Miami-Dade Police Department's homicide investigators were initially told that four men riding in a gray Nissan Maxima or Altima fired the fatal shots.
Police said The shooting occurred just after 6:45 p.m. when Nissan arrived at the Annie Coleman apartment complex located at 2135 NW 52nd Street. According to detectives, the car pulled into the courtyard and several shots were fired from what is believed to be an AK -47 assault rifle, leaving a young girl dead and three others wounded.
The identity of the girl who died at the scene is not yet known. The others who were wounded in the shooting were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
Witnesses said the girl was shot in the head while playing outside with friends.
The shootings come about a year after an incident a short distance away on Jan. 24, 2009, in which a gunman armed with an AK-47 assault rifle shot into a crowd killing two and wounding seven others.
``It's a process. It's a cycle -- a vicious cycle,'' said neighborhood activist Renita Holmes. ``There's no respect for life.''
Neighbors, who spoke on condition on anonymity for fear of their lives, said the shooting was gang-related. A police spokesperson said that it was too early to tell whether that was the case.
Det. Rebeca Perez urged anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Speaking of the teenage victim, Perez lamented, ``What could she have possibly done to deserve this?''
The Florida injury lawyers at Hannon & Boyers have successfully handled many cases against land and business owners for negligent or inadequate security and wrongful death when land or business owners fail to take reasonable steps to make their premises reasonably safe. Our lawyers have and recovered millions of dollars in compensation for crime victims and their families. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a violent criminal attack on a commercial property, call a Miami negligent security lawyer at Hannon & Boyers today at (305) 358-3109 to discuss your potential case with no obligation.
]]>The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the People's Storage located at 200 NW 79th St. at about 11:30 a.m. when two men approached her.
Kenia Reyes, a Miami police spokeswoman said ``It appears it was an intent to rob her and she was shot.'' The woman died outside the Peoples Storage facility .
One witness present at the business, Lazaro Garcia, who owns a car dealership, said the woman had gone out to her car because she was short of money to pay for the storage of her furniture.
While this robbery gone bad is still under investigation, it is likely that the victim would still be alive today had the business or people who control the parking lot implemented adequate security measures. Reasonable security measures often deter crime since robbery, and many other violent crimes are crimes of opportunity. Violent crimes are usually committed in places where the criminals believe they can avoid being seen or caught.
Business and land owners in Florida have a legal duty to use reasonable means to protect their customers and guests from foreseeable violent crime. When they fail to do that, they may be liable to pay the crime victims compensation.
The Miami-Dade County Health Department has reported at least three other cases involving guests at the Epic Hotel who developed Legionnaire’s Disease including. One involved a fatality. According to published reports, it appears that the Epic Hotel installed a water filtration system that allowed waterborne bacteria, including the legionella bacteria to grow. Legionnaires' Disease is usually contracted through exposure to contaminated water vapor from hot showers, Jacuzzis and hot tubs.
It appears that the CDC and other governmental entities have not confirmed the source of the Legionnaire’s Disease, which resulted in at least one death. However, they have reported that this fatal strain of the disease may be linked to a source other than the Epic Hotel.
One family tragically lost a loved one, Tore Myhra, who not only stayed at the Epic Hotel but had also been on board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during the relevant period. It is believed that more than one person on that cruise ship contracted Legionnaires' Disease. Accordingly, any investigation regarding the source of illness during the pertinent period of time must explore both the culpability of the Epic Hotel and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
]]> The lawyers at our firm are experienced in litigating cases against negligent hotels as well as negligent cruise lines. We take great satisfaction in holding irresponsible corporations accountable for the harm they cause innocent victims and their families.If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease and has been a guest of the Epic Hotel in Miami, Florida or has traveled aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship between October 1, 2009 and December 15, 2009, call an experienced Florida wrongful death / personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation about your legal rights at 1-800-545-9100.
]]>The fatal shooting occurred Saturday evening when two men who were outside an apartment complex on Avondale Drive were approached by one or more persons. Shots were fired and the victims were transported to North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach where injuries to one of them proved to be fatal.
The shooting is being investigated by BSO homicide detectives. They asked anyone with information to call BSO Homicide Det. Frank Ilarraza at 954-321-4210 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477, or online to www.browardcrimestoppers.org.
Many violent crimes are "crimes of opportunity", meaning they are committed in the place which affords the perpetrator the best opportunity to avoid being seen or caught. Very often that place turns out to be a commercial property like an apartment complex, night club, bank or automated teller machine (ATM) where safety and security have been neglected.
There are several things land or business owners can do to protect their guests and possibly avoid a premises security case being filed against them. These include among other things, keeping landscaping trimmed to increase visibility and improving the lighting.
When land or business owners fail to provide a reasonably safe premises and someone is injured or killed as a result, they may be held liable for the resulting injuries or death on the theory of negligent or inadequate security. Negligent security cases ultimately help to make our communities safer. The crime victim's compensation will depend on many factors and each incident must be independently evaluated.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed as a result of violent crime, call a Florida premises security lawyer at my law firm today for a free consultation about your potential inadequate security case. Our trial lawyers are experienced in all types of catastrophic personal injury and medical malpractice cases.
]]>The case is still pending against two other defendants, Dey and Warrick Pharmaceuticals.
The settlement comes in response to allegations that Roxane set and reported false, inflated prices for medicines dispensed by pharmacies and others, which were then reimbursed by the Florida Medicaid program. Medicaid sets reimbursement rates based on prices reported by drug companies.
Roxane's fraudulent actions induced Florida's Medicaid program to millions of dollars in inflated pharmacy reimbursements.
The whistle-blower that first reported the fraudulent claims was Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys. The attorney general is currently litigating against six other drug companies for price-reporting fraud.
The settlement money from the Whistle-blower case will be divided with approximately $4.4 million going to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which administers the Medicaid program. Over $1.69 million will be put into the state's general accounts, and approximately $188,000 will be deposited into the legal affairs revolving trust fund, which is used to reward whistle-blowers, people who report and provide information about Medicaid fraud.
Tipsters can call the Hannon & Boyers fraud hot line at 1-800-545-9100 to report medicaid or medicare fraud or any other fraud on the State of Florida or on the government of the United States of America.
]]> When the government pays out money for false claims, fraudulent claims or charges which are inflated, all tax payers are hurt. The Florida False Claims Act and the United States False Claims Act allow citizen whistle-blowers to bring a Qui Tam claim on behalf of the state or federal government to recover money they paid out as a result of fraud. These statutes provide a monetary incentive for the whistle-blower by allowing her to keep a portion of the money recovered for the government.If you know of a business or company that submitted false claims or charges to the either the U.S. or Florida government, call a False Claims Act lawyer today at 1-800-545-9100.
]]>The dangers of unsafe toys and child products are a major cause for concern, especially during the holiday season. Just prior to the start of the 2009 holiday shopping season, a California-based consumer advocacy organization reported that it had commissioned scientific testing which discovered unsafe levels of lead which exceeded federal limits in popular Disney and Barbie toys, including the Tinkerbell Water Lily Necklace, Dora the Explorer Activity Tote and Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit.
As a result of this finding, the California Attorney General sent letters to Target, Wal-Mart and other retailers, warning them that the toys should be immediately pulled from store shelves.
These new findings of excessive lead in popular toys from some of America’s most trusted brands come approximately one year after the passage of a sweeping product safety law that set strict limits on the amounts of lead and chemicals that are allowed in products for children under 12. The law was enacted after a number of recalls for lead-tainted toys were issued in 2007, including several for Mattel that accounted for in excess of two million toys.
It’s important for parents to be aware that dangerous toys, whether tainted with lead and other harmful chemicals or defective in design are still making their way into the hands of U.S. consumers every day.
]]> Anyone who may have been affected by an unsafe toy or other dangerous or defective consumer product is encouraged to contact an experienced Florida product liability attorney at Hannon & Boyers for a free and confidential consultation. ]]>Blumenthal said that investigators from the AG's office found expired over-the-counter medications as well as certain expired food and beverage items on sale in multiple CVS Pharmacy stores in Connecticut during an investigation which took place in 2008 and 2009.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection cooperated with the AG's office in filing the lawsuit.
In a statement released by the Connecticut AG's office, Mr. Blumenthal said that "Basic business law and ethics give consumers a right to unspoiled food and safe and effective medicine." He also pledged to "...fight for significant penalties against CVS, sending a powerful message that expiration dates must be respected. Any item past its expiration date should be off shelves, out of stores."
Just last month, CVS agreed to pay penalties and fees totaling approximately $875,000 to end an investigation by the New York Attorney General focusing on the sale of expired products in its New York stores.
CVS agreed to implement training for it's employees and to commit to policies and procedures designed to prevent expired products from being stocked on its shelves.
New York Attorney General Cuomo reached a similar agreement with Rite Aid Corporation which resulted in the company agreeing to pay $1.3 million and to adopt new internal policies procedures.
A CVS spokeswoman had this to say in response to the allegations in Connecticut: "[t]he health and safety of our customers is our top priority, and CVS Pharmacy has a clear product removal policy in place at all of its stores to help ensure that items are removed from store shelves before they reach their expiration dates," the spokeswoman said. "Any unintentional deviations from this policy that are brought to the company's attention are quickly rectified for customers. The company is fully committed to maintaining inventory management practices to prevent expired products from being sold to customers."
]]> Consumers are placed at potentially great risk of serious harm when greedy corporations place profits ahead of safety. Ingesting expired food, beverages or drugs can result in serious health consequences and may even be fatal.If you or someone you know has suffered serious harm as a result of Pharmacy negligence or from the consumption of expired drugs or food and beverage products, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a Florida personal injury lawyer at Hannon & Boyers today for a free consultation about your rights at 1-800 545-9100.
]]>Forty-four year old Connie Hamblin and her passenger 22 year old Felicia Hatmaker of Tennessee were both ejected from the car and killed according to Fort Lauderdale Police. Another occupant of the Toyota, Eddie Hamblin, also of Tennessee, was transported to North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach in critical condition.
This railroad crossing lies between two very busy intersections -- Powerline Road to the west and the southbound I-95 ramps to the east.
Traffic often backs up onto the crossing in both directions when the traffic lights at those intersections turn red.
At least two attempts to address this hazard either were unsuccessful or were never fully implemented.
The Florida Department of Transportation in 2000 tested a concept called a ``European X'' -- a box about the size of a car with an X painted on the roadway just beyond the crossing in each traffic lane. The idea was that if drivers could see the X as they approached the crossing, they would be able to safely cross.
The X markings are no longer on the pavement there and the Miami Herald reported that no one at the FDOT could recall the results of that experiment.
The DOT had also announced plans to install cameras at that crossing and at crossings at McNab Road, Cypress Creek Road, Powerline Road and Prospect Road.
The cameras were designed to send an instant signal to the train operator to slow down if a motorist is stalled. But train operators balked presumably at the idea of cameras preserving evidence of their own negligence.
There have been seven railroad accidents involving automobiles at the Commercial Boulevard Tri-Rail crossing since Tri-Rail began service in 1989. Those accidents resulted in three fatalities and two serious injuries.
All of those accidents involved Tri-Rail trains but one involved an Amtrak train.
The fatal motorcycle accident occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. According to FHP, two motorcycles were eastbound in the left lane near Hiatus Road and a four-door Kia, driven by twenty-two year old Erica Vieira Borges of Sunrise was eastbound in the center lane ahead of the motorcycles.
Reports indicate that when the Kia merged into the left lane, one motorcycle, operated by twenty-five year old Josue Rene Robles Duprey of Miramar, struck the rear end of the Kia.
Duprey was thrown from his Yamaha motorcycle, which slid across the highway and came to rest in an exit lane.
Borges' Kia left the roadway and struck a guardrail. When it attempted to move back onto the interstate, it was hit by the second motorcycle which was operated by twenty-two year old Shaun L. Pasley of Miramar.
Pasley was thrown from his Honda CBR 1000 motorcycle. Both Pasley's motorcycle and Borges' Kia then caught on fire.
Pasley and Duprey were transported to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Duprey did not survive and Pasley was in critical condition even though both motorcyclists were wearing helmets.
Erica Borges appeared to have suffered only minor injuries.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of this fatal accident.
]]> This kind of tragedy is almost always preventable. While all of the facts are not yet known, it is very likely that excessive speed was at least one of the factors that contributed to cause this horrific wreck.The experienced Florida injury lawyers at my firm specialize in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. If you or someone you know has suffered serious injuries or has been killed in a Florida motorcycle accident or car accident, contact a Miami personal injury lawyer at Hannon & Boyers today for a free consultation.
]]>Earlier this month, hospital officials at Broward General Medical Center announced that they were investigating a nurse's actions that may have exposed more than 1,800 patients to blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. The nurse, who has since resigned and has been reported to the Florida Board of Nursing, admitted to re-using saline bags and tubing in administering IV fluids to patients who were undergoing chemical cardiac stress tests. Hospital officials identified more than 1,800 patients who were treated by the nurse between January 2004 and September 2009.
A similar case of medical negligence took place earlier this year when more than 10,000 patients were administered colonoscopies with equipment that was not properly sterilized at VA hospitals in Miami, Tennessee and Georgia.
It was ten years ago that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) declared that as many as 98,000 people die each year needlessly because of "preventable medical harm and errors." A decade later, it is debatable whether any real progress has been made to reduce these errors and the harm that they can cause. Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, issued a report in May 2009 indicating that preventable medical harm still accounts for more than 100,000 deaths each year. The report gave the country a failing grade on the progress that has been made in implementing the recommendations from the IOM study that it believes are necessary to create a health-care system that is free of preventable medical errors.
The Consumer Union report reveals that few hospitals have adopted well-known systems to prevent medication errors, and the FDA rarely intervenes.
Some medication errors are caused by similar drug names, packaging and design. Confusion between primidone and prednisone caused the death of an adolescent in 2004, and a report from 2008 indicated that prednisone is commonly confused with 12 other drugs. In 2007, the twin babies of actor Dennis Quaid and his wife were given 1,000 times the prescribed dose of the blood thinner heparin, which was packaged in similar vials with blue labels as those used by the manufacturer for its pediatric dosage, according to the Quaids’ lawsuit and testimony before Congress.
]]> The drug prescription and dispensation process has also proven to be flawed. Existing technologies such as Computerized Physician Order Entry to write prescriptions and the Bar-Code Medication Administration system to help ensure that patients receive the correct medication are estimated to cut drug errors in half or more. These systems have not been widely adopted by hospitals, doctors or pharmacies, and errors that could be easily prevented continue to take place every day throughout the country. Last month, an error in a label of a prescription filled by a CVS pharmacy in Hyannis, Mass., almost resulted in a 10 month-old girl receiving five times the prescribed dose of an antibiotic.The potentially tragic mistake was averted by the girl’s mother, who caught the error thanks to her cautious nature and her training as a professional nanny.
The Miami injury lawyers of Hannon & Boyers have handled numerous cases involving serious injuries and even deaths caused by medication errors in hospitals and pharmacies. We understand that injuries resulting from drug errors can take a significant toll on the health and wellbeing of patients. Our attorneys have successfully recovered millions of dollars for Florida individuals and families who have been affected by these errors caused by negligent healthcare providers.
If you or a family member has been affected by a medication error caused by a pharmacy, hospital or doctor, contact our Miami medication error lawyers today for a free consultation. Call us at 1-800-545-9100.
]]>The Miami-Dade Fire Department has responded to 199 drownings since January 2007. Most of those involved children under 16 years old and 32% involved children under 5 years old. In Miami, most drowning incidents occur between 11:00am and 6:00pm peaking between 3:00pm and 4:00pm. The majority of Miami drownings and near drownings occur in the Summer months from May through August. MDFR has already responded to 11 drowning incidents just since January of 2009.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has prepared the following list of Summer Safety Tips to help keep our children safe:
• Always think of the ocean, lakes and your pool as dangerous places.
• Always directly supervise children when they are in a pool or around any body of water. Young children can drown in just a few inches of standing water. Bathtubs and large buckets also pose a threat. Most childhood drownings occur without an adult immediately present.
• Keep a phone at poolside so you don’t have to leave the kids to answer the phone and so you can call 9-1-1 immediately in case of an emergency.
• Never assume that swimming lessons or flotation devices can completely protect a child from drowning. Don’t have a false sense of security!
• Install alarms on all doors that lead into a pool area so you will know if a door to the pool has been opened.
• Secure long hair to the head, braid it, or cover it with a cap. Long hair can get suctioned into defective pool drains and vacuum lines.
• Make sure that all family members learn how to swim and what to do if they see someone in trouble in the water.
• Have your family members learn CPR. Drowning victims have a better chance of surviving if they get assistance right away.
• Know and comply with the Florida and Miami-Dade County statutes for pool fencing and pool safety. Pool fencing has been proven to save the lives of many children.
Too frequently, these catastrophic incidents occur because someone was negligent as when apartment buildings, home owner's associations and condo associations neglect to maintain pool fences, gates or locks. Hotels, apartments and condominimums on the beach also must take precautions to secure beach access and warn of hazardous water conditions like rip currents and under-tows.
Our experienced Miami injury lawyers work tirelessly to hold negligent individulas and corporations accountable for the harm they cause when someone dies or suffers brain damage as a result of negligence. If you or someone you know has suffered harm as a result of an accidental drowning, contact one of our Florida personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation.
Statistics provided by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, 2009.
]]>Fermin Leguen, the medical executive director of the Health Department acknowledged that it is very unusual for two infants to die on consecutive days in the same hospital because of an infection.
Vincent Conte, a senior physician from the epidemiology and disease control unit said he was contacted by the hospital on Monday morning and notified that "two babies had died from what they assumed was some sort of infection and that another infant was ill." Conte said the third baby who was infected with the bacteria is improving but is still facing a number of other medical problems.
The hospital released the following statement on Wednesday:
``The hospital extends deepest sympathy to the families of the babies. We have taken all appropriate precautions to protect the health and safety of our patients and families. We continue to examine this matter in detail. At this time, the results of our examination are inconclusive. Due to privacy laws we are unable to give specific patient information.''
We trust our hospitals to care for the most vulnerable in our population and there is no more vulnerable segment of our population than premature infants in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. When hospitals fail to take reasonable precautions to protect these fragile patients, they are negligent and the harm which results can be devastating to families.
If you have suffered harm as a result of medical negligence, contact an experienced Florida malpractice lawyer today for a free consultation or call (305) 358-3109 to speak with one of our lawyers about your potential case.
]]>Initial reports indicate that Stallworth may have been driving while under the influence of alcohol at the time although blood alcohol test results have not yet been released.
Reyes was described by his brother-in-law, Francisco Fajardo as a family man who spent all of his free time with his wife of almost twenty years, Catalina and their fifteen year old daughter, Daniela.
Renier Calana, who worked with Reyes unloading cargo containers at the Port of Miami for Bernuth Agencies, a shipping company, told reporters that Reyes was going to the bus stop.
Stallworth signed a $35 million contract with the Cleveland Browns before last season and was scheduled to receive a $4,750,000 signing bonus on Friday.
While no amount of money can ever replace a husband or father, Florida's wrongful death statute provides an avenue for Mr. Reyes' family to recover monetary compensation which can help family members pay for the funereal and cope with the lost household income.
If you have lost a loved one as a result of a drunk driver, contact a Miami personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation or call at (305) 358-3109.
]]>Earlier this week Kellogg asked retailers to remove some of its Keebler crackers from store shelves as a precaution. However, in a statement released late Friday, the company announced that it was voluntarily recalling the crackers and other products in light of the problems in Georgia.
The salmonella outbreak has made hundreds of people in 43 states sick and killed at least six.
Kellogg's president and CEO, David Mackay said "the actions we are taking today are in keeping with our more than 100-year commitment to providing consumers with safe, high-quality products. We apologize for this unfortunate situation.''
Included in the recall are Austin and Keebler branded Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, as well as some snack-size packs of Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies.
Consumers are advised not to eat any of the products in question and to contact a doctor if they have any symptoms. The tainted products should be carefully disposed of to avoid the risk of homeless people finding and eating them.
According to the FDA, new cases are still being reported.
Although some brands have been linked to the outbreak, the FDA says the investigation is ongoing and more products may yet be recalled.
The investigation includes baked goods and other products that contain peanuts and are sold directly to consumers in addition to peanut butter. According to health officials, approximately one-third of the people who got sick had no recollection of eating peanut butter.
''The focus is on peanut butter and a wide array of products that might have peanut butter in them,'' said Dr. Robert Tauxe, director of the foodborne illness division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials said they are focusing not only on peanut butter, but also on peanut paste produced at a Peanut Corp. of America facility in Blakely, Ga. The inclusion of peanut paste is significant as it can be used in numerous products.
Six deaths have been linked to the outbreak by health officials in Minnesota, Virginia, Idaho and North Carolina. The exact cause of death in each case had not been determined, however, each person had salmonella when they died.
According to the CDC, typhimurium , the bacteria involved in the outbreak, is fairly common and not an unusually dangerous strain. The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk though.
Common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.