Friday, August 31, 2012

NFL, San Francisco 49ers Face Premise Liability Lawsuit

The two men who were beaten and shot during the NFL’s 49ers-Raiders game last August 20, 2011 are now suing the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Candlestick Park parking lot security company in a premise liability claim.

According to the lawsuits filed by Daniel Long and Gabriel Navarette before the San Francisco Superior Court, the 49ers failed to proactively provide an environment that is free from quarreling, fighting, taunting, threatening remarks, or gestures and gang activity.

The two 49ers fans claimed in their lawsuits that one of them was beaten unconscious while the other one who tried to rescue was shot four times.

Aside from the said incident, one more serious beating, two shooting scenes, and several alcohol-fueled fights occurred in Candlestick Park where the 49ers-Raiders game was held.

Shortly after the infamous game, the 49ers’ owner suggested to the NFL to cancel all future games between the two teams. Also, the 49ers tightened up its security measures, including instituting an alcohol ban on postgame and parking lots tailgating. 

However, during a subsequent playoff game, some New Orleans Saints fans still complained about harassment. Therefore, San Francisco police officers started attending games spying under opponent’s jerseys to police rabble-rousers.

The San Francisco 4ers, in its brief statement, claimed that the team is committed in providing a safe game environment for all fans. In fact, its commitment has earned the highest security level rating from the NFL. Meanwhile, both NFL and Landmark Security’s legal representatives declined to comment on the allegations hurled against them.

Unlike any other accidents like vehicle accidents where the cause of damage is apparent and the liability is comparatively clear, premise liability claims often present liability issues. In such cases, a victim has to prove that something within the property caused the injury. Furthermore, a victim has to prove that the property owner failed to do something despite the awareness of the existence of danger on the property, which eventually caused the injury, briefly explained by a Los Angeles premise liability lawyer.

Friday, August 24, 2012

SSA Asks for Bullets to Beef up Security

Recently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) made a big surprise to everyone when as it posted a purchase request for 174,000 rounds of .357 Sig grain bonded jacketed hollow point bullets.

Accordingly, the SSA only employs 295 special agents with the law enforcement authority and such agents are divided among 66 offices across the nation. Therefore, the entire nation is quite amazed when the agency opened up its need for bullets.

Subsequently, in a statement released by the agency to public, it claimed that the ammo that it was requesting was for the purpose of training and security.

The agency further explained that due to more and more Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims that it is receiving each day, the number of traffic in its office increases as well.

The agency likewise pointed out that employees and visitors are the most important priority of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The OIG, together with the Federal Protective Services and other local law enforcement, has jurisdiction over SSA offices.

Moreover, the agency also noted that SSA agents have duties similar to state and federal law enforcement groups. In fact, the agency makes a similar purchase each year, the SSA added.

Unfortunately for the agency, its purchase request has created widespread conspiracy theories on the virtual world. A Los Angeles social security disability lawyer witnessed how such misconception went wrong all over the Internet but at least, the agency had already aired its side regarding the misleading issue.

On a related note, the SSDI is purposely created to replace lost wages due to illness or injury resulting from work. The same is very important to you and your family since it is your best protection against financial disaster.

The fact that people sometimes forget is that although such agency is designed to provide protection to people in need, the agency itself likewise needs protection.

Friday, August 17, 2012

California Toyota Dealership Enters Agreement Settling Harassment and Retaliation Case

A Toyota dealership in Fremont, California has finally agreed to enter into an agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to settle the harassment and retaliation case filed against it by the latter.

The said car dealership has agreed to pay $400,000.00 monetary fines and to conduct training to its management staff to end the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claimed that Fremont Toyota’s former general manager blatantly called four Afghan-American salesmen as terrorists and threatened to blow them up with a bomb during a staff meeting way back in 2007. Upon reporting the harassment, the men suffered retaliation like additional harassment and overtly close job monitoring until they eventually decided to file their resignation. Meanwhile, a manager who spoke up for the salesmen was fired, according to the lawsuit.

Ironically, after being referred to as terrorists from their previous job, most of the fired salesmen were said to have found work with the U.S. army serving in Afghanistan and protecting U.S. soldiers from terrorists, said by one of the former salesmen.

On the other hand, Fremont Toyota’s new general manager and legal representative refused to comment on the matter, reports said.

Under the settlement agreement signed and executed by both party, Toyota is required to train all managers, post a notice concerning the lawsuit, and file a report to the EEOC for a three-year period aside from paying the monetary relief to the five fired employees.

Meanwhile, EEOC San Francisco regional attorney William R. Tamayo said that he, on behalf of the agency, anticipates that this case will notify people that the civil rights law of the country aims to protect everyone from employment discrimination, regardless of their national origin or race. Even EEOC San Francisco District Director Michael Baldonado hopes that the settlement would bring awareness to the Afghan community regarding their legal rights and how the federal government can protect them.

Like any other states and counties in U.S., in Los Angeles, workplace discrimination is considered illegal and may lead to the imposition of severe penalties to employers and companies who violate labor laws. Therefore, employers are often discouraged from discriminating employees.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Following “Expendables 2” Stuntman’s Death

Recently, the family of a stuntman who died from an explosion while filming the movie “The Expendables 2” has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the movie’s producer, Nu Image and Millennium Films, as well as the movie’s stunt coordinator.

The said wrongful death claim was filed before the office of the Los Angeles Superior Court by the parents of the late stuntman, Kun Liu.

Liu died on October 27, 2011 in Bulgaria while making the action sequel. According to court documents, the victim’s spouses, Zong Yu Liu and Tan Mei Bai, claim that the studio, and the second unit director/ stunt coordinator, Chad Stahelski, are responsible for the unsafe conditions during a boat sequence that caused Liu’s death. The lawsuit is seeking for unspecified damages.

Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to organize, plan, set-up, produce, direct, train, coordinate and prepare for the scene and recklessly implemented the stunt that involved the use of explosives and other extra-risky activities in the rubber boat.

Star-writer Sylvester Stallone, Director Simon West or other co-actors in the film was not involved in the lawsuit. The said movie is set to be released on August 17 by Lionsgate in United States.

Wrongful death is the term used to describe when an individual is tragically killed due to a misconduct or negligence of another individual or party.

In Los Angeles, if you suspect that the main reason for your loved one’s death is due to negligence or misconduct of others, it is best that you get in touch with consult a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer that is competent and passionate in providing service.