Author Archives: Robert I. Feinberg
Product Recalls and Product Liability
Consumers live in a dangerous world. Anything from scuba hoses to children’s dungarees might be poorly designed or manufactured, posing a threat to consumers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains a website with product recall information. Here are examples of recent recalls: In April automakers recalled more than 1.3 million vehicles in the United States […]
Evacuation of Nursing Homes During Emergencies
Superstorm Sandy devastated parts of New Jersey and New York, especially coastal areas. A decision was made before the storm hit that the nursing homes located on the Rockaway peninsula, right in the path of the storm and the surge, would not be evacuated. The order was given to shelter in place, an order that […]
Why I Blog
I started blogging about the law back in 2008 when some people thought that blogging was just keeping a public diary. The act of reading through newspapers, the law journal and the latest slip opinions issued by Massachusetts and federal courts is a professional necessity, a way to keep myself up-to-date with breaking law and […]
Secondhand Chemotherapy as a Potential Risk to Pregnant Women
Everyone knows about secondhand smoke — the danger to non-smokers of inhaling tobacco fumes. Now there are warnings that chemotherapy drugs might be endangering the health of everyone involved along the chain from manufacture to infusion and beyond. Not only are drug company personnel and the pharmacists who compound these drugs at risk, but nurses, […]
Bicyclists in Danger From Careless Drivers
Bicycle activists are outraged that a grand jury failed to return an indictment against a truck driver who killed a bicyclist on Weston Road in Wellesley. The grand jury was presented with more than 50 pieces of evidence including video footage, witnesses testifying in support of the bicyclist’s riding, and a defendant who not only […]
Psychiatric Guidelines Questioned for Conflict of Interest
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass) have uncovered blatant conflicts of interest associated with clinicians responsible for formulating the Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. The guideline is the primary resource for clinicians who treat patients with depression. Such treatment often includes prescription anti-depressants. The UMass study showed […]
Brain Injuries to Soldiers and Student Athletes
April was Brain Injury Awareness Month. In a mid-month hearing before the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel acknowledged that understanding and treatment for brain injuries suffered by service members is deficient. “We should — we have to — continue to invest in world-class treatment for mental health issues, traumatic […]
Boston Marathon Victims Compensation Fund
On Patriot’s Day, we watched in horror as this iconic Boston event was shattered by terrorism. In just one week, the One Fund Boston raised over $20 million for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. More than 50,000 individuals and businesses contributed, nearly $5 million of which was contributed online. Kenneth Feinberg, no relation, […]
When Trends Persist
In more than 30 years as a personal injury attorney, I have seen the practice of law change as cultural concerns and methods of handling disputes have evolved. Technology has come to drive my area of practice. For example, personal electronic devices have fueled an upswing in serious automobile and other accidents involving distracted operators, […]
Preventing Accidents Before They Happen
Some Defensive Driving Techniques Automobile accidents cause thousands of injuries and deaths every year. Sadly, many of these accidents are the result of human error and could have easily been avoided. To stay safe on the road, you need to avert problems before they happen. Consider some of the following defensive driving tips: Stay […]