook for billions in the coming years. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has been following this story closely, as many people in Central Florida have had these devices surgically implanted in recent years before government investigations led to massive recalls of these implants.
James O. Cunningham
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.