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Pennsylvania Injury Lawyers
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- The results are in…Golf tournament a huge success!
- SchmidtKramer takes a stand against drunk driving
- Trial Lawyers
- I’ve Never Filed a Lawsuit
- Vehicle rollover accidents
- For Your Safety Recalled product roundup
- Nursing homes and accident prevention
- Client Service Our goal: Keep you informed
- Scott B. Cooper a Recipient of “Lawyers on the Fast Track” Award
- “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”
- $600,000 wrongful death settlement
- Scott Cooper testifies before State Senate
The results are in.Golf tournament a huge success!
SchmidtKramer would like to thank everyone who made this year’s 20 th Annual United Cerebral Palsy Golf Tournament a huge success. A special “thank you” to all the golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and staff members who continue to come out in support of this worthwhile cause every year to help raise funds.
Adding to this year’s excitement was special guest Ron Jaworski, TV personality and former quarterback of the Eagles. Ron added to the day by signing autographs, having pictures taken, and helping raise funds at the auction.
The tournament was a record-breaker, starting with a 30 percent increase in golfers. From all of the day’s activities, over $61,000 in proceeds was raised to benefit United Cerebral Palsy. That’s more than $26,000 over last year’s total, an accomplishment of which the firm is very proud. SchmidtKramer is committed and continues to be a part of this ongoing event, generating lots of community interest, support, and donations.
“We are so pleased with the turnout and results of this year’s tournament,” says Gerry Kramer, senior partner with SchmidtKramer and former president of the board of UCP Central Pennsylvania. “Being able to raise and give money to UCP Pennsylvania means the organization can fund even more programs and resources for families in our community. That is what our law firm’s participation in this annual event is all about.”
SchmidtKramer takes a stand against drunk driving
On Sept. 5, 2006, SchmidtKramer made a donation to support Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The donation was made out of the firm’s fee from a case settlement, which was made on behalf of a SchmidtKramer client whose daughter was killed as a result of a drunk driver.
America’s trial attorneys, who protect everyone’s rights and champion their legitimate causes, pledge access to our civil justice system for working families who may lack the resources to take product grievances to court.
Lawyers promote the public good through their efforts to secure safer products, better workplaces, cleaner environments, and quality health care by protecting the rights of the injured and preserving the right to trial by jury.
Trial attorneys typically handle cases like these:
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A child paralyzed after being struck by a drunk driver.
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A young woman unable to have children because of a medical mistake.
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A person denied promotion due to racial discrimination.
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An elderly person mistreated in a nursing home.
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A community whose water was made toxic by a local manufacturer.
Question: Although I was injured in a fall, I’m really reluctant to talk to an attorney about filing a lawsuit. Basically, I’m not really a litigious person. I’ve never filed a lawsuit, and I feel really uncomfortable about initiating one. Is that right?
Answer: You’re not alone. Even though the media makes it look like people file lawsuits at the drop of a hat, the exact opposite is true. Lawsuit numbers are declining.
However, many people like you often feel somewhat uneasy about seeking recourse for harm, even when their injuries came through no fault of their own.
Being Good Samaritans like you, they think, “I should have noticed that slippery spot in the supermarket aisle where I fell.”
However, most of our cultural, religious, and civil history shows that those who have been harmed have the right to seek fair recompense. It’s important not to confuse justice with reprisal. Asking a place of business to pay for medical care for harm that its employees were responsible for is not revenge; it’s expecting fair treatment, especially when a party responsible for harm refuses to acknowledge or accept responsibility.
Auto, truck, and sport utility vehicle rollover accidents unnecessarily kill 10,000 Americans annually. Another 24,000 suffer severe injuries.
Long-suppressed internal documents show that automakers knew as early as 1966 that car and truck roof designs were so weak that occupants could be crushed to death in rollover accidents. Ford could have fixed this deadly problem for $43.13 per vehicle. Instead, manufacturers hid the information for years and continued selling dangerous vehicles.
In 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—despite specific direction from Congress to increase vehicle roof safety—established auto industry-sympathetic standards mandating only minimal improvements to existing standards. The regulations also prevent lawsuits against manufacturers who ignore their own internal safety researchers to bolster their bottom lines.
No$43.13 safety improvement
Gary Skinner of Graysville, Alabama, was an avid fisherman with a love for music, says his wife Angela. But on July 28, 2005, Angela lost her 48-year-old husband in a rollover accident when his 1999 Ford Ranger blew a tire, causing Gary to lose control of the vehicle. As Gary’s car rolled over, the roof caved in on him, causing a fatal head injury.
For Your Safety
Recalled product roundup
Here are some recently recalled products you may have in your home or at work:
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Arctic Cat, Inc., has recalled 41,000 Arctic Cat Snowmobiles with fuel tanks that can crack, leak, and burn riders.
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Arctic Cat, Inc., has also called back 2,120 Arctic Cat Prowler XT Off-Highway Utility Vehicles. Rear brake calipers may leak break fluid, reducing braking ability and potentially injuring riders.
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Tyco Fire & Security asks buyers to return 21,000 Fire Detection Systems. Sensors may have reduced sensitivity to smoke in conditions of high humidity and high temperature and delay smoke detection in a fire. Tyco Fire & Security also has requested that buyers return 128,000 smoke detectors that also may have reduced sensitivity to smoke.
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BRK Brands, Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert® ONELINK™ Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms. The alarms drain battery power rapidly and will chirp to alert consumers to replace the batteries. Failure to replace batteries before the battery power terminates may cause the alarm to fail to detect smoke and carbon monoxide in a fire.
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PTI Sports, Inc., has asked buyers to return 14,000 Schwinn Deluxe Bicycle Child Carriers. Plastic guide tabs on the carrier seat rack can break and injure child riders.
Nursing homes and accident prevention
Families with elderly relatives who reside in nursing homes should be particularly vigilant about nursing home and rehabilitation center accident prevention protocols.
Since many older people may have mobility or physical-dexterity problems, residences and facilities should get rid of accident hazards, such as low objects, floor obstructions, unstable chairs and beds, and unsafe restraint devices.
Dangerous restraints
A 77-year-old patient admitted to a nursing home was asphyxiated after she slid down in her wheelchair and became trapped in restraints. Her daughter sued, alleging care providers had used restraints without physician’s orders or family consent. A jury awarded damages for the death and the daughter’s loss of society with her mother.
Client Service
Our goal: Keep you informed
We will always strive to help our clients make truly informed decisions about their legal matters. In our counsel, we will constantly keep our clients “in the loop.”
First, we will do our best to solicit client input and feelings about each case’s background and developments. Clients always have insights and historic knowledge of issues that can help us fine-tune our approach. Listening to clients is very important to us.
Second, we will explain the tactics and strategies we plan to employ so clients understand why we may recommend a particular course of legal action and where we intend the strategy to lead us. We always appreciate client feedback.
Finally, our approach always includes giving each client the opportunity to ask questions—lots of them—which we will answer right away.
Scott B. Cooper a Recipient of "Lawyers on the Fast Track" Award
Scott B. Cooper, a partner in the Harrisburg law firm of SchmidtKramer, P.C., has been selected as a recipient of a "Lawyers on the Fast Track" award by American Lawyer Media and its Pennsylvania newspapers The Legal Intelligencer and the Pennsylvania Law Weekly. Lawyers on the Fast Track awards recognize Pennsylvania attorneys younger than 40 who have demonstrated outstanding promise in the legal profession and have made a significant commitment to the community. Recipients are chosen by a panel of practicing attorneys, law school deans, and bar association leaders who identify individuals they view as future leaders.
Mr. Cooper was honored at a dinner on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, at the Crystal Tea Room in the Wanamaker Building in and will appear in a special supplement to The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006.
"Making Strides Against Breast Cancer"
SchmidtKramer strongly endorses the staff’s involvement in area fundraisers in support of breast cancer awareness. The staff donated money in order to have a “dress down” day on Friday, Oct. 6. Each person was asked to donate $5 or more to participate in wearing jeans to work. The proceeds were then sent to the American Cancer Society.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, several staff members joined the throng on Harrisburg City Island for the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) walk for the ninth annual “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” event.
The firm is proud of the fact that their staff takes an active role in numerous area charity events and supports them in these endeavors.
$600,000 wrongful death settlement
Charles E. Schmidt, Jr., a senior partner at SchmidtKramer, recently settled a wrongful death case with a settlement of $600,000 that involved the death of a mother who is survived by her husband and four children. The mother died as a result of anesthesia malpractice.
Scott Cooper testifies before State Senate
On Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006, Scott B. Cooper, partner at SchmidtKramer, represented the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association by testifying in front of the State Senate Transportation Committee relating to pending legislation on “Event Data Recorders” in motor vehicles. The Pennsylvania Cable News Network and Channel 3 (KYW) covered the hearing.
Free Consultation
Have you been injured? Contact a Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer at SchmidtKramer today. Our office is located in Harrisburg and we have successfully advocated for clients throughout Pennsylvania, including Camp Hill, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Harrisburg, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lewisburg, Lewistown, Mechanicsburg, Palmyra, Perry County, Pottsville, Shippensburg, State College, and York. Complete a FREE Online Consultation Form or call us today.
Pennsylvania Office209 State Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 232-6300
Fax: (717) 232-6467
1 (800)232-6301
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