Civil Justice News Clips
May 6, 2013

LOCAL

Employment Law
Woman: Second-hand pot smoke got me fired
Seattle PI – April 30, 2013
A Tumwater woman who underwent a drug test after a workplace injury was later fired because she tested positive for marijuana – the drug her husband smokes regularly for a back injury.

Government Accountability
Seattle taxpayers foot bill for students’ pricey rides to school
KIRO TV – April 29, 2013
The Seattle School District pays for cab rides to transport students to and from school.  A federal law requires this for students who have moved out of the district to transitional housing because of economic hardship.

Public Safety
Hanford worker's struggle to 'do the right thing'
King 5 News – April 25, 2013
Despite warnings from an employee, the company that manages the radioactive waste tank farms at Hanford ignored numerous red flags that showed a double-shell tank holding some of the worst waste was indeed leaking.

Vulnerable Adults
Lawmakers must provide tools to investigate abuse in group homes
Seattle Times – May 1, 2013
HB 1574 would charge certified residential and supported-living providers an annual fee which would be federally matched and enable the hiring of six additional staff to investigate abuse against disabled citizens living in group-home settings.
 

NATIONAL

Access to Justice
Florida Judge Upholds Injunction Against Portions of State’s PIP Law
Insurance Journal – April 24, 2013
A Florida judge is partially blocking portions of the state’s automobile no-fault insurance law on the basis it infringes on drivers’ access to the courts. As a result, regulators are appealing to a higher court.

Medical Malpractice
Doctors’ apologies can’t be used against them in malpractice suits, justices rule
Columbus Dispatch – April 25, 2013
The Ohio Supreme Court clarified that an apology or other sympathetic statements health-care officials make to their patients can’t be used in cases filed after the “medical apology statute” legislation took effect in 2004, even if the treatment occurred before then.

Patient Safety
Law should not put doctors' wishes over patient health
St. Lewis Dispatch – April 24, 2013
A Missouri Denial of Care bill would prevent any medical setting from taking action against an employee who denied certain care to a patient due to a moral objection.  Do you agree with this doctor’s opinion?

Product Liability
Boy's Pool Death Leads To $40 Million Settlement
Daily Business Review - April 26, 2013
A financially secure family uses the proceeds of a $40M settlement to try to raise pool safety awareness and the hidden product liability issues found in pools.