Author Archives: Robert I. Feinberg
Voice-Activated Technology Poses Greater Driving Hazard
Although there is currently no federal law prohibiting drivers from using cell phones and other hand-held devices while driving, many states have distracted driving laws. For instance, in Massachusetts, it is illegal for any driver to send text messages, and drivers under the age of 18 are not allowed to use cell phones. As public […]
Chrysler Refuses to Recall Defective Jeeps
Car manufacturers must meet federal safety standards at every stage of production. Even after a motor vehicle model is on the road, there are agencies monitoring performance and responding to accident reports and complaints. When there is convincing evidence of a widespread problem, one of these agencies may request a recall. Needless to say, a […]
Confessions of a Long-time Legal Blogger
I am always a bit amused when I come across articles that ponder the question “Should law firms blog?” I began this legal blog in 2008 when the notion of incorporating social media into the enterprise of running a law firm was more theory than practice. Sure, clients were doing Internet research to locate the […]
Understaffing Leads to Nursing Home Abuse
Several provisions of the Affordable Care Act that have not received much public attention aim to reform nursing home staff reporting procedures and train staff in dementia and prevention of abuse, including the unwarranted use of antipsychotics to sedate residents. Lack of training and insufficient patient-staff ratios both contribute to the widespread elder abuse in […]
Brevity is the Soul of Wit
Daniel Patrick Moynihan is a name that may be familiar to most. He was a United States Cabinet official, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and a United States Senator from New York. He was also an author of many articles on urban neighborhoods. When I was in college in the 1970s, Moynihan […]
Dangers of Vacuum Extraction in Delivery
Even when all the signs are positive for the health of an expectant mother and her unborn child, it is not possible to control every aspect of the birth process. In some cases, unexpected developments may require an emergency Cesarean. More rarely, the obstetric team may decide on an operative vaginal delivery using forceps or […]
The Churchillian View
Winston Churchill once famously said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” Perhaps the worst form of ascertaining the truth is the American civil court system, except for all the others. I guess, all in all, it is pretty darn good. It may have its faults as Churchill thought about […]
Cross-Examination
Having just read the accounts of the Whitey Bulger trial, I am reminded of one judge’s adage, “cross-examine and cross-examine vigorously.” Certainly the prosecution’s witness, James Martorano, deserves this as will the defendant himself, assuming, as expected, he takes the witness stand. What is the concept behind cross-examination? Basically, in the fresh air of the […]
After Your Child Has a Concussion
The human skull is designed to protect the brain from external injury. However, a fall or blow to the head can cause the soft tissue of the brain to move violently or strike against the hard shell of the skull, which can result in a concussion. This type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can also […]