Compensation for 9/11 WTC Victims

 
If you or someone you love is dealing with a diagnosis of a cancer that is related to the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, you most likely have a lot of questions regarding possible compensation. Most of the compensation paid out through the Victim Compensation Fund is related to economic losses, and many victims have received awards of more than one million dollars.
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                   Understanding Economic Loss
nyc-1668831_960_720Before you can determine how much money you or your loved one could possibly receive, it’s important to understand what is and is not included under economic loss. In general, economic loss covers compensation that the victim and/or his family would have been eligible for. This includes compensation for medical bills, out of pocket medical expenses and replacement services. Economic loss also covers the loss of earnings and other benefits of employment because of the death or disability caused by the accident.If your 9/11 related illness, injury or disability has rendered you unable to work, you may be eligible for compensation for both past work missed and future work that is no longer an option for you. Every case is different, but economic loss does include both prior and future losses for both your work and your household.
Filing a Claim
In order to receive any amount of compensation, you must file a claim. The claim submission process can be difficult, but the potential award is great. Once you have finalized your claim and submitted all documentation, you could potentially receive millions of dollars to accommodate for your losses.There is not just one set amount that is awarded, because the total depends on a variety of factors. For instance, the age, salary history, and future expected salary of the claimant will all be considered. Some people will require expensive medical care for the rest of their lives, while others might suffer more of a one-time impact from 9/11.

If injuries or illnesses sustained as a result of 9/11 are impacting your life, it’s time to get the compensation that you deserve.

Slippery String Bean Becomes Focus of New Jersey Lawsuit

 

An unusual lawsuit involving a leguminous vegetable has been filed against a New Jersey supermarket.

shopping-1165437_960_720The plaintiff in this case is a woman from Oakland, a borough of Bergen County, and the defendant is the local ShopRite supermarket. Although the lawsuit in question was filed in early October, the accident is alleged to have happened two years ago.

According to court records kept by Bergen County Superior Court, the 55-year old New Jersey woman stepped on a string bean and fell down on the aisle floor near the produce department. The lawsuit further claims that the plaintiff suffered extensive injuries that left her disfigured and with a certain degree of disability.

The lawsuit is being filed in accordance to the numerous provisions of the New Jersey Revised Statutes as they relate to negligence, which can be comparative or contributory. In this particular case, the plaintiff asserts that ShopRite was negligent because it failed to prevent string beans from falling from the baskets set up for self-service shopping. This self-service produce shopping model has become very popular at many supermarket chains across the United States; shoppers are encouraged to get their hands on fresh produce that they can pick, choose and bag for themselves. This shopping model, which is similar to a farmers market, cuts down on packaging and provides a more wholesome, has the unfortunate potential of produce falling down from the baskets.

The lawsuit argues that ShopRite was negligent insofar as not posting an employee to scoop up fallen string beans. Court records also show that the plaintiff believes that ShopRite failed to equip its produce section with safety floor mats that can provide better grip and protective cushion in case of a slip-and-fall situation.

As can be expected in these lawsuits, the plaintiff seeks to recover funds spent on medical bills and lost wages. The ShopRite location being sued is part of the Wakefern Food Corporation, a major retail consortium that is headquartered in Newark.

Fiat Chrysler Shareholder Lawsuit Must Continue

 

A federal judge in Manhattan has determined that Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) must face a lawsuit filed by an investor representing all shareholders of the Italian auto manufacturer.

In the United States, Fiat does business as FCA U.S., a company responsible for the iconic Fiat and Chrysler automotive brands. In 2014, FCA issued public statements related to an investigation by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), which questioned the company’s handling of two vehicle recall actions. FCA stated that it was in full compliance of safety regulations, something that the NHTSA did not agree with.
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Unhappy FCA shareholders who were not thrilled to learn about the NHTSA investigation decided to file a civil complaint against the automaker in late 2016. There is an allegation of stock price inflation at the heart of the complaint; the plaintiffs believe that FCA downplayed safety concerns brought up by automotive industry analysts and later by the NHTSA. Furthermore, the plaintiffs accused FCA of accounting violations due to their alleged failure to set funds aside when the automaker learned of safety issues.

According to records filed at U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, Judge Jesse Furman reviewed the defendant’s motion to dismiss in early October. Judge Furman set aside the claims of accounting malfeasance; however, he determined that the lawsuit should continue with regard to the allegations of fraudulent stock price manipulation. Furthermore, FCA shareholders have been given a green light to file claims against former FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne and the former FCA safety director Scott Kunselman.

As a result of the mandatory recalls, FCA lost about $670 million on top of a hefty $175 million in fines payable to the NHTSA. Although the lawsuit may proceed, Judge Furman made it clear that optimistic statements made by public companies such as FCA do not necessarily amount to fraud.

On the Milan Stock Exchange, shares of FCA dipped slightly towards 5.8 euros the day after Judge Furman issued his decision. The 52-week high for this stock has been 9.73 euros; that price has not been revisited since November 2015 when shareholders started to voice their dissatisfaction with FCA and its handling of safety recalls.