Dirty Medical Instruments Lead to Dangerous Infection

Posted on February 27, 2012

According to an article published by The Center for Public Integrity, improperly cleaned utensils have resulted in severe infection for patients following surgery.

One investigation outlined in the article involved The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. An investigation was started after at least seven patients reported problems of severe infection following joint surgery. Reports of dangerous infections following surgery poured in over a two week period.

Investigators from the hospital and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted the investigation. The results were frightening. When investigators examined surgical tools with a small video camera to make sure they were clean, they found pieces of human bone and tissue left behind.

Investigators concluded that the source of the infections was most likely the dirty surgical instruments. Researchers pointed out that in most cases, the source of hospital borne infections are difficult to pin point.

One of the patients, John Harrison, 63, filed a lawsuit against The Methodist Hospital and Stryker, the company who made the instrument, after suffering what he called excruciating pain from a severe infection.

Harrison reportedly suffered a severe infection following surgery to repair the rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He underwent a second surgery and may require additional surgeries. Today, Harrison has poor range of motion in his arm and can’t even scratch his head. He settled with the two defendant companies for an undisclosed amount.

Harrison’s lawsuit and the investigation at The Methodist Hospital bring to attention a much larger issue. If you or someone you love has suffered serious infection following surgery, you may have been exposed to dirty medical instruments.

To learn more, contact a Connecticut medical malpractice attorney at The Berkowitz Law Firm today. We handle all types of medical malpractice claims and can help you get compensation for your pain and suffering.

Pedestrian in Critical Condition after Being Struck by Car

Posted on February 14, 2012

An unidentified pedestrian who was struck by a car while crossing the street at the intersection of Goffe and Sperry at about 12.02 p.m., Friday, remains hospitalized in critical condition. The man did not have identification.

Officers Juan Monzon and Nikki Curry were walking their beat near Foote Street on Dixwell Avenue when they got a call directing them to the scene of the auto accident. When they arrived, they saw firefighters and Emergency Medical Services personnel helping the fallen man.

The driver of the car, Ian Phiri, 23, of Hamden reportedly told the police officers that while he was driving his 1997 Nissan Maxima on Goffe Street, the man walked in front of his car. Phiri pulled his car over on Whalley Avenue and called 911.

Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services workers helped the stricken man and drove him to the hospital.

Police officer Dennis Mastriano gave Phiri standard field sobriety tests, which he failed. Phiri, according to police, had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. He took a breathalyzer test at police headquarters, where his blood alcohol content measured .123. The legal limit for driving under the influence (dui) is .08.

Police jailed Phiri, charging him with second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and DUI.

The injured man had internal injuries of a lacerated liver and bladder, and broken legs, police reported.

Source:

If you or someone you love is critically injured after being hit by a car, you should contact the Connecticut personal injury lawyers of The Berkowitz Law Firm for help. Our attorneys represent pedestrians who are hit by vehicles.

Distracted Drivers: Cell Phone Statistics

Posted on February 13, 2012

Who would you guess use cell phones more when driving in Connecticut? Men or women? If you guessed women, you’d be wrong.

Despite women’s chatty reputation, men according to the Associated Press got between 52 and 54 percent of distracted-driving tickets in the state in the last six years. This is despite the fact that slightly more than half the state’s drivers are females.

Texting while driving is banned in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Nine states and the District of Columbia prohibit holding a cell phone in your hand while driving.

David Snyder said it’s not surprising that men receive more tickets. Snyder is vice president and associate general counsel of the American Insurance Association, a trade group of 300 companies.

Male drivers are statistically more likely than female drivers to engage in risk-taking behavior, according to Snyder. More males than females are killed in motor vehicle accidents annually, he said.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in 2011 that women were found to use handheld cellphones slightly more than men. However, an NHTSA survey found that 42 percent of men compared to 39 percent of women said they talked more on their cellphone.

Penalties in Connecticut for using your cellphone while driving are $125 for the first ticket and $250 for the second. If you use a phone and you’re under 18, your license could be suspended.

Branford has been one of Connecticut’s towns handing out the most tickets.

Branford police officer Bryan McGinnis said it was no problem finding 10 to 15 violations a day. One driver he stopped, Kelly DePalma, a 28-year-old New Haven resident, didn’t think getting a ticket for driving and using a cell phone was right.

“It’s garbage,” she told the Courant. “I pay for this car. What I do in it, you know. You can get distracted from anything.”

DePalma said the officer who ticketed her was driving an undercover car.

“It’s almost like entrapment,” she said.  McGinnis noted the car said Branford police on the side.

Source: Hartford Courant

Driver negligence such as texting or talking on the phone while driving can result in serious auto accidents. If you were involved in a car accident in which the other driver was talking on the phone, you should speak with a Connecticut auto accident lawyer at the Berkowitz Law Firm today.

House Fire Kills Three People in Poughkeepsie

Posted on January 23, 2012

Three people were killed Jan. 21 in fire that raged through a home at 112 Fairview Ave. in the Town of Poughkeepsie, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported.

Two of the people killed in the fire were Marist College students and roommates, Eva Block from Woodbridge and Kerry Fitzsimons of Commack, Long Island. Kevin Johnson, 20, from New Canaan, Connecticut also died in the fire.

Block, 21, was a senior studying fashion design. She was an honor student who loved reading and was very sociable, according to Philip Greenberg, a friend of Block’s mother.

“Her drawings were remarkable. She had some great ideas,” Greenberg said of Block.

Block is survived by her father and mother, Jeffrey Block and Barbara Stark Block, and siblings Hannah and Harrison Block.

Block and Fitzsimmons were roommates. Another roommate’s father, Joe Petrini, said “they were sweet girls.” His daughter Hailey Petrini was not home at the time of the fire.

Fitzsimons’ uncle said she had everything ahead of her. “She was just a beautiful, wonderful young lady.”

A high school classmate of Fitzsimons, Kay Leydon, 21, said Fitzsimons was interested in marine science. She said the two of them would dress in waders to observe marine life in a pool of water near the Poughkeepsie Train Station.

“She was one of those girls that you know she was just going to go places,” Leydon said.

Another Fitzsimons’ friend and former roommate, Ashley Corriss, called Fitzsimons “the most free-spirited person. She never got mad, ever.”

Katherine Bilsky, a senior who was friends with all of the victims, said Johnson was “really funny.”

I’ve known Kevin since my freshman year,” she said. “He always made us laugh. He loved to talk and debate. He was just starting to get in touch with himself artistically. He was exploring photography.”

Four other students escaped from the blazing house by jumping out of windows.

Firefighters continue to investigate the cause of the fire, but say they believe it began in the back of the home, trapping the three people inside.

Sources:

If someone you love is killed in a fire, you can seek legal assistance by contacting the Connecticut wrongful death lawyers at The Berkowitz Law Firm.

Trumbull Man Dies After Stun Gun Submission

Posted on January 17, 2012

Trumbull resident Ronald Cristiano, 51, died Nov. 13, 2011, after being subdued at least three times with a stun gun by Bridgeport police.

Two Bridgeport police officers were summoned to 98 Wilkens Ave. at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, by American Medical Response technicians. Trumbull was naked at the time. Two technicians were trying to subdue Trumbull in order to get him into their ambulance.

When Trumbull resisted, the technicians called police. Officers Victor Rodriguez and Minerva Feliciano arrived at the scene and when Trumbull resisted efforts by the police officers to help him into the ambulance, he was hit at least three times by a stun gun.

Police later said he was resisting their efforts and acting erratically. Cristiano may have been under the influence of drugs, police suggested. When the man attempted to attack one of the medical technicians, the police officers used their stun gun.

Cristiano went into cardiac arrest and died shortly afterward.

“Both Officers Rodriguez and Feliciano acted properly and in accordance with our policies regarding the use of electronic control devices to gain compliance from uncooperative and/or combative subjects,” said Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr.

The State’s Attorney’s Office will manage an investigation, requested by the Bridgeport Police Department.

The incident was the second time that weekend that Bridgeport police subdued subjects with stun guns. Police broke up a fight in front of a Main Street bar early Saturday morning and stunned a 24-year-old man participating in the violence. The man was treated at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.

Source: CT Post

If you feel you have been the victim of undue police force, you should contact the Connecticut injury lawyers at The Berkowitz Law Firm for legal help. Our attorneys represent people who have been seriously injured by negligence or reckless actions.

Portland Firefighter Still Recovering From Burn Injuries

Posted on January 14, 2012

It was nearly a year ago that Todd Ghent found himself in the middle of a fireball that threatened to take his life. The volunteer firefighter from Portland, Connecticut was at the scene of a reported propane leak on Jan. 29, 2011, when the air around him exploded. The only thing that saved his life was the instinct to hold his breath, saving his lungs from igniting with the burning gas.

Ghent was among the first firefighters who responded to the scene. He had protective gear, and with the help of another firefighter, Tim Goff, he began moving down a snow-lined driveway with a gas detection meter. Just as they reached an area between snow banks where the heavy gas had pooled, the propane ignited.

Although the source of the spark remains unknown, the Portland Fire Marshall determined that a backhoe caused the propane leak.

Ghent managed to hold his breath, keeping the burning gas, which ignites in the air at nearly 1,000 degrees, out of his lungs. His head was on fire as he dove into a snow bank to extinguish the flames.

Ghent suffered second and third degree burns to his head, face, and neck. Goff, who was about eight feet from Ghent, suffered burn injuries to his hands.

(Source: Hartford Courant)

If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury due to negligence or hazardous conditions, the Connecticut personal injury lawyers of the Berkowitz Law Firm may be able to help you seek compensation. Contact us for a free review of your case.

Family Seeks Answers in East Hartford Drowning

Posted on January 13, 2012

The family members of an East Hartford High School student who died during gym class are still looking for answers. Police responded to a report of a possible drowning at the school shortly after noon on Wednesday.

Fire Chief John Oates said 15-year-old Marcum Asiamah had only been in the pool for a short period of time. A bystander performed CPR until rescue workers arrived. CPR was continued on the way to Hartford Hospital, where Asiamah was later pronounced dead.

The state medical examiner’s office determined that the cause of death was asphyxia by submersion; it was ruled accidental.

It has been two days since the drowning and the family says it still hasn’t learned details of how it happened or of the level of supervision in the class.

“It’s been very, very tough without any answers about how things happened — no answers to help us grieve,” said Vida Kwofie, Asiamah’s aunt.

Kwofie said Asiamah was a freshman who didn’t know how to swim. She said he was looking forward to the lessons he was to receive in gym class on the day of the accident.

In a written statement, the school’s Superintendent Mark F. Zito said, “Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and friends of the student involved in this incident. The school district is planning to provide grief counseling and support for students, faculty, and staff. The details of that support will be made available shortly. The incident is under investigation and we have no findings that we can share with you at this time.”

(Source: Hartford Courant)

If you’ve lost a family member to a wrongful death, a Connecticut wrongful death lawyer at The Berkowitz Law Firm can help you find the answers to the questions you are seeking. To schedule a free case review with an attorney at our firm, please contact us today.

Torrington Apartment Building Fire under Investigation

Posted on December 28, 2011

The fire marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that broke out in a Torrington apartment building on Dec. 27. One man was killed in the fire, after being trapped on the third floor and another person was injured.

The man who died in the fire was identified as Douglas Welch, 55. Welch lived alone in an apartment on the third floor. According to reports, he was unresponsive when firefighters found him.

Several people called 911 to report the fire at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday night. Residents on the first and second floors were evacuated, but firefighters said they couldn’t get to the third floor because the fire was so intense.

One firefighter was released after being treated for injuries at a local hospital. According to reports, the apartment building was deemed uninhabitable due to smoke and water damage.

(Source: Hartford Courant)

When fires break out in apartment buildings, the devastation can be severe. If you or someone you love has been injured in, or if someone you love is injured in a fire, you should speak with an attorney about your right to compensation.

To speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Connecticut, contact The Berkowitz Law Firm today.

11-Year-Old Dies in Connecticut Car Accident

Posted on December 27, 2011

Eleven-year-old Matt D’Amico of East Hampton was killed Dec. 25 when the car he was riding in hit a tree. His cousin, 15-year-old Tony Prisco, was driving the car without a license. Prisco was from New Britain.

While the family was having a Christmas Party at the D’Amico home, the two young boys were sent outside to warm up the car. That’s when they decided to take a joyride. Instead of just warming up the car, Prisco drove the car down the road and crashed into a tree less than a mile from the house.

Residents in the area said that if you didn’t know the road, it could be hazardous. Police said the cause of the crash was speeding and driver inexperience. D’Amico was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Life Star flew the driver to Hartford Hospital with serious injuries. Police reported his condition as stable.

“He’s my little man, you know? Nothing’s ever going to replace him in my heart,” Prisco was quoted by an article in the Hartford Courant.

(Source: Hartford Courant)

To speak with a Connecticut personal injury lawyer about an injury or wrongful death, contact The Berkowitz Law Firm today.

Family Files a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Construction Accident

Posted on December 19, 2011

The family of a construction worker who died in a 50-foot fall at the Chelsea Piers construction site filed a wrongful death lawsuit against AP Construction, American Building Group, Merritt Contractors, Chelsea Piers Connecticut and Stamford Exit 9 LCC.

Javier Salinas died on Oct. 25 after falling off a roof and landing on a concrete slab. According to the lawsuit, Salinas fell after a gust of wind knocked him off balance.

According to the lawsuit, AP Construction was negligent when it directed American Building Group to install a roof that was more than 40 feet off the ground during dangerous weather conditions. The suit also claims that the company failed to provide adequate safety equipment.

“While I’m sure the developer, owner and general contractor will reap the benefits of the project once it’s completed, the construction site at Chelsea Piers was shockingly unsafe and was a fatality waiting to happen,” said Russell Berkowitz, the Connecticut personal injury attorney representing the Salinas family.

Federal officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the accident. The initial investigation shows that he wasn’t wearing a harness or safety straps at the time of the accident.

Two of Salinas’ brothers witnessed the fall and are suing the defendant companies for emotional stress. Salinas’ wife Rosa Calva is suing for loss of companionship and lost earnings, said Berkowitz.

(Source: Stamford Advocate)

If someone you love was killed in a construction accident, you might be entitled to seek compensation for your losses. To learn more, contact The Berkowitz Law Firm today.