Attorney Blog

Citation in wake of death at Virginia International Terminal 17th in five years

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)27906 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

A federal safety violation has been filed against Virginia International Terminals in the wake of the death of dock foreman David B. Weiland on Dec. 22, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Wieland died when a 105-foot light pole was knocked over, crushing his car. The pole was knocked over by one of the machines used to move shipping containers at the terminal.

Weiland was the sixth person to die at a Port of Virginia facility in the last five years, The Pilot said.

The federal safety violation filed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after Weiland’s death was the 17^th in the last five years, according to the newspaper.

Virginia Port Authority spokesman Joe Harris, in an e-mail message to the newspaper, wrote that the unidentified employee operating the machine that knocked over the light pole has been banned from operating those machines.

“He will remain ineligible until his training and recertification are complete; the retraining process has not yet started,” Harris told the newspaper.

The employee – not identified by the newspaper – crashed into objects in a number of previous incidents, but was never given any additional training.

The accident raises concerns about the safety culture at the commonwealth’s port facilities. Ten of the 16 earlier violations were called serious, The Pilot said. Serious violations are violations where there is “substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and where the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.”

Virginia International Terminals operates the commonwealth’s port facilities.

Roanoke bicyclist killed in crash with 18-wheeler

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)27897 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Reuben Denard Williams of Roanoke died Tuesday when the bicycle he was riding on was struck by a tractor-trailer on U.S. Route 460 on the fringe of Roanoke, WDBJ-TV reported.

Williams, 27, was an aspiring artist, the station said, and had been working at a Home Shopping Network warehouse to make ends meet. He was riding home from work when the accident happened at about 4:45 p.m. near the Roanoke-Botetourt county line.

"He was always creating," friend and mentor Mim Young told a Roanoke Times reporter.

The truck, a 2007 Freightliner, was driven by Michael Morabito, 47, of Tyner, N.C. Morabito was not charged, the newspaper said. Williams allegedly ran a stop sign at Avery Row's intersection with Route 460 and was hit by the westbound truck, the newspaper said.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. His body lay in the street for over an hour as investigators studied the crash scene, the newspaper said. He was covered with a sheet. News reports said Williams was not wearing a helmet.

Williams graduated from William Fleming High School in Roanoke, the newspaper said, and had studied at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.

Young, his mentor, told the newspaper that she had critiqued Williams's work and the man – if he'd finished school – could have worked in advertising, television or film.

"He could've done a million things," Young told the Times.

Williams's online guest book at legacy.com contained a number of entries from friends and others.

Chinese drywall Testimony says "gutting homes" is the best remediation

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)27258 — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Friday, February 19, 2010 was the start of the first defective Chinese drywall remediation trial. The trial took place in New Orleans before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon, although Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd, the defense, did pullout on Thursday.

Evidence was presented Friday revealing that China controlled the drywall maker along with the testing and standard verification entities. This evidence was presented by Russ Herman, the plaintiffs' liasion counsel.

A Norfolk, Virginia based supplier, Venture Supply imported the defective Chinese drywall, noting that the company did not want to use international drywall standards. Instead, "They asked Venture to give them a pass using a Chinese fire rating instead." states Russ Herman. This was agreed upon by the owner of Venture Supply, Samuel Porter. Documents revealed that the word "remove," was hand written next to a section relating to international standards for drywall. Richard Serpe, a Norfolk based attorney commented that Venture Supply had an "extensive distribution network" which traveled far beyond Virginia.

The big topic Friday was home remediation. The plaintiff's attorneys began unfolding their case for fixing affected homes. It was explained that their remediation conclusion came from extensive scientific testing as well as techniques being used by Florida builders.

"They told Fallon that there was no viable option other than gutting the house down to the studs -- and that removing all affected components, including all wiring in the house, was paramount."

Ray Phillips of Beazer Homes in Florida reported that "completely gutting a home and replacing the components is the cheaper option." It is less expensive to "gut" the homes than to spend labor and storage costs that are needed when trying to save certain sections of the homes or components. Phillips did not agree with Knauf Tianjin's argument to remove targeted pieces of drywall, leaving the others surrounding it.

Williamsburg man dies in early-morning crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)24859 — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Steven Whitehead of the Seasons Trace neighborhood in Williamsburg died Sunday morning when his car crashed into a tree on East Rochambeau Drive in Williamsburg, the Daily Press of Newport News reported.

Whitehead, 22, was the only person in his 2006 Pontiac, according to WAVY-TV. The single-vehicle crash happened at about 7 a.m. Sunday.

Williamsburg's Virginia Gazette said Whitehead was headed west on East Rochambeau Drive at the intersection with Barlow Road when he apparently lost control of his vehicle. The auto went off the road and struck a tree.

Whitehead was thrown from the vehicle. He lived in the 100 block of Autumn East, near Lafayette High School.

A Virginia State Police spokeswoman told The Gazette that Whitehead "was apparently traveling at a high rate of speed" and was not wearing a seat belt.

Speeding triples the risk of an auto accident, according to the American Automobile Association's Foundation for Traffic Safety.

"Unfortunately, many drivers choose to drive and behave in ways that increase their risk of crashing," Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation president and CEO, says on the Foundation Web site. "It is our desire to reduce the number of crashes this holiday season by educating all drivers about specific behaviors that increase their crash risk. Although you may have driven too fast or while fatigued in the past and haven't crashed yet, these risks are real and thus will eventually catch up with you if you continue to drive in this manner."

Woodbridge man sentenced in fatal DUI crash on Washington beltway

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)24731 — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Travis J. Isaac of Woodbridge was sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday after he killed another driver by driving the wrong way on Interstate 495 outside Washington, D.C.

Cristina L. Palese, 28, died in the March 21 crash, the Washington Post reported. She was driving west on I-495 near the Van Dorn Street exit in Alexandria when she was struck head-on by a Lincoln LS sedan driven by Isaac.

Palese, a mother of two headed home from work, died instantly. Isaac, headed east in the westbound lanes, broke his leg.

Isaac was convicted of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, the newspaper said. Prosecutors, however, did not have an easy case; the force of the collision threw the cars from the point of impact, and Virginia State Police accident reconstruction experts were not allowed to testify.

In addition, there was only one witness to the crash, and “could not definitively describe either of the cars involved,” the newspaper said.

Isaac’s defense attorney argued that it was Palese who was driving the wrong way. However, the jury came back with a guilty verdict after just two hours of deliberation.

Palese was working as a manager and event planner at Cadillac Ranch, a restaurant at National Harbor. Her 9-year-old son was a cancer survivor and her mother died in 2008 while still in her 50s.

"Even going through all that, she was just so positive, so upbeat," Palese’s sister, Danielle Barber, told the newspaper. She was “always with the kids” when she wasn’t working.

Chinese Drywall Town Hall Meeting - Williamsburg & Chesapeake, VA

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)24606 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Chinese Drywall Town Hall Meeting to be held in
Williamsburg and Chesapeake, Virginia next week.

Open to everyone. Bring your Neighbors!

Meeting 1:
Date: Monday, January 11, 2010
Time: 7:00 P.M - 9:00 P.M.
Place: Chesapeake Conference Center, 900 Greenbrier Circle, Chesapeake, VA 23320

Meeting 2:
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Place: Williamsburg Marriott, 50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185

To Be Discussed:

-A detailed discussion: Remediation of Chinese drywall
-Financial recovery options for Virginia homeowners
-Details regarding the upcoming deadline to join lawsuit against Taishan
-Case updates, including the status of default judgment trial in Germana, et al., v. Taishan gypsum Co., Ltd., et al
-Updates regarding the use of Venture Supply Chinese drywall

Click Here to View the Flyer

Speed possibly factor in fatal Portsmouth crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)24389 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Sean Stallings of Portsmouth died Dec. 17 when the car he was in flipped onto its roof near the Victory Crossing Shopping Center in Portsmouth, WVEC-TV reported.

Stallings, 30, was in a Ford Mustang that hit a curb and then overturned in the 4200 block of Portsmouth Boulevard. The crash happened at about 9 p.m.

A second man in the car, Joseph Ripley, 32, of Portsmouth was taken to an unidentified hospital with critical injuries. He was later said to be in serious but stable condition.

Authorities said they hadn’t yet determined which man was driving. Portsmouth Police Lt. Scott Burke told WVEC that speed appeared to be a factor in the crash.

The police lieutenant said the pair were roommates.

Photographs on the WVEC Web site showed a smashed black Ford Mustang lying on its roof near the railroad tracks that cross Portsmouth Boulevard near the road’s interchange with Interstate 264.

Authorities told The Virginian-Pilot that the pair were trapped in the car. Firefighters had to use jacks to raise the car and rescue the men.

Stallings was pronounced dead at the scene, police told The Daily Press.

Stallings was a Portsmouth native, according to his obituary published in The Pilot, the son of Wanda Rowe and John Stallings.

Norfolk man killed in I-295 crash near Richmond

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)24388 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

William Goode Jr. of Norfolk died late Dec. 30 on Interstate 295 near Richmond when his car was struck by a driver going the wrong way.

Goode, 51, was traveling with his 8-year-old daughter, WTVR-TV of Richmond reported. The girl, Alicia, suffered a broken leg, cuts, bruises and other injuries.

The pair were in Goode’s 1992 Cadillac DeVille headed north on I-295 in Hanover County when they were struck by a 1999 Dodge Ram driving south in the northbound lanes, the television station said.

The crash happened about a quarter-mile south of the Pole Green Road exit, the Richmond Times-Dispatch said.

The truck was driven by Nicholas R. Sickal, 19, of Barhamsville. Sickal was taken to VCU Medical Center. Police told the newspaper that his injuries were serious but not life-threatening. Charges against Sickal are pending, and alcohol was allegedly involved.

WTVR reported that this isn’t the first tragedy visited on Alicia; her mother died of breast cancer two years ago.

“She was screaming ‘No, no, this isn’t true,’” an aunt, Darlene Fabry, told WTVR. “Alicia was wondering why God took him from her.”

The I-295 crash was the second on Wednesday involving a wrong-way driver on an interstate.

"If alcohol was involved, that's a preventable death,” Martha Meade of AAA Mid-Atlantic said on WTVR. “You must pay attention when on the road. If you come on to an on-ramp the wrong way, those reflectors on the road are going to be red. So, if you see those bright red reflectors on both sides of the roadway, stop."

Longshoreman killed at Norfolk International Terminals

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)24145 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Norfolk International Terminals employee died shortly before Christmas when a light pole fell on the car he was in, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

The longshoreman – not identified by authorities or by the press – died at around 1:25 p.m. on Dec. 22.

Virginia Port Authority Police pulled the man from the car and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, WVEC-TV reported. However, medics later pronounced him dead at the scene.

The accident happened at the North Berth at NIT, the TV station said. Norfolk International Terminals is at the intersection of Hampton and International Terminal boulevards in Norfolk.

The Journal of Commerce reported that a mobile carrier container collided with a light pole, knocking it over onto the victim’s car.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was brought in to investigate the accident.

The North Berth was opened in 1998 after five years of construction, the Port of Virginia said on its Web site. In 2007, work started to expand the berth by adding three new cranes and adding 900 feet to the berth.

The 648-acre Norfolk International Terminals is the biggest terminal managed by the Port of Virginia. The North Berth and other parts of NIT are visible via Web camera at a special Web page on the Port of Virginia’s Web site.

The accident was the second maritime-related fatal incident in Hampton Roads this month. On Dec. 3, an engineer fell to his death while inspecting a ship roof at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, The Virginian-Pilot said.

Tow truck driver dies in crash in Virginia's Northern Neck

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)24137 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Tow truck driver Ryan O. Robinson died Monday in Virginia’s Northern Neck when his truck collided with a pickup.

Robinson, 34, of Montgomery Village, Md., died in rural King George County, The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg reported.

Robinson was headed west on Virginia Route 206, also known as Dahlgren Road, shortly after 1:30 p.m. Dec. 28 when his 1995 International tow truck crossed the center line.

The tow truck collided with an eastbound 1999 Ford F250 pickup truck. The pickup was being driven by David L. Warring of Fredericksburg.

The crash happened about two miles east of Route 206’s intersection with Virginia Route 610/Indiantown Road.

Warring, 37, was treated and released for minor injuries at Mary Washington Hospital, the newspaper said.

Virginia State Police Trooper A.M. Bowden told the newspaper that Robinson was not wearing his seat belt, while Warring was wearing his seat belt. The trooper also said that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Driving a wrecker is a dangerous occupation whether the driver is in his cab or on the shoulder. In August, a Newport News tow truck driver was killed while hooking a broken-down van up to his rig on Interstate 64 in Newport News.

In that crash, the other driver – William Charles Burns – was allegedly drunk and was charged by the Newport News Commonwealth Attorney’s Office with aggravated involuntary manslaughter.

Seconds before the crash, tow truck driver Andy Starmer directed the van’s owner onto the grass because being on the shoulder is dangerous, WAVY-TV reported.

Virginia woman dies in three-vehicle collision on Eastern Shore's Route 13

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)24000 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

A woman died in a head-on collision on Virginia’s Eastern Shore Sunday, the second fatal crash on U.S. Route 13 in three days.

Wanda Sue Taylor, 47, of Virginia was driving the wrong way on the four-lane highway, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman told The Virginian-Pilot.

Taylor was headed north in the southbound lanes in her 2003 Ford Taurus when a southbound driver veered into the oncoming lanes to avoid her.

That driver, Jerrone Kieren-Trent Sloan of Delaware, took his 2002 Ford Mustang into the northbound lanes and sideswiped an 18-wheeler, WVEC-TV reported.

The collision with the truck forced Sloan back into the southbound lanes, where he collided with Taylor’s car head-on despite his efforts to avoid a crash.

Taylor, who was not wearing a seat belt, was trapped in her car and pronounced dead at the scene. Sloan was taken to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox, where he was treated for major head injuries.

The trucker, a New Jersey resident who was not identified by state police, was unhurt.

The crash happened at about 1:50 a.m. Sunday near Onley on Route 13.

It was the second fatal crash on Route 13 in three days. Just before 5 a.m. Dec. 25, Leonardo Lopez of Onley died after he crashed his Ford Mustang in a single-vehicle accident.

Lopez was thrown from his vehicle, which crashed north of the turn for Parksley, The Virginian-Pilot said. Lopez was not wearing a seat belt and alcohol was a factor in the crash, authorities told the newspaper.

Portsmouth man killed in tractor-trailer crash on I-264 in Norfolk

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23983 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

A flat tire on Interstate 264 in Norfolk led to a fiery crash that left Leon Hayes of Portsmouth dead.

Hayes, 25, was riding in a friend’s car that was going 20 to 30 miles per hour because of a flat tire when it was struck from behind by an 18-wheeler going 55 miles an hour, The Virginian-Pilot said.

The driver of the 18-wheeler, Michael Jordan, 54, of Chesapeake, was charged with reckless driving by the Virginia State Police.

Hayes was a passenger in an Oldsmobile Cutlass with a flat tire on the front right corner, the newspaper said.

Both vehicles caught on fire after the crash. Jordan, the driver of the truck, escaped. The driver of the Cutlass – unidentified by police and the press – also escaped. However, Hayes was trapped and died in the fire, the Daily Press of Newport News said.

Hayes was not wearing a seat belt, the newspaper said.

The crash happened just before midnight Dec. 17 in the outside lanes of I-264 as the Cutlass headed west near the Military Highway exit, the Daily Press said. The resulting conflagration caused I-264 to be closed for about five hours for cleanup and investigation.

Allstate has these suggestions for safely dealing with an unexpected flat tire:

• Take your foot off the accelerator and don’t brake. Instead, firmly grip the steering wheel and coast.

• Coast to the right shoulder or the center median strip, whichever is closer and safer.

• Don’t drive on the flat for any length of time, and don’t change it in an area that is not safe.

Ohio woman dies in I-64 crash near Lexington

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23982 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Sara Walker of Cincinnati, Ohio died Christmas morning when the minivan she was riding in crashed on Interstate 64 in Rockbridge County in western Virginia.

Walker, 20, was not wearing a seat belt, The Roanoke Times reported.

Walker was thrown from the minivan and pronounced dead at the scene, the newspaper said.

The crash happened at about 6:15 a.m. on I-64 eastbound when the driver of the minivan, Tanya Finnerson, drove off the left side of the highway. The van overturned, and Walker was thrown from the van. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver and four other passengers were all taken to Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, the newspaper said.

Sgt. Bob Carpentieri, a spokesman for the Virginia State Police, told the newspaper that the crash was not weather-related but remains under investigation.

While the crash’s cause has not been determined, many early-morning traffic accidents are caused by drowsy driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests these countermeasures to avoid falling asleep while driving:

• Plan ahead of time to get enough sleep

• Avoid drinking even small amounts of alcohol while sleepy

• Limit driving between midnight at 6 a.m.

• When a driver feels sleepy while driving, the driver should stop immediately.

Remedial steps that can make a short-term difference, according to the NHTSA, include ingesting the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee or taking a brief nap of 15 to 20 minutes.

2 dead in Newport News head-on crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23980 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Jarin Sims of Newport News and George Joseph Woolley III of Williamsburg died Saturday when their cars crashed head-on during morning fog in Newport News.

Sims, 17, of Plainfield Drive was driving north on Jefferson Avenue north of Fort Eustis when his Mitsubishi went off the road, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Sims overcorrected, crossing into the oncoming lanes and colliding with a Ford Taurus driven by Woolley, 53, of Richards Road.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Daily Press. Each driver was alone. Responding officers found the crash scene in heavy fog.

Sims was not wearing a seat belt, the Daily Press said.

Sims was a senior at Menchville High School, WAVY-TV reported.

“I’m not going to see him anymore,” Raheem Talley, a classmate, told WAVY. “I just got memories.”

Talley told WAVY that he spoke with his friend on Christmas night about what they got for Christmas.

“This morning I get this text and just like that he’s gone,” Talley said.

Sims was on his way to Newport News City Park to complete a community service assignment, WAVY said.

“He used to always talk about graduating and now that’s all done,” Talley told WAVY. “We can’t even do it, because he’s not going to be here.”

Sims’s Facebook memorial page had 633 members as of Saturday night.

Jefferson Avenue was closed for almost three hours, opening to traffic in all directions at around 10 a.m.

Eastern Shore man dies in crash on U.S. Route 13

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23979 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Leonardo Lopez of Onley died Christmas morning when his car crashed on U.S. Highway 13 on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Lopez, 27, was thrown from his car in the accident, The Virginian-Pilot reported. The crash happened shortly before 5 a.m. near 19429 Lankford Highway, just north of the turn for Parksley.

Lopez was headed north in his 1994 Ford Mustang when the accident happened, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman told the newspaper.

Lopez apparently veered off the road and crashed, authorities said.

A 20-year-old passenger, unidentified by authorities and the press, was treated for life-threatening injuries at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox, the Daily Press reported.

Police told the newspaper that neither man was wearing a seat belt and that alcohol was involved in the crash.

December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency estimates that about three in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives, according to the CDC’s Web site.

In 2006, the CDC said, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired traffic accidents – a third of all traffic fatalities in the country.

The CDC has this advice to avoid meeting a similar fate:

• Choose a designated driver before a party, trip or the bar or other drinking event.

• Forcibly take a friend’s keys if he is about to drive while intoxicated.

• If hosting a party, encourage guests to choose a designated driver ahead of time, offer alcohol-free drinks, and ensure all guests depart with a sober driver.

Engineer dies at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23201 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Little has been disclosed about the recent workplace death of Lawrence Priest at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

Priest, 54, was inspecting the roof of a vessel when he fell 40 feet and died. The accident happened Dec. 3 at the shipyard, which is named after Norfolk but located in the city of Portsmouth.

Priest, an engineer, had worked at the shipyard for 18 years, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Priest was a native of France who grew up in the San Francisco area before enlisting in the Navy, according to his obituary at tributes.com. After graduating in 1990 from the University of Virginia, Priest worked at the shipyard as an engineer and also taught HVAC technologies at Tidewater Community College.

Survivors include his wife, Melissa Priest, of Virginia Beach, three children, his father and his sister.

The shipyard bills itself as “one of the largest shipyards in the world specializing in repairing, overhauling and modernizing ships and submarines. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy, and it's also the most multifaceted,” according to the shipyard’s Web site.

The shipyard is one of the few that services nuclear reactors and performs other specialized work on nuclear-powered vessels.

A shipyard spokesman told The Pilot that Priest’s death was the first at the shipyard in many years. The shipyard was recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2006 for being an exceptionally safe workplace – the shipyard had an injury and illness rate 57 percent below the national average over a three-year period, according to an OSHA news release.

Man killed in chase with Richmond, Henrico police

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23199 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Andre Raymon Simpson and Lawrence E. Murchison died Friday night in suburban Richmond after he led police on a high-speed chase in the wake of a convenience store robbery.

Simpson, 38, had a lengthy rap sheet – but was also a guest lecturer at Virginia Commonwealth University, successfully represented himself in court and contributed to an upcoming book about drug use, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Police disclosed little about the chase and subsequent crash. A Henrico police lieutenant said the pair were driving a pickup truck being chased by two police cars at speeds up to 80 miles an hour.

The truck, a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, broke apart after it hit a utility pole near Hickory Avenue and New Market Road in Henrico at about 11:09 p.m.

Simpson has spoken about his experiences to a writing class at VCU just days before the crash.

"He'd worked with us three years, and this was the first time he wasn't working from prison and able to be here in person," David Coogan, the VCU writing professor who invited Simpson and who is also editing the book. "But he had trouble turning the insights about his life into action."

Details about Murchison, the second victim, were not immediately available.

Simpson was known in Richmond for representing himself earlier this year at an armed robbery trial and being acquitted.

This was the third Richmond-area police chase in 2009 that resulted in deaths, the Times-Dispatch said. Four people have died in those crashes.

Hampton Roads men die in boating accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23134 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Jefferson Sykes of Chesapeake and Allen Fuller of Portsmouth died Friday as they fished on the Chesapeake Bay near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Fuller, 75, and Sykes, 83, were both found dead in the water at about 1 p.m., The Virginian-Pilot reported. Their boat – a 28-foot Boston Whaler – was found later in the day by the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Marine Patrol Unit.

How the men ended up out of their boat remains a mystery. Neither fisherman was found wearing a life vest, and a seat cushion was found floating nearby.

John M.R. Bull, a spokesman for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, told the Pilot that the recovered Whaler had no structural or mechanical problems and only some scraping on the hull.

Fuller had worked for General Electric for a quarter-century, the Pilot said, leaving as a manager. He retired six years ago from Life Fitness, where he worked as a manager.

Fuller’s son Jeff Fuller told the Pilot that his father "was very, very careful about not going out when the wind and the waves were too high, and by all accounts (Friday) was a pretty good day, so it's a mystery to us."

Sykes had worked as a school teacher and administrator in Portsmouth before retirement, the Pilot said.

Boston Whaler’s Web site bills itself as “the world’s leader in unsinkable boats.” It claims that it has even successfully loaded 20 people into a 19-foot boat to demonstrate its buoyancy.

UPS truck involved in multiple-injury crash outside Charlottesville

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23130 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Four women were hurt recently near Charlottesville when their car was struck by a United Parcel Service (UPS) truck as they tried to get on Interstate 64.

The four were in a 1992 Toyota Camry, WVIR-TV of Charlottesville said. The car – driven by Christina A. Logan, 18, of Cattle Scales Road in Waynesboro – was turning off Richmond Road/U.S. Route 250 eastbound onto Interstate 64 when the accident happened.

The Albemarle County Police Department told WVIR that Logan turned in front of a UPS 18-wheeler driven by Earl W. Wray, 59, of Schuyler.

The Camry was totaled in the crash, while the UPS 2005 Ford Sterling tractor sustained $30,000 in damage.

Logan and her passengers were treated at University of Virginia Hospital for non life-threatening injuries. The passengers were identified as Quanisha R. Raven, 22, Yolanda N. Shackelford, 36, and Pam Lindsey, 39.

Traffic was backed up for two miles on Richmond Road while the crash was investigated and cleaned up.

County police pointed out in remarks to WVIR that “the injuries in the crash could have been minimized had the occupants been wearing seat belts.” Only the front seat passenger was wearing a seat belt. Seat belts are required for everyone in the front seat and recommended for everyone in the back seat.

Seat belts reduce the chance of injury by 45 percent, police said, and wearing them is the easiest way to avoid being seriously injured in a traffic accident.

Logan was charged with failure to yield the right of way, WVIR said.

Amelia woman dies in Chesterfield Co. crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23129 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Jennifer O. Smith of Amelia, southwest of Richmond, died Sunday when the pickup truck she was driving overturned on the Powhite Parkway in Chesterfield County.

Smith, 38, was driving her 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck south on Virginia Route 76 in Chesterfield County at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday when the accident happened, WTVR-TV of Richmond reported.

The Virginia State Police told WTVR that Smith’s pickup ran off the road to the right. Smith overcorrected, authorities said, before running off the road again and hitting the guardrail.

The truck traveled along the guardrail for 40 feet before overturning and ending up on its roof.

Smith, of the 12000 block of Old Chula Road in Amelia, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Richmond Times-Dispatch said. She was not wearing a seat belt.

Jackie C. Chambers, 40, of Farmville, was treated at VCU Medical Center for injuries that were serious but not life-threatening.

Chambers was also not wearing her seat belt, the newspaper said.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

The crash happened about three-quarters of a mile south of Route 76’s intersection with U.S. Route 60.

Seat belts are the best way to survive a crash, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles says. Seat belts prevent the wearer from being thrown from the vehicle and spread the force of the crash across a bigger part of the body to reduce the chances of a fatal injury.

Colonial Heights man dies in I-95 crash south of Richmond

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23110 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Mohammad H. Agha of Colonial Heights was killed in a traffic accident shortly before 6 a.m. Monday that closed Interstate 95 south of Richmond for hours.

Agha, 21, was driving his Lexus south on I-95 in Colonial Heights in the center lane when he rear-ended a Toyota Camry, a Virginia State Police spokesman told the Progress-Index of Petersburg.

Both cars hit the Jersey barrier in the median strip; Agha’s Lexus went back into traffic, where it was broadsided by another car.

Agha, of Lakeview Park Road, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. The state police spokesman told the newspaper that it’s not clear why Agha’s car hit the Toyota and that the crash remains under investigation.

Two other people – not identified in news reports or by the authorities – were hurt. One was treated at VCU Medical Center in Richmond and the other at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg.

One of Agha’s relatives, Shiraz Khan, told the newspaper that Agha, his cousin, was “a single son who takes care of his mom and three sisters.”

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that the crash, near the 53 mile marker, backed traffic up several miles, all the way to exit 54 at Temple Avenue.

Police closed the interstate at exit 58 and started rerouting traffic onto U.S. Route 301.

Weather was not believed to have been a factor in the crash, which happened after the winter’s first storm dropped snow on Richmond and much of central and northern Virginia.

Va. sheriff's deputy dies when car falls on him at home

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)23109 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Prince William County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin L. Rock Sr. died last week when an automobile he was working on fell on top of him, the Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg reported.

Rock, 43, was off duty and working at his Woodford home when the accident happened, the newspaper said.

Rock had been a Prince William County deputy since January 2006. He previously had worked as a correctional officer at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Jail since January 2003.

"He was a dedicated and dependable employee and a joy to work with," Sheriff Glendell Hill said in a prepared statement, according to the newspaper.

Rock, a graduate of Spotsylvania County High School, was married and had three children. He was pronounced dead at Mary Washington Hospital.

Details of how the car fell were not available. It was also not clear if the car was on a lift, jack stands, or another means.

The advice Web site ehow.com offers some tips on how to successfully work on a car that’s on a lift:

– Inspect the lift prior to using it.

– Ensure that the lift’s locking mechanism works.

– Properly center and balance the vehicle on the lift as directed by the lift manual.

– Use chocks behind the wheels if using a drive-on lift.

– When the vehicle is a few feet off the ground, gently check to make sure it is stable.

Weather blamed for Charlottesville-area fatal crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22976 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Micajah Hicks of Charlottesville died Saturday when his pickup truck was involved in a crash in Nelson County during the first snowfall of the season, the Charlottesville Daily Progress said.

Hicks was driving on U.S. Highway 250 at about 2 p.m. Saturday when the accident happened, the newspaper said. The accident happened near the Interstate 64 interchange and the intersections with Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the newspaper said.

Hicks was driving his Ford F350 pickup truck when it collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser. The weather was to blame, State Trooper A.T. Covey told the newspaper.

The Lynchburg News Advance reported that Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene.

About five inches of snow fell in parts of central Virginia, the newspaper said. Virginia Department of Transportation workers treated roads in the area on Friday in advance of the storm, the newspaper said, with residents crowding stores to buy salt and shovels in advance of the season’s first storm.

Virginia State Police Trooper W.R. Floyd lost control of his patrol car on Interstate 64 near the 101 mile marker during the storm, the newspaper said. The car rolled and smashed into a rock wall, but Floyd was treated and released at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

In Hampton Roads, the 21^st Annual Downtown Hampton Lighted Boat Parade was postponed until Sunday because of the storm, the Daily Press of Newport News reported. Holiday parades in Suffolk and Williamsburg were cancelled because of the weather.

Weather blamed for Charlottesville-area fatal crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22975 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Micajah Hicks of Charlottesville died Saturday when his pickup truck was involved in a crash in Nelson County during the first snowfall of the season, the Charlottesville Daily Progress said.

Hicks was driving his Ford F350 pickup truck when it collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser. The weather was to blame, State Trooper A.T. Covey told the newspaper.

The Lynchburg News Advance reported that Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene.

Clifton Forge man dies in western Virginia crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22974 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Authorities blamed weather for a traffic accident Saturday that claimed the life of Glen Allen Curtis in the Augusta County community of Swoope in western Virginia.

Curtis, 46, of Clifton Forge, was a passenger in a car that crashed around 10 a.m. Saturday. Much of Virginia was getting its first snow of the season, with slick roads across the commonwealth.

The car Curtis was riding in went off the road and struck a tree in the 1000 block of Little Calf Pasture Highway, the News Leader of Staunton reported.

Curtis was in a passenger seat; the auto was being operated by Susan Curtis. The driver and a passenger, 14, were treated at Augusta Health in Fishersville.

Everyone in the car was wearing a seat belt, Virignia State Police Sgt. Scott Vanlear told the News Leader, and alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

The American Automobile Association offers these winter driving tips on its Web site:

– Make certain your auto’s tires are properly inflated

– Avoid using cruise control on roads that are slippery or wet

– Always look toward and steer toward where you want to go

– Don’t mix radial tires with other types of tires

– Accelerate and decelerate slowly; slowly applying gas to accelerate is the best way to regain traction after losing it.

– Drive slowly because everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. The normal following distance of three to four seconds in dry conditions should be increased to eight to 10 seconds when driving in snow.

Beacon House in Virginia Beach provides help for those with traumatic brain injury (TBI)

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22925 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Virginian-Pilot had an excellent story recently about Beacon House, a Virginia Beach drop-in center for people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

The story, by reporter Elizabeth Simpson, took a close look at a handful of brain-injury victims, how the injury changed their lives, and how Beacon House helps them.

Beacon House, as Simpson put it, is “a place away from the homes of parents and relatives who care for them. Insurance, or the bounds of science, has run out on repairing their injuries – some too subtle to see. A few members work toward jobs; many can’t manage them or be left alone.”

Brain injuries can take some things and leave others. Larry Bain, 45, of Virginia Beach, was in a car accident in 1987. His girlfriend escaped with minor injuries, but Bain was left permanently altered.

Bain was hospitalized for three months, in a rehab hospital for a year, and in a residential rehabilitation facility – at $20,000 a year – for three more years.

Bain walks and speaks clearly, The Pilot said, but has some vision problems, poor memory and poor impulse control.

Bain said he was working at a store bagging groceries but was fired for shoplifting.

“I had the money,” Bain told the Pilot. “The thing in my brain that says, ‘Hey, go pay for that stuff’ wasn’t there.”

The Beacon House is at 3808 Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite C. The phone number is (757) 631-0222. For more information, e-mail abby@maryfoundation.org.

Richmond bus driver fired in wake of fatal crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22896 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Richmond city bus driver accused of killing in a pedestrian in traffic accident has been fired by the GRTC Transit System, the Richmond Times-Dispatch said.

The firing of Teresa L. Jones, 46, came the same day the family of her victim, Loucendia Reed Lambert, filed a $10 million lawsuit alleging wrongful death in Richmond Circuit Court.

Lambert died on Sept. 30 when she was crossing a street in downtown Richmond on her way to work.

Lambert, 55, of Disputanta, attempted to cross North 14^th Street in Richmond as the bus made a right turn onto 14^th. Whether Lambert was in a crosswalk or whether she had a green light is not known.

Jones, of South Richmond, was charged with reckless driving in Richmond General District Court, the newspaper said. The case was recently postponed until Dec. 22, the Times-Dispatch said in a separate story, because Jones got a new lawyer.

Jones had been on administrative leave since the crash.

The latest litigation comes at a difficult time for the Richmond city bus system. Another pedestrian struck by a GRTC bus was awarded $8 million by a Richmond jury in November.

The victim in that case, Meikiu Lo was also crossing a street when she was struck by a bus making a right turn.

Lo, a research librarian, suffered shoulder and spinal injuries, as well as multiple fractures of her hip and pelvis, according to a Nov. 19 Times-Dispatch story. Her lawyer said Lo, now 34, will probably have to go through multiple operations for hip replacements before she is 50.

Northern Virginia teen part of national debate on teen driving safety

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22892 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

A northern Virginia teen-ager stepped into the national discussion about teed driving safety when National Public Radio profiled the young man as part of its story of how teen boys are more likely than their female counterparts to get into a traffic accident.

Teenage male drivers are involved in twice as many fatal crashes as teenage female drivers, NPR reported. Boys are also more likely to have been drinking or speeding.

"Guys like to do stupid stuff for adrenaline," Basil Rynestead, 17, of rural Fauquier County, told reporter Robert Benincasa. "There's a lot of my friends who think it's cool to speed, like they'll speed up a lot during the curves. I don't like doing that stuff."

Rynestead navigates twisty, rural, unlit roads without shoulders to get home from after-school football practice at Liberty High School. But the teen “seems relaxed and focused behind the wheel.”

About 6,000 drivers from age 15 to age 20 were in fatal traffic accidents in 2008, NPR said – and almost 75 percent of them were boys.

"There's just these really striking differences between males and females," Anne McCartt, the senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told NPR. "You see a discrepancy in terms of all driver errors, including speeding, so that might be following too closely, failure to yield."

Graduated driver’s licenses or delayed licensing both have positive impact on accident rates. Graduated licenses allow teens to acquire driving privileges gradually.

Virginia State Police targeting speeders on I-64 this weekend

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22889 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Virginia State Police is looking out for speeders on two commonwealth interstates this weekend in an effort to keep Virginia highways safe, the agency said Thursday.

“Speed and reckless and distracted driving endanger too many lives on the Commonwealth’s roads,” Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, said in a press release. “Every motorist must remember to buckle up and drive defensively not aggressively while they are behind the wheel, especially during the holiday season.”

State troopers will concentrate on Interstates 66 and 64 throughout Virginia, including the stretch of I-64 in Hampton Roads. On Friday morning, readers on The Virginian-Pilot’s pilotonline.com said that troopers were out in force using all kinds of vehicles, marked and unmarked alike.

The effort – called Operation Air, Land and Speed – is paid for with federal government money. The officers involved – motorcycle units, troopers, supervisors and motor carrier troopers – are paid overtime because they are working on their days off. Troopers are not being pulled off regular patrol assignments.

When the Virginia State Police last conducted this type of saturation operation on interstates 64, in December 2008, officers handed out 1,783 speeding tickets, 251 reckless driving tickets, and 227 seat belt tickets.

During the same operation, troopers made 22 drug/felony arrests and two drunken-driving arrests.

“During these challenging fiscal times, it’s important this kind of concentrated enforcement effort continues to take place,” Flaherty said in the press release. “Unfortunately, the only way to get some drivers to adopt safer driving habits and behaviors is through stepped up enforcement projects.”

Harrisonburg motorcyclist dies when deer strikes bike

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22856 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Benjamin Miller, 62, of Harrisonburg died Sunday when a deer collided with the motorcycle he was riding, The News Leader of Staunton reported.

Miller was riding east on Virginia Route 250 around 3:25 p.m. when the accident happened, a Virginia State Police trooper told the newspaper. The crash happened about five miles northwest of Staunton.

Miller had just passed the intersection with Virginia Route 612 when he was hit by a deer that came out from the near the road.

“I’m fairly confident that it was instantaneous,” Trooper N.L. Lomasney told the newspaper. WVIR-TV in Charlottesville reported that Miller was thrown from his motorcycle as a result of the accident. Miller was riding a 2007 Ducati.

Traffic, drugs or alcohol were not factors, the trooper told the newspaper.

A Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries employee euthanized the deer at the scene, The News Virginian of Waynesboro reported.

The newspaper said that according to the Game and Inland Fisheries department, two people are usually killed in deer-auto crashes each year, with another 400 people injured.

Lomasney, the state trooper, told The News Leader that there is a spike in deer crashes late every fall because of mating season and because of hunters in the woods.

Miller had retired from Valley Waterproofing Solutions, where he worked as the manager, according to his obituary published in The Daily News Record in Harrisonburg. He is survived by his wife, Susan, four sons and other relatives.

Sunsations kids hooded sweatshirts part of recall

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22850 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

More than 10,000 children’s hooded sweatshirts distributed by Sunsations, Inc. in Virginia Beach are being recalled at the suggestion of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

The sweatshirts in question have drawstrings, the newspaper said. The CPSC discourages the use of drawstrings in children’s clothing to reduce the risk of strangulation.

The hoodies in question were sold from April 2006 to July 2009 at Sunsations stores in Virginia Beach, Ocean City, Md. and in North Carolina locations.

No injuries have been reported thus far, WAVY-TV reported.

About 12,000 hoodies were sold that are now part of the recall. They are sizes 2T through 12 and in many different solid colors. WAVY said the style numbers in the recall are KD102, KD124, and KFS102.

The hooides were manufactured in Pakistan.

Consumers who have purchased the hoodies can take them to Sunsations for a refund, The Pilot said, or can simply remove the drawstrings.

For more information, call Sunsations at (800) 786-9044 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit the Sunsations Web site at sunsationsusa.com.

Sunsations is an oceanfront mainstay, with nine locations on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. The company got its start in Ocean City, Md. in 1983 and now has more than 60 locations.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission also asks consumers who have been involved in an injury with these hoodies to contact the commission at https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.

Workers hurt in Washington Metro rail crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22848 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Three workers for the Washington, D.C.-area Metro were hurt Sunday in a crash at the Metro’s West Falls Church rail yard, the Washington Post reported.

A six-car train crashed into a parked six-car train, the Post said. Damage is estimated to be at least $9 million.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, which comes just five months after a crash on the Metro’s Red Line killed nine people and injured another 80.

The speed of the train in Sunday’s crash has not been disclosed, but it was going fast enough to derail one car on the moving train and one car on the stationary train, the Post said.

The injured include the operator of the moving train and two cleaners working aboard the stationary train. Two mechanics were hurt at the same yard in August when a moving train collided with the train they were working on.

In addition, a Metro worker died in August when he was hit by a piece of track equipment, and a worker was killed in September.

The NTSB is formally investigating the accident, the Post said. The board is already in the midst of investigating the fatal Red Line crash earlier this year.

Jackie Jeter, the president of the union that represents most Metro workers, said the Metro isn’t adequately training employees.

"It appears that the safety pledge WMATA distributed to employees this fall is in lieu of the training. In our view, this is insufficient," Jeter, president of the Amalgamated Transit Local 689, told the Post.

North Carolina woman dies in Chesapeake crash on I-64

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22772 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Sue Ratcliffe Beazley of Littleton, N.C. died Tuesday when the minivan she was riding in was struck head-on by an 18-wheeler going the wrong way on Interstate 64 in Chesapeake, The Virginian-Pilot said.

Beazley, 73, was riding in a 2002 Honda Odyssey minivan driven by her husband, Donald Franklin Beazley, 75. He was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where he was listed in serious condition, WVEC-TV reported.

The Beazleys were headed east on I-64 near the High Rise Bridge when the 18-wheeler crossed the median. The truck, a tanker carrying carbon dioxide, was driven by Gary Allen Saunders, 55, of Windsor, The Pilot reported.

According to a Pilot photo, the truck was from NuCO2, a company that provides bulk carbon dioxide for the beverage industry.

A Virginia State Police spokeswoman told the newspaper that Saunders had a “medical-related incident,” but it was not known what exactly happened or if it caused the crash.

Saunders was also taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he was in good condition.

The Beazleys were from Littleton, N.C., just south of Lake Gaston.

The accident happened at 11:30 a.m., WVEC said, and the eastbound lanes were closed for more than six hours as investigators studied the scene and cleared away the wrecked vehicles. The 18-wheeler ended up tipped over in a ditch.

The Daily Press of Newport News reported that the commonwealth attorney’s office is studying the matter and that charges against Saunders are pending.

Tuesday’s crash is the second recent incident potentially tied to the driver suffering from an unrelated medical problem. The driver of a Miley Cyrus tour bus died after his bus crashed on Interstate 85 near Richmond in November; reports indicated he might have suffered a heart attack.

Northern Virginia man electrocuted in workplace accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22555 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

James Bea of Arlington was electrocuted Wednesday and another man badly hurt while repairing a water main break, the Washington Post said.

Bea, 59, worked for Arlington County and was pronounced dead at the scene, the Post reported. Bea was working in a trench at the corner of North Glebe and Old Glebe roads at 8:40 a.m. when the accident happened.

The Post said Bea had worked overnight in a trench on the water leak and was taking down a set of temporary lights before going home when the accident happened.

The second worker, who was not identified, “suffered electrical burns and remains in very serious condition,” the Post said.

Bea worked for 24 years for the Water, Sewer and Streets Bureau in the Department of Environmental Services in Arlington County, WUSA-TV reported. Representatives from state and federal worker-safety agencies were on the scene investigating the accident.

The Post said the accident happened when a worker “came into contact with a power line,” but did not elaborate.

The repair job was completed on Friday, the Post later said. Residents in northern Arlington County had been asked to conserve water – limiting showers and laundry, for example – during the Thanksgiving holiday.

"They [water bureau employees] work through the night in conditions many people would call deplorable," Robert Griffin, the county’s Department of Environmental Services director, told the Post. "When you are with your family on Thanksgiving, remember the people who are providing services who you normally don't think of. This is a reminder of how dangerous the job can be."

Suffolk man killed while crossing street at Virginia Beach Town Center

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22553 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Hunter Richardson of Suffolk died Friday after being struck by a woman accused of drunk driving, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Richardson and a woman were crossing Market Street in Virginia Beach’s Town Center at 1 a.m. Friday when they were struck by a sport-utility vehicle.

A Facebook memorial page has been established for Richardson, 23, according to WVEC-TV.

"He loved his friends and he loved his family, and it stinks that he's not here anymore," Bill Richardson, his uncle, told WVEC.

The SUV was driven by Natasha Herzog, 29, of the 3600 block of Starlighter Drive in Virginia Beach. She has been charged with manslaughter and second-offense drunken driving by Virginia Beach police.

Richardson, of the 6400 block of Knotts Neck Road in Suffolk, had just left the Guadalajara Mexican restaurant on Columbus Street in Town Center when they were struck, the Pilot reported.

The woman – who has not been identified in media reports – was also hurt and is hospitalized. Richardson underwent surgery but died at 1:15 p.m. Friday, 12 hours after the crash.

Herzog pleaded guilty to first-offense drunken driving in 2005 and was fined $500, WAVY-TV reported.

Herzog is being held without bond at the Virginia Beach Jail.

Richardson was an only child, WVEC reported.

"This is just going to be a huge void in their lives," Bill Richardson said to WVEC of the victim’s parents. "I don't know how they're going to do it. They will because they have plenty of friends, but there's nothing that can replace him."

Man gets a year in jail for near-fatal DUI crash at Colonial Williamsburg

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22475 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Almost a year after he drunkenly hit an elderly woman crossing a street in Williamsburg on Christmas Eve, Mark Schneider was sentenced to a year in jail – starting on Christmas Eve.

"You are an example to the community of what can happen when you drink to excess and drive," Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court Judge Samuel Powell said to Schneider, 39, according to the Daily Press of Newport News.

Schneider hit Irene Carson, a 72-year-old Pennsylvania woman as she crossed Francis Street East in the historic part of Williamsburg on Dec. 24, 2008. Schneider himself is a historic interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg.

Carson suffered multiple skull fractures and will probably never completely recover, the judge told Schneider.

Schneider was speeding as he drove down Francis Street East, and had a blood-alcohol level of .19; Virginia’s minimum for intoxication is .08.

Schneider will serve his sentence at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail on weekends, permitting him to keep his job at Colonial Williamsburg, the Daily Press reported.

Schneider pleaded guilty to felony assault and to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving. Besides the jail time, he’s been ordered to pay more than $17,000 to Carson in medical expenses and restitution. Judge Powell held in abeyance an additional charge of maiming while driving drunk. Schneider was also fined $500.

The Daily Press story did not say whether or not Carson, of Chadds Ford, Pa., attended the sentencing, which took place on Tuesday.

Report: Plane piloted by Virginia Beach man was low on fuel before crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22474 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Virginia Beach pilot whose twin-engine airplane crashed in South Carolina told air traffic controllers shortly before the crash that he was low on fuel, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported.

The plane, piloted by Mado McDonald of Virginia Beach, olnly had half a gallon of fuel in the tank when examined by investigators after the crash, the newspaper said.

McDonald was one of three people hurt when the Virginia Beach-registered twin-engine turboprop plane crashed at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, the newspaper reported. McDonald has a broken ankle and a broken hip, according to WCBD-TV in Charleston, S.C.

McDonald piloted the plane for MDTR Holdings LLC, which shares an address with the ECPI College of Technology in Virginia Beach.

McDonald, as well as two Stevens Aviation employees also on the plane – Derrick Holliday and Ed Wilk – were injured in the crash.

The plane was attempting to land when it crashed short of the runway Monday night. It hit a guardrail, skidded across South Carolina Highway 14, and came to rest on a patch of grass. The Herald-Journal, citing a report from the National Transportation Safety Board, reported that McDonald said he was low on fuel but didn’t declare an emergency.

The aircraft flew to Greenville from Norfolk International Airport. It was to be serviced Monday by Stevens Aviation. A Stevens official told The Virginian-Pilot that Monday’s crash came at the end of a test flight, not unlike when an owner test-drives a car after a repair at a mechanic’s shop.

Poquoson teen dies in wood chipper accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22471 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Poquoson High School student died Sunday afternoon when he was accidentally pulled into a commercial wood chipper.

The boy, Frank Anthony Gornik, 14, died instantly, The Daily Press of Newport News reported.

Gornik was working with two other men for Old Dominion Tree & Lawn Care cleaning up debris from the nor’easter when the accident happened.

Gornik was shoveling debris in to a hopper on the chipper when the shovel he was using apparently got caught in the chipper, pulling Gornik in with it, Poquoson Police Chief Cliff Bowen told The Virginian-Pilot.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry is investigating the accident, the Daily Press said.

Gornik was living with the owner of Old Dominion Tree & Lawn Care, Robert Strickland, the newspaper said. Gornik went to live with Strickland and Strickland’s wife after the death of his parents.

Gornik was voted outstanding eighth-grade boy last year by the faculty at Poquoson Middle School. He was on the junior varsity football team and the honor roll at Poquoson High School.

"He was a young man that was very well-liked and respected in the school and the community," Poquoson High School Principal Bernie Wright told the Daily Press. "I heard today that many students expressed their feelings of Frank as someone they felt comfortable going to for advice when they had problems. I would like to say he'll be missed by all the students and staff at PHS."

Rockingham County woman killed in workplace trucking accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22469 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

State labor authorities are investigating a fatal truck-pedestrian accident at a western Virginia poultry plant, according to WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg.

Bonnie K. Dellinger, 66, was working at the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Timberville, in Rockingham County and about 15 miles northeast of Harrisonburg, when the accident happened.

Dellinger died in the early morning hours of Nov. 19 when she was backed over by delivery truck in a company parking lot as she walked to the plant, The Daily News Record of Harrisonburg said.

Dellinger, a Rockingham County native, lived in nearby Broadway, according to her obituary. Survivors include her husband, David Lee Dellinger, as well as three children and many grandchildren and other relatives.

Virginia State Police officials told WHSV that the area where Dellinger was killed was poorly lit. The driver of the truck, Eddie Campbell, will probably not be charged with a crime, state police said to the TV station.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry is leading the investigation of the accident. Department officials have already paid a visit to the plant, and will decide whether any health or safety rule violations took place.

Pilgrim’s Pride has been bankrupt since December 2008 and plans to sell most of itself to a Brazilian meat producer to exit bankruptcy.

Once the country’s biggest chicken producer, Reuters reported, Pilgrim’s Pride lost $151.6 million last year. Forced into bankruptcy by high feed prices, slow chicken sales and poor acquisitions, Pilgrim’s Pride has since increased prices, cut employees and closed or sold plants.

Distracted drivers turn to phone-blocking devices to stay safe

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22209 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Virginians on the road this holiday week have a new tool in the war against distracted driving: devices that disable cell phones when the car is in motion.

The gadgets use a variety of technologies to keep drivers from using cell phones, The New York Times reported. Some work using the phone’s onboard GPS signal. Others operate with data supplied by the car, while yet others use data from cell phone towers.

One businessman told The Times that he bought the devices for the 400 trucks in his company’s fleet – and accidents went down 30 percent.

“We realized we had to go beyond education and policy,” Jamey LeBlanc, the risk manager for Community Coffee, a coffee roaster in Baton Rogue, La., told The Times. “You’re going against human nature here, so you need something that works independently of that.”

The phone-disabling systems intercept incoming calls and redirect them to voice mail. Users can program exceptions, and they can also override the system and take a call. However, an answered call can be reported to the system owner – a parent or a business owner.

At the same time, carmakers are working to make hands-free systems more user-friendly and more ubiquitous. There were just 918,000 hands-free systems installed in cars in 2008, the Consumer Electronics Association told The Times. By the end of this year, the newspaper said, there should be 1.6 million installed systems. Some of them use voice commands to call numbers and to even read text messages aloud.

Western Virginia man killed by 18-wheeler while walking on I-81

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22208 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Steven Michael Lecroy of Wytheville in western Virginia died Thursday after he was struck by an 18-wheeler as he walked along the shoulder of Interstate 81 in Wythe County.

Lecroy, 53, was walking in the rain at about 9 p.m. Wednesday when he was struck, The Roanoke Times reported. Lecroy was “walking along the northbound lanes” when he crossed into the path of an approaching 18-wheeler, the newspaper said. It was not clear if Lecroy was initially walking on the shoulder or on the travelled portion of the highway.

The crash happened at about 9 p.m. Wednesday near mile marker 72, about 60 miles southwest of Roanoke. Lecroy was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he died the following day.

It’s not known why Lecroy was walking alongside the highway. The Virginia State Police had received a report of a pedestrian on the highway and were searching for the pedestrian when Lecroy was struck, officials told The Times.

The driver of the 18-wheeler, who was not identified in news reports, has not been charged with a crime, the Roanoke newspaper reported.

It is illegal for pedestrians to use interstate highways in Virginia and in many other states. However, sometimes it is necessary – after an auto breakdown, for example. Authorities advise pedestrians to walk as far to the right as possible and to also carry lights, reflective vests and other tools to aid motorists in seeing them.

Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Newport News families to testify in Chinese drywall case

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22198 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A federal class-action lawsuit with defendants around the world will –in part – come down to the testimony of seven families in Hampton Roads.

The families all have suffered because they have toxic Chinese drywall in their homes, according to WAVY-TV. They are among the tens of thousands of homeowners who have suffered physical ailments and property destruction because of the defective drywall, which emits noxious gases.

A federal judge in New Orleans is overseeing the class-action lawsuit, which has named Taishan Gypsum as one of the defendants. Taishan, in China, is the manufacturer of the drywall.

A default judgment was entered against Taishan last week after the company did not respond to the lawsuit. It is not yet known, though, if the plaintiffs in the case will be able to get anything from Taishan. There are still other defendants in the case.

Preston McKeller is one of the local plaintiffs who will travel to New Orleans in January 2010 to testify on behalf of the class. Though he was reluctant to speak in specifics because of the pending litigation, he said he hopes he – and others – are made whole.

I would like to see all of the houses in the neighborhood be given a remediating. It's the process to remove the problem, along with fix the electrical. It's a very extensive process,” McKeller told WAVY.

Including the McKellers, four Williamsburg families, two Newport News families, and one Virginia Beach family are expected to testify at the January trial.

Carrollton man dies in James River Bridge crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22191 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

William David Fox of Carrollton died Thursday when his car crashed on the James River Bridge between Suffolk and Newport News.

Fox, 58, was headed south on the bridge when his car flipped over and struck a concrete barrier, The Daily Press reported.

Fox was a native of Albany, N.Y., according to his obituary published in The Virginian-Pilot. An economics graduate of Ohio Wesleyan College, he was a purchasing agent for American GFM and more recently worked for Electric Motor & Contracting Co. Inc. and Wartsila Defense Inc.

Authorities told the newspaper that the southbound James River Bridge lanes were closed for about two hours. The crash happened at about 2:09 p.m., WAVY-TV reported.

The James River Bridge, a four-lane divided highway over the James River, is 4.5 miles long. When it was finished in 1928, it was the longest bridge over water in the world. It was subsequently replaced with a four-lane version.

While the replacement James River Bridge is a relatively modern structure, it lacks many safety features found on modern roadways. There are no shoulders on most of the bridge, nor are there turnouts or other spaces for disabled vehicles to pull off the road.

The James River Bridge is often one of the first bridges in Hampton Roads to close in the event of severe weather. During the nor’easter earlier this month, the bridge was closed for days until the storm passed and storm tides abated. The Daily Press reported that standing water on the bridge forced the closure.

Virginia Beach grandmother killed when struck by minivan

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22162 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Scarlet A. Harvell of Virginia Beach died Monday when she was struck and killed by her own minivan as she unloaded groceries.

Harvell died after her young granddaughter apparently climbed behind the wheel, put the van into gear, and accidentally struck her grandmother, WVEC-TV reported.

Neighbors told the TV station that Harvell’s adult daughter just died of cancer, and that she was raising her grandchildren.

The accident happened at around 3 p.m. in the 1000 block of Minneapolis Drive, the Daily Press of Newport News reported.

As Harvell unloaded groceries, the child apparently was able to get the minivan moving. Harvell was struck by an open door, the Daily Press said, knocking her to the ground. She suffered a serious head injury and died at 6:40 p.m. the following day.

Though WVEC reported that the child was behind the wheel, authorities said only that a family member was operating the minivan.

The Daily Press said police are investigating the matter and have not filed any charges in the accident. The case will eventually be forwarded to the commonwealth attorney’s office.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has this advice to keep children from unintentionally putting an auto into gear:

– Teach kids not to play in and around cars

– When a car is unattended, make sure it is locked

– Keep a close eye on kids when they are in or near a car

– Activate the emergency brake every time you park

– Only drive a car with a brake transmission safety interlock.

Driver killed in Miley Cyrus tour bus crash outside Richmond

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22160 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Miley Cyrus tour bus crashed on Interstate 85 south of Richmond Friday morning, killing driver William G. Douglas, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Cyrus was not on the bus, authorities told the newspaper. The bus was part of a group of four buses headed to Cyrus’s next concert in Greensboro, N.C.

A Virginia State Police sergeant told The Associated Press that the bus was headed south on I-85 when ran off the road, hit an embankment, and overturned.

Canadian Marty Zilio, 48, was among the nine passengers aboard the bus and the only one injured. Zilio’s nose was broken; he was treated at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bill “Uncle Bill” Douglas,” the Cyrus family wrote on its Web site. “Members of our tour are like members of our family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family in the midst of this tragedy. He will truly be missed.”

The buses were on their way from Long Island, N.Y. when the accident happened at about 8:15 a.m. Friday in Dinwiddie County. Passengers escaped through a smashed windshield, The AP said.

Cyrus was not aboard any of the buses in the caravan, authorities said.

Douglas, 53, was from Austin, Tex. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

911 tapes published by the entertainment news Web site TMZ said Douglas was “losing color” and “in cardiac arrest,” according to witnesses on the scene, lending credence to the idea that the driver had a preexisting health issue.

One caller said people were performing CPR on the driver.

Authorities said speed and road conditions were not factors, according to the Times-Dispatch.

First-time homebuyers: when renovating an older home, keep lead paint safety in mind

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22067 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The first-time homebuyer’s tax credit has spurred interest in buying and renovating smaller “starter” homes, homes that are often older – and often include lead paint.

Lead poisoning in children is often connected to home renovation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this year.

A study released by the CDC found that the percentage of children with high lead levels attributable to home repair and renovation doubled – from 7 percent to 14 percent.

In two-thirds of those cases, the study found, the home renovation was done by the resident and not by a contractor.

According to the Virginia Department of Public Health, almost 7,000 Virginia kids under age 6 have high levels of lead in their blood. Most of those children are poisoned in one of Virginia’s 1.8 million homes built before 1978, when lead paint was outlawed.

“Lead interferes with normal brain development and is associated with permanently reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral disorders,” the DPH says.

The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that homeowners renovating a home with lead-based paint take these steps to keep their children safe and prevent lead exposure:

• Take furniture out of the room or cover it with heavy plastic sheeting

• Use heavy plastic sheeting to cover the floor and to separate the work area from the rest of the house

• Close and seal vents in the work area and – if necessary – shut down forced-air HVAC systems

• Sand, grind or plane only with power tools that have a shroud and HEPA vacuum attachment.

Nova teen accused of causing passenger to jump from truck to his death

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22063 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Four months after Dennis Ray Ross of suburban Washington, D.C. died in a pickup truck accident in Loudoun County, a fellow passenger has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, Leesburg Today reported.

Ross, 19, of Oak Hill was riding in the bed of a 2001 GMC pickup truck in South Riding – just southwest of Washington Dulles International Airport – when another 19-year-old started setting off fireworks in the truck’s bed, the newspaper said.

Ross jumped from the truck to avoid the blast, but was badly injured in the subsequent fall. He was hospitalized at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, but died of his injuries a week later.

The accident, on July 19, came the night before Ross was set to report Paris Island, S.C. for basic training in the U.S. Marine Corps, according to Ross’s obituary. Ross had enlisted in the Marine Corps infantry.

The other passenger, Kyle A. Guthrie, of Centreville, was charged with involuntary manslaughter after the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Accident Reconstruction Unit investigated the accident and discovered another passenger – allegedly Guthrie – was in the back of the pickup.

Initially, it had been reported that Ross simply fell from the bed of the pickup, according to The Washington Post.

Guthrie was arraigned Nov. 18 in Loudoun County General District Court and subsequently released on bond, WTOP-FM of Washington, D.C. reported.

A New York City native, Ross was a 2008 graduate of Westfield High School and had played on the school’s 2007 state championship football team, according to his obituary.

FDA orders changes in pain pump labels after injuries

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22046 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The issue of pain pumps is back in the news after the Food and Drug Administration directed manufacturers to change labels on the pumps in the wake of irreversible injuries inflicted by the pumps, The Wall Street Journal reported this week.

Thirty-five patients suffered severe cartilage damage after using post-surgery pain pumps to administer medication, the FDA told The Journal.

Most of the injured patients had shoulder surgery, and over 50 percent needed more surgery – including joint replacement – as a result, The Journal said.

Pain pumps automatically deliver pain medication after surgery without human intervention. “The pumps are approved to be used after abdominal and other surgeries, such as hysterectomies,” The Journal wrote. “They are considered a better way to deliver pain-relieving medications because they target specific areas and don't involve narcotics.”

But Dr. Constance Chu told the newspaper that shoulder tissue is getting doused with so much medication that it can die.

"If you don't give these tissues a break the toxicity is so high you can lose the tissue,” Chu told the newspaper.

The FDA is requiring manufacturers to note that the FDA has not cleared pain pumps for use on joint surgeries.

"The significance of this injury to otherwise healthy young adults warrants notification to health-care professionals," the FDA wrote to medical professionals earlier this month.

I-Flow Corp. and Str yker Corp. are two companies that make pain pumps. APP Pharmaceuticals and Hospira Inc. are among the companies that make the drugs used. All will have to update their labels.

Tazewell Co. man dies in house fire caused by wood-burning stove

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22040 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Donald Beverly Bennett of Bluefield in Tazewell County died Friday in a fire at his rural western Virginia home, according to WVNS-TV in nearby Ghent, W.V.

A second person, Phyliss Coffey, of Morganton, N.C., was hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Bluefield Regional Medical Center, according to the Richlands News-Press.

Firefighters were sent to the Bennett home, at 976 Big Branch Road, five miles outside of Bluefield, at about 11 p.m. Nov. 13. They found the home – a frame structure that had once been a log home – fully involved.

Bennett, 77, died in the fire. However, his identity was not released until it was confirmed by an autopsy.

WVNS reported that a wood-burning stove was to blame for the fire, which was ruled accidental.

Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Services has these suggestions for the safe operation of wood stoves:

• Follow the fire code or manufacturer’s clearances, whichever is greater

• Regularly inspect and clean all chimneys

• Burn dry, seasoned hardwood

• Get rid of ashes in a metal container that is covered and that is stored on the ground outside of the house

• Don’t burn paper or other trash in the wood stove

• Don’t have a single flue serve more than one appliance

• Don’t use flammable liquids like lighter fluid or gasoline to start the stove

• Don’t use artificial logs, which are known to explode.

Western Virginia man dies in forklift accident at work

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22035 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Matt Megginson of Greenville in western Virginia died Friday in a forklift accident that has drawn the attention of state labor investigators, the News Virginian of Waynesboro reported Monday.

Megginson, 27, was operating a forklift at Burris Logistics in Lyndhurst when he was apparently pinned by the machine after losing control of it, the newspaper said.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry could take as long as six months to investigate the accident. A department spokeswoman told the newspaper that officials will want to learn if there were any health violations of Virginia Occupational and Safety rules.

In 2007, 23 people were killed in workplace accidents involving contact with workplace equipment and objects, according to the Department of Labor and Industry’s Web site – 16 percent of workplace deaths in Virginia.

Nationwide in 2008, 299 people were killed at work when they were “caught in or compressed by equipment or objects,” The News Leader of Staunton reported, citing the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Megginson was a Tennessee native who had recently married his longtime girlfriend, Lindsey Lowery Megginson, according to his obituary in the News Virginian.

"I didn't think anything like this would ever happen," Darren McIntire a friend who threw Megginson’s bachelor party, told The News Leader. "I know it's going to be hard." McIntire was to serve as a pallbearer at the funeral.

Burris Logistics, based in Chesapeake, bills itself as a provider of “supply chain solutions” and is a large shipper and warehouser of refrigerated food.

Parents of teen killed in Richmond-area crash go forward with suit

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)22025 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the parents of a 14-year-old girl killed in a Richmond-area crash in 2004 will go forward, The Associated Press reported.

The girl, Jaimee Elizabeth Kellermann, was supposed to be sleeping over at a friend’s house but instead ended up a passenger in a recklessly-driven car – a car that crashed, leaving Kellermann dead.

The Kellermanns sued the friend’s parents – Paul and Paula McDonough – in Henrico County District Court, accusing them of not caring for Jaimee when they should have.

The key question, the Virginia Supreme Court said in a November ruling, is “whether adults who agree to supervise and care for a child owe a duty to exercise reasonable care in the supervision and care of that child.”

The McDonoughs allegedly invited Jaimee for the night; the Kellermanns agreed but told the McDonoughs that Jaimee was not allowed to be in an auto with a young driver – “no boys with cars,” as Michael Kellermann put it, according to the AP.

A Henrico County judge threw out the case, but the Virginia Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the case should be decided on its merits.

The night of the crash, Jaimee Kellermann went to the movies at an area mall. Afterwards, she was driven home not by the McDonoughs but by 17-year-old Nathan DeFrank.

According to court papers, Kellermann texted her father that she was scared as DeFrank drove 80 miles an hour on a twisty two-lane road.

DeFrank accidentally went off the road, the AP reported, at hit a tree. Kellermann died the following day.

Amherst man dies in nor'easter crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21879 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Alger H. Fleming of rural Amherst in western Virginia died during last week’s severe storms when he was struck by an 18-wheeler, The Daily Progress of Charlottesville reported.

The crash, early Thursday, was one of three fatal accidents attributed to the nor’easter that plowed north through Virginia.

Fleming, 66, was headed east on Virginia Route 56 in Nelson County when he hit a tree that had fallen across the road near the Tye River bridge, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman told the newspaper.

Fleming got out of his pickup truck to get a better look at the damage when he was struck by an 18-wheeler that approached him from behind. The semi, hauling logs, swerved to avoid the pickup but hit Fleming, still on foot.

The flashers on Fleming’s truck were on but the driver of the tractor-trailer – unidentified in news reports – did not see Fleming standing in the road. No charges are to be filed against the truck driver.

The crash happened before dawn, at around 4:30 a.m., the News Virginian of Waynesboro reported. Fleming was pronounced dead at the scene.

A county official told The Daily Progress that crews spent more the four hours cleaning up debris on Route 58 before it could be reopened to traffic.

Fleming lived on Lexington Turnpike in Amherst, according to his obituary in The News & Advance of Lynchburg. A Michigan native, he was a self-employed trucker. He is survived by his wife, Darlene McDonald Fleming, two sons, and a number of other relatives.

Amherst man dies in nor'easter crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21868 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Alger H. Fleming of rural Amherst in western Virginia died during last week’s severe storms when he was struck by an 18-wheeler, The Daily Progress of Charlottesville reported.

The crash, early Thursday, was one of three fatal accidents attributed to the nor’easter that plowed north through Virginia.

The crash happened before dawn, at around 4:30 a.m., the News Virginian of Waynesboro reported. Fleming was pronounced dead at the scene.

A county official told The Daily Progress that crews spent more the four hours cleaning up debris on Route 58 before it could be reopened to traffic.

Family of suburban D.C. man gets $1.5 million after fatal fall

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21866 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Fauquier County city of Warrenton in suburban Washington, D.C. is paying $1.25 million to the family of a man who tripped – and subsequently died – on a hazard the city knew about but had not fixed.

Harold Spencer tripped over a 16-inch wall built around an old cistern at the Warrenton-Fauquier Visitor Center, The Washington Post reported.

Spencer – who was on the board of a foundation that helped erect the center – died three days after the Jan. 8, 2007 fall. Spencer was a Warrenton native who raised five children in the community.

Spencer’s family subsequently learned “that the visitor center had failed its final inspection four times for not putting a guardrail around the cistern,” the Post reported. “They also found that the town had moved into the center without an occupancy permit.”

The cistern was discovered during the building’s construction, and officials decided to preserve it. However, no one bothered to put up a guard rail until after Spencer’s death – despite detailed internal discussions among officials about the potential hazard.

"I feel very uncomfortable with the Visitor Center operating," Christopher Bogert, the town engineer, e-mailed another official in 2006. "And no handrail around the cistern. Wet/winter weather is coming quickly and if someone slips and falls in the Town will be liable."

Spencer’s family subsequently sued the city of Warrenton, as well as the foundation that owns the visitor center site. While the city has settled without admitting any liability, the litigation with the foundation continues.

Route 13 crash near Nassawadox claims life of Massachusetts woman

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21689 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Yesenia Rivera, a resident of Waltham, Mass., died during a rainstorm Thursday when the auto she was riding in crashed on U.S. Route 13 on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Rivera, 30, was riding in a 2006 Toyota Scion whose driver lost control and crashed, The Daily Times of Salisbury, Md., reported.

A Virginia State Police spokeswoman told the newspaper that the Scion was headed south on Route 13 just after 8 a.m. Thursday when the driver went into the median from the southbound lanes, the newspaper said.

The Scion momentarily went into the northbound lanes, but then went back into the median where it overturned multiple times.

Rivera was thrown from the auto and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Stacey Colindres, 24, of Waltham, Mass., was taken to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox. Passengers Kenjy Colindres, 24, and Sebastia Zayas-Ramos, 22, also Massachusetts residents, also went to Shore Memorial. None of their injuries were life-threatening.

Rivera was not wearing a seat belt, authorities said. Everyone else in the Scion was wearing a seat belt. Waltham is a Boston suburb.

The crash happened just north of Nassawadox, near Route 13’s intersection with Virginia Route 688. It happened during what The Daily Times described as “a drenching downpour” that hit the Eastern Shore as part of a nor’easter storm that raked North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland with wind and rain.

Smithfield woman dies in weather-related crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21687 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Amy Corine Pippin, a Smithfield woman taking her 6-year-old daughter to school, died Thursday morning when her auto crashed into a semi tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 258, the Daily Press of Newport News reported.

The crash was attributed to the poor visibility caused by Thursday morning’s rain and fog.

Pippin, 26, was driving her child to Windsor Elementary School when the crash happened at 8:30 a.m. – not knowing the school had been cancelled before, at 7:30 a.m.

Pippin was pronounced dead at the scene, a Virginia State Police trooper told the Daily Press. The 6-year-old – as well as a 3-year-old also in the car – both suffered life-threatening injuries and were taken to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk for treatment, the newspaper said.

Pippin apparently pulled into the oncoming lane on a two-lane U.S. 258 near the Isle of Wight courthouse to pass an auto ahead of her, the Daily Press reported.

Her auto collided with an oncoming tractor-trailer filled with hogs headed for Smithfield-area packing plants. Laverne Lee Ruffin, 53, the driver of the truck, was unhurt.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has this safety advice for drivers when passing:

• Check traffic ahead of you, behind you and in your blind spot before passing.

• Don’t speed when passing – it’s against the law

• Finish passing before reaching a no-passing zone

• Use caution when passing during poor weather

Rural Petersburg man dies in crash on U.S. 1

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21606 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Nelson E. Morton of rural Petersburg died Monday when his pickup truck crashed in rural Dinwiddie County, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Morton, 82, was headed north on U.S. Highway 1 when he crossed the center line, went off the road to the left and struck a tree, a Virginia State Police sergeant told the Richmond newspaper.

The crash happened a mile and a half north of Virginia Route 613, also known as White Oak Road. Morton, of the 5000 block of Sterling Road, was driving a 2005 Toyota Tundra pickup truck, according to the Progress-Index of Petersburg.

Morton was born in Charlotte County, Va., and worked as an electrical contractor in the Petersburg-Hopewell-Colonial Heights Tri-Cities area for many years, according to his obituary published in the Progress-Index.

Morton is survived by his wife, Joyce Morton, his son Kirk Morton and other relatives.

Authorities said Morton was apparently not wearing a seat belt when the crash happened. Seat belts “are your best defense during a crash,” the Virginia Highway Safety Office says.

A seat belt primarily prevents ejection from a motor vehicle and also serves to spread the force of the crash over a larger part of the body, the office says on its Web site.

While airbags reduce the chance of injury of death, but they are not replacements for seat belts. Seat belts also help the driver stay in the driver’s seat and potentially maintain enough control long enough to prevent a more serious crash.

Virginia Beach man among three injured in S.C. plane crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21601 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Mado McDonald of Virginia Beach was at the controls of a small plane that crashed Monday night in South Carolina, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

McDonald piloted the plane for MDTR Holdings LLC, which shares an address with the ECPI College of Technology in Virginia Beach.

Just half a gallon of fuel was found in the plane’s tank, federal aviation investigators told the Greenville News.

McDonald is in serious condition at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Two Stevens Aviation employees also on the plane – Derrick Holliday and Ed Wilk – remain hospitalized.

The plane was attempting to land when it crashed short of the runway Monday night. It hit a guardrail, skidded across South Carolina Highway 14, and came to rest on a patch of grass.

The aircraft flew to Greenville Sunday night from Norfolk International Airport. It was to be serviced Monday by Stevens Aviation. A Stevens official told The Pilot that Monday’s crash came at the end of a test flight, not unlike when an owner test-drives a car after a repair at a mechanic’s shop.

“[McDonald] is a very professional pilot,“ Kent Ewing, a friend and fellow flight instructor, told WCBD. “Very much by the book, doesn’t take chances.“

Ocean Lakes graduate dies in Virginia Beach crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21183 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Grace Suzanne McIntyre of Virginia Beach died Monday when the auto she was driving collided head-on with a minivan in the rural Pungo section of Virginia Beach, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

McIntyre, 18, lived in the 2500 block of Sandusky Avenue and was a graduate of Ocean Lakes High School.

McIntyre was driving her 2006 Toyota Scion west in the 2300 block of Indian River Road when she apparently lost control of her automobile on a sharp curve, according to WAVY-TV.

The Scion – traveling too fast, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Fatal Crash Team – crossed into the oncoming lane, overcorrected to the right, went onto the right shoulder, overcorrected again, crossed the center line again, and collided with a Honda Odyssey minivan head-on.

The occupants of the minivan – a married couple and their teenage son – suffered minor injuries and were treated at an area hospital.

The crash happened at 6:47 p.m. on a two-lane section of Indian River Road between West Neck Road and Princess Anne Road in rural southern Virginia Beach.

Police told WAVY that alcohol was not a factor in the crash. WVEC-TV reported that everyone involved was wearing a seat belt. Authorities continue to investigate the crash.

A Maryland native, McIntyre was a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, according to her obituary. She is survived by her parents, Edward and Peggy Santoni of Virginia Beach, her siblings, and other relatives.

Chesapeake crash claims life of Virginia Beach woman

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)21152 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A two-car collision in Chesapeake Friday night left a Virginia Beach mother of two and wife dead, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Katie Young, 29, died when she was thrown from the Honda she was riding in. Young, of the 3900 block of Rainbow Drive in Virginia Beach, was a passenger in the auto.

The Honda was traveling on Stadium Drive in Chesapeake when it collided with an eastbound Buick on Mount Pleasant Road. The crash, which occurred near Great Bridge Middle School, happened shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday.

Young had two children – Madison, 5, and Justin, 8 – with her husband, Justin Young. The family had recently been profiled in the Mormon Times newspaper. Katie Young had been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and the story focused on how the family has reacted and adapted.

Justin had formerly worked as a musician, and took music up again as a way to pay the family’s medical bills after his wife’s illness.

“You look at the trials that happen in your life and say, OK, why am I going through this?” Young said to the newspaper. “What am I supposed to learn from this? Let's learn this and move on. That's how we're looking at it.”

Songs and other information are on Young’s Web site, justinyoung.com.

Chesapeake police continue to investigate the crash. Neither of the drivers was injured, and no charges have yet been filed by police.

Arrest made in 2008 Portsmouth hit-and-run death

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)20794 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

More than a year after Onika Elliott was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Portsmouth, the accused driver was arrested, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Winston Doyle Douglas allegedly killed Elliott, 17, and struck two other teen-agers late Oct. 1, 2008 in the Churchland section of Portsmouth.

The trio was standing near a car at Greenleaf Trail and Peachtree Lane when they were hit by a dark blue 2001 BMW 745i that fled without stopping.

Elliott died a week after the crash; her two friends recovered.

The BMW was found a mile away, abandoned. The owner was deployed at sea for the Navy at the time of the crash and could not have been driving.

The case remained unresolved until the arrest. Douglas, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was a military member when he allegedly killed Elliott, but a Portsmouth police spokeswoman told The Pilot that she didn’t know which service branch.

Elliott was a junior at Churchland High School. Her organs helped seven people, her mother told the newspaper.

"It's very important," the mother, Michale Elliott, said of the investigation in an interview with The Pilot. "Nobody on this earth deserves that. Nobody.... And no family deserves having their child taken from them with no answers."

Douglas was charged with hit-and-run resulting in death, two counts of hit-and-run resulting in injury, and hit-and-run causing more than $1,000 in damage, the newspaper said.

Gloucester man dies in crash on Route 17

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)20658 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

George Washington Cash. Jr. of rural Gloucester died in the predawn hours Tuesday when he lost control of his pickup truck on U.S. Route 17, according to the Daily Press.

Cash was driving his Mazda pickup truck on Route 17 near the intersection with Ark Road when he tried to pass a Ford F-150 pickup truck, WAVY-TV reported.

Cash’s truck struck the F-150, went off the right side of the road, struck a culvert, turned upside down and came to rest in a ditch.

Cash, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene. A Virginia State Police spokeswoman told the television station that Cash was wearing his seat belt and that alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Route 17 is a four-lane divided highway in the vicinity of Ark Road, which is about three miles northwest of the Gloucester County Courts Building.

While many details of the crash have not yet been disclosed, the early hour of the crash – 5:40 a.m. – suggests that drowsy driving may have been a factor.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that drowsy driving is a serious problem. About 1,500 people die each year in drowsy driving-related crashes, the foundation says on its Web site, and another 71,000 are injured.

“It is very difficult to determine hen fatigue causes or contributes to a traffic crash,” the foundation says, “and many experts believe these statistics understate the magnitude of the problem.”

David Hines of Virginia Beach dies in Chesapeake motorcycle accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)20655 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

David Hines of Virginia Beach died in a motorcycle crash on Land of Promise Road in Chesapeake Saturday night, the Daily Press reported.

Many details of the crash are not yet clear. Hines, 43, was riding in the 1100 block of Land of Promise Road when he crashed and was thrown from his motorcycle, the newspaper said.

Rescuers were called to the crash scene at 9:18 p.m., The Virgnian-Pilot reported. The crash happened about a half-mile east of Centreville Turnpike in rural southern Chesapeake.

Hines was pronounced dead at the scene, a Chesapeake Police Department spokeswoman told WVEC-TV.

Hines lived in the 5400 block of Blue Knob Road in Virginia Beach.

The crash was the fourth fatal motorcycle accident in Chesapeake in 2009 and the 17^th overall in Southside Hampton Roads, according to a database of fatal crashes maintained by The Virginian-Pilot.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has these tips to keep motorcycle riders safe:

– Be visible. Have a working headlight and tail light, wear reflective materials, don’t be afraid to use your horn and keep in mind that drivers often have a hard time seeing motorcyclists.

– Apply effective mental strategies. Always watch for changes in road conditions, keep time and safety margins generous, give other motorists time to see you, don’t ride when tired, follow the rules of the road, and don’t exceed the speed limit.

Chinese drywall homeowners losing insurance

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)20364 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

As lawsuits connected to toxic Chinese drywall continue to grind through legal system, homeowners across the country are still dealing with the fallout, ABC News reports.

A U.S. District Court judge in New Orleans is presiding over a number of the lawsuits, a process that is expected to take years. A procedural hearing was held last week.

Meanwhile, homeowners are still searching for help and for answers.

James and Maria Ivory thought their new home in Punta Gorda, Fla. smelled like rotten eggs when the moved in. But before long, metal in their home started to turn black and corrode. The couple also developed respiratory problems.

“The irritated nose, the irritated throat, the irritated asthma, the massive headaches, these are all attributed to the smell of the Chinese drywall,” James Ivory said to ABC.

It can cost $100,000 to replace a home’s drywall; homeowners are making claims with their homeowners insurance, but most claims are rejected.

“In everyone’s home policy it says the insurer does not have to pay in the event of faulty construction or materials or poor workmanship,” Michael Barry, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute, told ABC.

An insurance company, Citizens Property Insurance, told ABC’s Good Morning America program that it is beginning to cancel homeowner’s insurance held by people whose homes have toxic Chinese drywall.

“This is an unfortunate situation, but it is important to remember that homeowners [insurance] only covers certain services – it is not a warranty service,” the company told ABC.

Smithfield man dies in two-vehicle crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)20362 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Rudolph Aussner of Smithfield died last week in a two-vehicle crash on Virginia Route 10, WAVY-TV reported.

Aussner, 89, a native of Germany, lived in Smithfield. A Virginia State Police spokeswoman told WAVY that Aussner lost control of his 2004 Dodge Intrepid as he drove west down Route 10 just before noon on Thursday.

The Intrepid spun around and collided head-on with a 2002 Ford Explorer. The Explorer’s driver and a passenger, both women, suffered only minor injuries.

Aussner was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 4 p.m., The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Aussner lived in the 14000 block of Bethany Church Road in Smithfield, according to the Daily Press. The crash happened about a mile east of the intersection with Fairway Drive. Aussner was not wearing a seat belt, WAVY reported.

Aussner was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1927. He fought in World War II and was a member of American Legion Post 49 in Smithfield, according to his obituary published in The Pilot.

Aussner was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Aussner; the couple was married for 60 years.

Aussner attended church services at Bethany United Methodist Church, and he was a metal detector enthusiast.

Suffolk man dies in I-664 crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)20091 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Webster F. Keck of Suffolk died Thursday morning when the pickup truck he was driving was struck by a car on Interstate 664 in Chesapeake, WVEC-TV reported.

The driver of the other car, Seth Arnold Bailey, 61, was charged with reckless driving, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

Keck, 72, was driving a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck that was pulling an RV trailer, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman told WVEC.

Keck was headed south on I-664 near the Interstate 64 interchange at Bowers Hill when his truck was struck by a Volkswagen Jetta that was pulling onto the travelled portion of the road from the shoulder.

The pickup and trailer jackknifed, and the pickup crashed into the ditch.

Keck died at the scene of the crash, the Daily Press of Newport News reported. His unidentified passenger was taken to an area hospital. Bailey, the driver of the Jetta, was also hospitalized.

Keck lived in the 400 block of Kingsale Road in Suffolk. Bailey lives in the 100 block of Huron Drive in Portsmouth.

A dog that was in one of the autos involved was also killed.

The crash, coming at the end of the morning rush hour, backed up traffic on I-664 for several miles. Only one southbound lane was open at one point, according to The Pilot.

The crash also happened on wet roads during what turned into a morning of steady rain.

Georgia sailor dies in Chesapeake motorcycle crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)20002 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Navy sailor and Georgia native Clifton Heard died Tuesday in a Chesapeake motorcycle crash after he and another rider were allegedly speeding.

Heard, 26, was riding his motorcycle in the 4000 block of Holly Cove Drive in Chesapeake’s Bowers Hill area when the crash happened at about 5:15 p.m., WVEC-TV reported.

Witnesses told police that both motorcycles were speeding, struck each other, and then stuck a parked vehicle.

At least one – and possibly both – motorcycles then struck a concrete utility pole, breaking it.

"They was racing and what not and a burgundy Expedition had came in the way and so one of them tried to swerve and hit the light pole, which you can see, and the other one just slid,” an unidentified witness told WAVY-TV.

Heard, a native of Winterville, Ga., was stationed at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Fort Story. He was wearing a helmet, according to the Daily Press of Newport News.

The other motorcyclist – a 30-year-old man unidentified so far – is hospitalized with head injuries at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet, WVEC reported. There has been no further word on his condition.

Police closed Holly Cove Drive for several hours after the crash, stringing police tape across the street as officers investigated the crash.

The crash was the third fatal motorcycle crash in Chesapeake in 2009 and the 11^th fatal motorcycle crash in South Hampton Roads since June 1, according to a Virginian-Pilot database of fatal motorcycle crashes.

Warner, others tour Chinese drywall-tainted homes in Hampton Roads

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19961 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

A group of lawmakers and federal officials trekked through toxic Chinese drywall-laden properties in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Monday in an effort to learn more about a growing problem, the Associated Press reported.

The drywall sickens residents and corrodes household metal – from wiring to pipes to appliances. No one knows how many homes contain the tainted drywall, and no one knows how much it will cost to replace the drywall – or whether it will be cheaper to simply demolish newly-built homes and condominiums.

One homebuilder, Helen Dragas, told lawmakers Monday that her company – The Dragas Cos. – is spending more than $5 million, or $70,000 per unit, on repairing 73 condos it built in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.

Dragas spoke with Sen. Mark Warner, U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, and Inez Tenenbaum, chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The group inspected three homes built by Dragas at the Hampshires in Greenbrier, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Tenenbaum told the newspaper that while her agency is in the midst of a $3 million investigation of Chinese drywall, it doesn't have the money to help builders or homeowners. That, she said, will have to come from Congress.

While Tenenbaum spoke highly of the Dragas effort, the newspaper reported, she did not give their work the agency's imprimatur.

"I'm not going to make any presumptions just on a tour," Tenenbaum told the Pilot. "We're waiting for the science to inform us of what the issues are."

Virginia mom dead, kids hurt after crash outside Fredericksburg

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19932 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Emily Howell of rural Fredericksburg died Sunday night when her car was struck by a Corvette at a rural King George County intersection in Virginia's Northern Neck, The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg reported.

The driver of the Corvette, Michael A. Murphy of Waldorf, Md., was charged with reckless driving.

Howell, 34, was declared dead at the scene. Her two children, ages 3 and 5, were taken to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash happened at the intersection of Caledon Road and Lambs Creek Church Road, the newspaper said, about 10 miles east of Fredericksburg.

Howell was headed north on Lambs Creek Church Road – also known as State Route 694 – when she came to a stop sign at Caldeon Road, also known as State Route 218, the newspaper said.

It was after Howell started to enter the intersection from the stop sign when her 1992 Acura Legend collided with the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Murphy.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts, the newspaper said. Murphy, 27, suffered only minor injuries.

The crash happened at around 7 p.m. Sunday, shortly after sunset and when visibility can often be most difficult, as the eyes transition from daylight to darkness.

Both roads are two-lane roads and meet at a T-intersection, though a right turn lane has been built for westbound Caledon drivers to turn into a newly-built housing development on the north side of the road.

Authorities, aided by the Virginia State Police’s crash investigation team, continue to investigate the accident.

Virginia Beach man dead after police chase

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19869 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Virginia Beach man died early Saturday after he led police on a high-speed chase with speeds of 100 miles an hour – a chase that passed close to the man’s home.

Reginald M. Butler, 34, was thrown from his car after it crashed into the home at 1701 Chilhowie Circle, WVEC-TV reported.

The chase started around 2 a.m. when Virginia Beach police tried to pull Butler over for speeding at Princess Anne Road and Lynnhaven Parkway.

Butler would not pull over, WAVY-TV reported, and the chase began.

Butler and his pursuers drove west on Lynnhaven, The Virginian-Pilot said. But shortly after crossing Indian River Road, Butler lost control of his car. He went off he road to the right, the newspaper said, overcorrected, went off the road to the left and rolled over.

Butler crashed into Mary Lumpkin’s home; she said it wasn’t the first accident on her corner, but nothing like early Saturday.

“I’m not normally afraid and this has shaken me,” Lumpkin told WVEC.

Several windows in the Lumpkin home were shattered, WVEC said.

Butler lived in the 1600 block of Handcross Way. Butler passed the corner of Handcross and Lynnhaven in the midst of the chase.

It is not known why Butler would not stop.

Saturday’s chase is not the first high-profile chase that Virginia Beach police have been involved in. On Sept. 25, they chased a man from Diamond Springs Road into Norfolk and back into Virginia Beach. Other law-enforcement agencies were also involved.

Newport News car-van crash fatal to local woman

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19867 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Rosa Lee Lewellen of Newport News died Friday afternoon after she was thrown from a van during a crash in Newport News.

Lewellen, 78, was riding inside a full-size Dodge van when it crashed into a Ford Taurus, the Daily Press of Newport News reported.

The accident happened at about 5 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Balthrope Road and Ridgewood Parkway, the newspaper said.

Lewellen was one of four people in the van. She was thrown from a rear window and pronounced dead a the scene. The other people in the van, ages 68 to 75, were not hurt, WAVY-TV reported. The driver of the van was a 69-year man who was not identified, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

The driver of the Taurus – who was not identified – was also unhurt, the TV station said.

The Newport News Police Deaprtment’s Serious Complex Accident Team was investigating the accident. The team, according to the Newport News Police Department’s Web site, is made up of officers with specialized advanced crash accident and reconstruction skills.

The Daily Press reported that no citations had been issued in connection with the crash as of Saturday.

Lewellen lived close to the crash scene, in Fauquier Place.

Lewellen’s death comes three months after the death of her husband of 58 years, Thomas Arthur Lewellen, according to his obituary.

Hampton Roads drywall woes garner national attention

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19778 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

While some Hampton Roads homeowners trekked to Washington, D.C. Thursday to meet with lawmakers about toxic Chinese drywall issues, a Williamsburg man was featured in a New York Times story about how the toxic drywall has ruined his life.

Bill Morgan paid $383,000 for his home in the Wellington Estates development in Williamsburg, The Times reported. But he had to abandon the home and eventually declare bankruptcy because the toxic drywall made his family sick and ruined household appliances.

“My home is not worth the land it’s built on,” Morgan, a retired police officer, told the newspaper. One attorney quoted in the story estimated that as many as 100,000 homes need to be torn down.

At the same time, a contingent of Hampton Roads homeowners pressed their case in Washington with lawmakers and with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, WVEC-TV reported.

"Families in our states are, in many cases, watching their dream homes turn into nightmares," a letter from the lawmakers said.

The homeowners and lawmakers want federal agencies to give money to affected homeowners, from subsidized rent to people who have to move out of their homes to money to pay for people to remove the tainted wallboard from their homes.

Bill Morgan, the retired police officer in Williamsburg, still visits his now-former home to cut the grass.

“When I drive by my house, it breaks my heart,” Morgan told The Times.

Hampton man dies in dirt bike crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19764 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

A dirt bike accident in Hampton Wednesday morning left a local man dead, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Paul Douglas Gardner was riding his dirt bike in a grassy area along a drainage ditch near the Hampton-Newport News border. The Pilot reported that Gardner crashed into a culvert.

The accident happened behind Cay Street, just north of the Newmarket North Shopping Center.

Gardner and his bike were found in the water-filled ditch Wednesday morning; someone called Newport News police at 10:16 a.m.

Gardner lived on Searcy Drive at the Langley Mobile Home Village in Hampton. The Pilot reported that Gardner was 39, while the Daily Press of Newport News reported that he was 32.

Dirt bikes can present many dangers, even to trained riders. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers hands-on dirt bike safety courses across the country. The curriculum includes proper use of protective gear, controlling the motorcycle, smooth brake application, correct riding posture, risk management, counterblanacing, riding over obstacles, and how to successfully traverse a hill.

“Watch carefully for sharp bumps, holes, ruts or obstacles and be able to identify muddy, sandy, rocky, dusty and wet conditions so you can adjust your speed and riding style accordingly,” the foundation’s Web site advises. “A responsible rider stays out of trouble not simply by handling the machine well, but by being smart enough to stay out of risky situations in the first place.”

Western Virginia crane operator dies in workplace accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19595 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Safety investigators are looking into the drowning death Monday of Roger Dale Goad, who died while operating a crane in the Franklin County community of Burnt Chimney in western Virginia.

Goad, 55, of Henry was helping dismantle a dock on Smith Mountain Lake, a popular freshwater lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains, when his crane came off its base and fell into more than 50 feet of water, The Roanoke Times reported.

"It's still under investigation, but somehow the crane came loose from the barge and sank into the lake," Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Patrick Meeks told the newspaper.

Goad was working for Plyler Homes and Docks, a Moneta company that – according to its Web site – specializes in real estate development, home construction and dock construction in the Smith Mountain Lake area.

The company was in the process of replacing an old dock at a lake home on River Creek Road when the accident happened.

Goad, according to the Roanoke newspaper, was dismantling the wooden piles that anchored the dock. The crane was resting on a barge and weighed more than nine tons.

Two other workers – one on the barge and one on a tugboat – survived.

Goad’s sister-in-law, Gail Goad, told the newspaper that her brother-in-law had worked for Plyler for almost 40 years and had never held another job.

The U.S. Coast Guard is supposed to take over the investigation, and divers were expected to study the crane before it is raised from the lake’s floor.

Questions in Richmond after fatal bus-pedestrian accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19591 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Loucendia Reed Lambert was killed last week by a Richmond city transit bus, prompting a safety review at GRTC and questions about the bus driver.

Lambert, 55, of Disputanta in Prince George County, was walking to work when she was struck by a GRTC bus driven by Teresa A. Jones, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Jones, 46, has been a GRTC driver for three years and was charged with reckless driving in the wake of the fatal crash. She remains on administrative leave.

Jones was charged with reckless driving in a separate incident earlier this year when she was at the wheel of her personal vehicle. That reckless driving charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement that required her to attend driving school.

Police are reviewing evidence from the Sept. 30 bus accident, including surveillance tapes from the bus itself.

Lambert worked as a secretary in the Virginia Department of Public Health’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, the Richmond newspaper reported.

Eric Harrison, Lambert’s minister at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Petersburg, told the Richmond newspaper that Lambert devoted 70 hours a month to visiting the sick and elderly and to holding Bible studies.

"She was what we call a pioneer," Harrison said to the Times-Dispatch. "She was always out, always knocking on doors, visiting people. She really enjoyed helping others to learn about the Bible. That was the focus of her life, and it brought her joy to do that."

Pilot, Gloucester County residents escape injury after ultralight plane crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19523 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Some rural Gloucester County residents were shaken up Saturday afternoon when a small airplane crash-landed there on Clay Bank Road.

No one on the ground was hurt, and the pilot – identified as Michael Malone by Virginia State Police – walked away unhurt.

The crash happened around 2:40 p.m., WAVY-TV reported. Malone landed his H-2A Honey Bee ultralight aircraft after he ran out of gas.

“He had to have been a good pilot to have brought it down and not hit those power lines over top of the road and to land it the way he did and walk away… very lucky he had a guardian angel on his shoulder,” Sharon West, a witness, told WVEC-TV.

Malone missed electrical lines above the road but clipped a cable line.

Another witness, Hilda Corey, told the Daily Press of Newport News that Malone was worried about the post-crash condition of his airplane.

“I told him he was lucky to have survived,” Corey said to the newspaper. “He could have hit power lines.”

Malone was flying a single-engine, single-seat biplane designed for aerobatics, according to the Web site for Wicks Aircraft Supply in Highland, Ill.

The Virginia State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration both responded to the scene. An investigation is ongoing.

A Farquier County man died in August when his ultralight plane crashed into Lake Anna in Louisa County, WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. reported.

Law enforcement officer dies in Hampton boating accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19517 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

James Newsome, a North Carolina sheriff’s lieutenant, died Saturday in a boating accident on the Chesapeake Bay near Hampton, WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C. reported.

Newsome, 55, of Knightdale, N.C., was aboard a boat with friends near Hampton Saturday afternoon when the accident happened. The boat capsized, according to the Raleigh station. A tugboat was also involved, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission told the station, but did not disclose any other details.

Newsome was thrown into the water with three other people. Kenneth Evan, 57, Tilghman Hall, 70, and William Thompson, 73, were hospitalized with minor injuries at Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton.

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesman told The Virginian-Pilot that the fatal accident happened approximately one mile east of Fort Monroe.

The Coast Guard spokesman said the tugboat involved was pushing a barge, but said the investigation had not yet revealed the accident’s cause.

The four men were pulled from the water by passing boats with assistance from the Coast Guard, Hampton and Norfolk fire departments.

WVEC-TV reported that the men were taken to Old Point Comfort Marina at Fort Monroe.

Newsome was a detention officer with the Wake County Sheriff’s Department.

Boating crashes in Virginia are up significantly in 2009 over 2008, the Associated Press reported in September. As of Sept. 9, according to the AP story, there were 134 boating accidents offshore, in the Chesapeake Bay and in freshwater. In all of 2008 there were 95 crashes – the lowest total in 20 years.

Investigation continues into fatal dog attack in Orange County, Va.

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19448 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Central Virginia toddler Jasmine Deane died earlier this week when she was mauled by her family’s pit bull, according to The Daily Progress of Charlottesville.

Deane, 23 months old, was attacked by the family pit bull at her home on Beech Tree Road in Orange County, about 45 minutes northeast of Charlottesville. Deane was the daughter of Johnny Neal Deane, 26, and Kristy Jo Fincham, 23.

Deane wandered outside, where she was fatally attacked in the yard. Fincham was paying attention to something else and didn’t notice the girl go outside, according to the newspaper.

No charges have yet been filed in the case, according to the Free Lance-star of Fredericksburg. The newspaper quoted Commonwealth’s Attorney Diana Wheeler as saying that “we’re looking into the situation because of conflicting information we’ve gotten concerning the incident.”

The dog that killed Deane was not on Virginia's Dangerous Dog Registry. However, it is not clear how comprehensive the registry is; it does not list any dangerous dogs in Norfolk, Hampton or Suffolk and only two each in Virginia Beach and Newport News. Ten are listed in Portsmouth and seven in Chesapeake.

Deane was found by a relative and had suffered bites throughout her body. She was taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

The Orange County Review reported that there were 4,346 dog bite-related injuries treated in Virginia emergency rooms in 2007, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

N.F.L. study brings traumatic brain injury discussion to the forefront

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19447 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

A New York Times story this week about the frequency of Alzheimer’s disease among retired National Football League players is generating a lot of discussion about traumatic brain injury.

Alzheimer’s or comparable diseases that affect the memory has been diagnosed in far more retired players than in comparable parts of the general population.

Most notably, The Times reported, retired players age 30 to 49 receive such diagnoses 19 times more often that same-aged men in the general population.

“This is a game-changer — the whole debate, the ball’s now in the N.F.L.’s court,” a physician who has studied the issue told the newspaper.

The N.F.L. has argued that useful data about memory issues among retirees does not exist. An N.F.L. spokesman told the newspaper that the study had a number of limitations and that “there are thousands of retired players who do not have memory problems.”

As The Times noted, the study could have profound effects at the college and high school levels, where hundreds of concussions happen weekly – many undiagnosed and untreated.

In Hampton Roads, Ed Beard of Chesapeake played in the N.F.L. from 1965 to 1972. He suffered concussions in his playing days and now has memory loss, headaches, fatigue and depression, according to a 2008 story in the Virginian-Pilot.

Beard’s application for football-related disability payments was rejected by a board of N.F.L. officials and player union representatives. Instead, Beard is paid a lower non-football disability payment.

Suffolk athletes hurt in Isle of Wight bus crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19180 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Suffolk School Board is facing some hard questions after 11 students were hurt when their bus crashed and the driver charged with a traffic violation.

The crash happened around 8 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Carrollton Boulevard and Whippingham Parkway in rural Isle of Wight County, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

School spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw told the newspaper that the bus left the road and went into a median.

The driver was identified by WTKR-TV as Mary Jo Chaney. A Virginia State Police spokeswoman told the Daily Press that the driver was charged with failing to maintain a lane of travel.

The bus was carrying the King’s Fork High School field hockey team home from a game at Woodside High School in Newport News. Twenty players, along with their coaches, were on board.

Suffolk school officials are conducting their own investigation of the crash. Bradshaw, the school spokeswoman, told WTKR that there are no regulations for how long a school bus driver should be on the road. Chaney, she said, was driving in the morning and in the afternoon.

“They log in their hours, but there’s nothing that can tell if their eyelids are droopy,” Bradshaw told WTKR.

The crash happened as severe weather moved through Hampton Roads; a severe thunderstorm watch was in effect at the time, according to WAVY-TV.

The Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department was established as a pickup center for students who were not injured.

Chesapeake man dies in Suffolk motorcycle crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19131 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Austin Lee Sallinger of Chesapeake died Sunday evening when he lost control of his motorcycle on South Quay Road in Suffolk, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

Suffolk spokeswoman Debbie George told the Suffolk News-Herald that Sallinger, 52, was going over 100 miles an hour.

“I think it’s safe to say that speed was a factor,” George told the newspaper.

The crash happened in a rural part of Suffolk, near where South Quay Road crosses the Blackwater River.

After Sallinger lost control of his motorcycle, he ran off the road and struck a guardrail, according to the Suffolk newspaper.

Sallinger was pronounced dead at the scene, and the road was closed for several hours while the accident was investigated.

Sallinger, of the 4000 block of Maple Drive in Chesapeake, was a member of Western Branch Community Church and a past master of Seaboard Masonic Lodge 56, according to his obituary.

Sallinger was a mechanical contractor and owner of A.L. Sallinger LLC. His company has done work at Fort Eustis, Naval Station Norfolk, Fort Story, and elsewhere.

He is survived by his wife Darla Sallinger, daughters Jenny Thompson and Brittany Sallinger, sons Robert M. and Jeremy D. Sallinger, and others.

Funeral services are planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Sturtevant Funeral Home Portsmouth Boulevard Chapel.

Sallinger’s death is the 15^th – at least – fatal motorcycle accident in Southside Hampton Roads so far in 2009, according to a study by the Virginian-Pilot, and the second in Suffolk this month.

Toxic Chinese drywall concerns mount for lawmakers, homeowners

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19109 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Toxic Chinese drywall continues to be a concern for lawmakers and homeowners alike, with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia criticizing a federal regulatory agency for not investigating in a timely fashion.

"My constituents have had their lives turned upside down by Chinese drywall," Warner wrote in a letter to Inez Tenenbaum, the chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Most have moved out of their homes and several are facing the prospect of having to foreclose on their homes. They need the schedule of these test results in a concise, easy-to-read manner so they will understand what lies ahead."

Homeowners in Virginia and elsewhere have complained that the defective drywall causes illness and corrodes electrical systems by emitting a corrosive gas, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

A local supplier imported at least 150,000 sheets of the suspect drywall, according to the newspaper – 300 homes worth. The drywall has been found in housing developments throughout Hampton Roads.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing homeowners and homebuilders who bought the toxic drywall told the Associated Press that Chinese companies would probably ignore the lawsuits filed against them in the United States.

Around 300 lawsuits have been filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, according to the AP. Already, one Chinese company has been found in contempt of court for ignoring the suits.

Civil judgments in the U.S. are not enforceable in China, and suing through international courts takes considerable amounts of time and money.

One attorney has asked a judge to authorize seizure of a Chinese vessel that delivered the drywall.

Franklin man dies in Suffolk auto accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)19089 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

John K. Vann, 36, of Franklin died early Saturday in a single-car accident in rural Suffolk.

The accident – reported in the Suffolk News-Herald – happened near the intersection of Gates Road and Wildwood Drive, about six miles southeast of Franklin. Vann was the owner of Vann's Barbecue and Catering, according to his obituary.

Vann’s car crashed into an embankment, WVEC-TV reported, and flipped over several times. Vann was thrown from the car and died at the scene, officials told WVEC.

Many crashes where the auto rolls over and goes off the road stem from overcorrecting, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The NHTSA advises drivers to study the “rollover star rating” that the federal government assigns to each vehicle. Five stars represent vehicles least likely to roll over.

The agency also says that rollovers are more likely to occur on rural roads – 75 percent of all rollover crashes happen on rural roads, according to the agency.

Drivers on two-way roads, undivided roads or divided roads without barriers are especially at risk, according to the agency. Saturday’s crash happened on a two-way undivided road in rural Suffolk.

The agency recommends that a driver who leaves the road gradually reduce speed rather than swiftly and strongly braking. Once the vehicle has slowed to a manageable speed, carefully drive back onto the paved road.

Some autos include rollover air bags, safety devices that deploy in case of a rollover. They work in conjunction with seat belts – assuming the driver is belted – to keep the driver in place as the vehicle rolls.

Mother, daughter die in car-train accident on Norfolk Southern tracks in Stuarts Draft

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)18937 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

A car-train accident in the western Virginia community of Stuarts Draft has claimed the lives of 81-year-old Alice Virginia Butler and her 60-year-old daughter Glenda Faye Poore, The News Leader of Staunton reports.

Butler, of Greenville in Augusta County, was driving her 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt west on Offliter Road in Stuarts Draft when she tried to zig-zag through the lowered railroad crossing arms, the newspaper said.

The Cobalt was knocked sideways and pushed 35 feet from the road by an oncoming Norfolk Southern freight train. The car came to rest upside down, the newspaper said. Butler died as rescuers treated her at an air ambulance landing zone established at Calvary United Methodist Church; Poore, of Fishersville, died at the scene.

A Virginia State Police sergeant told the newspaper that the train’s engineer and conductor said the car’s driver failed to yield to the oncoming train. A third witness, in a car behind Butler’s car, said the same thing.

Residents near the crossing told WHSV-TV of Harrisonburg that they believe the crossing malfunctions several times a day; specifically, the crossing arms lower when there is no train nearby.

When this happens, residents said, they have to zig-zag around the crossing arms.

The investigation involves the Virginia State Police, the National Transportation Safety Board, the State Corporation Commission and the railroad itself, WTVR-TV in Richmond reported.

The crash isn’t the only recent fatal car-train accident in the Augusta County town of Stuarts Draft. In November 2008, a Ford Escort driven by 84-year-old Gordon Hunter Sr. was struck at another crossing by a Norfolk Southern train. Hunter was killed as well.

Hampton Roads-area woman dies in North Carolina boating accident

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)18844 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Maria Lassiter of South Mills, N.C. died Sunday in what appears to be a boating accident near Weeksville, N.C., the Virginian-Pilot reported.

Lassiter, 45, was apparently boating with her husband on the Pasquotank River near Little Flatty Creek in North Carolina when the accident happened, the U.S. Coast Guard told the newspaper.

Authorities received a report of a boat going in circles with no one aboard – but with two people in the water, according to the Pilot.

The Coast Guard found Armstead Lassiter, 45, walking in waist-deep water and carrying his unconscious wife. The pair was transported to Albemarle Hospital, where Maria Lassiter was pronounced dead.

A North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission officer told The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City, N.C. that the pair was in a 19-foot Carolina Skiff headed toward the Albemarle Sound when the boat took a hard turn, throwing both people into the water at around 2:45 p.m.

The water was calm Sunday and the skies clear, Sgt. Mark Rich of the commission said to the newspaper, so weather appears to be unconnected to the accident’s cause. Rich said he is investigating the accident’s cause, but the inquiry will take some time.

Rich added that drugs or alcohol were apparently not involved, according to WVEC-TV.

Lassiter was born in the Philippines in 1963 and worked as a merchandising planner at Navy Exchange Service Command, according to the obituary published Wednesday in the Virginian-Pilot. A funeral Mass is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the Great Bridge Chapel of Oman Funeral Home & Crematory at 653 Cedar Road in Chesapeake.

Goodman, Weeks families mourn after fatal Chesapeake crash on I-664

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)18836 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

The families of Annie Goodman and Thompson Weeks, killed in a crash on Interstate 664 in Chesapeake, continue to mourn a week after the fatal accident.

Goodman’s Chevrolet Cavalier was southbound on I-664 on Sept. 16 when it began to weave and left the road, the Virginian-Pilot reported. The Virginia State Police told the newspaper that Goodman’s car crossed the median and went into oncoming traffic near the Dock Landing Road interchange.

Goodman’s car hit a car driven by Thompson Cody Weeks. Weeks, 53, of Portsmouth, was driving a Chrysler PT Cruiser north.

A Virginia State Police spokesman told the Pilot that why Goodman went off the road isn’t known.

A Suffolk resident, Goodman died at the scene. Weeks died in surgery after being airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The Daily Press reported that Weeks died about six hours after the accident.

Goodman, 65, lived in the 1800 block of East Washington Street in Suffolk, according to an obituary published in the Daily Press. A Nansemond County native, Goodman worked in Hampton as a mold prep operator at Alcoa Howmet. Goodman was also active at New First Baptist Church in Suffolk, where she served in many roles.

Obituary information for Weeks was not available.

The crash closed the highway for several hours, WVEC-TV reported, and traffic was almost backed up to the High Rise Bridge. The road was reopened around 11 a.m.

Newport News man dies in motorcycle crash

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)18718 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Newport News man was killed Friday night when the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a house, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

Jason W. Archer was pronounced dead at an area hospital after the crash. Archer, 29, was riding south on Aster Way when he apparently lost control and struck a home at the corner of Aster Way and Angelina Way. Archer lived in the Kingstowne Apartments on Blake Loop in the Oyster Point section of Newport News.

"The investigation revealed that the victim was riding a motorcycle without a helmet on Aster Way when he lost control and struck a home in the first block of Angelina Way," a Newport News police spokeswoman told the Daily Press.

WVEC-TV reported that Archer was not wearing a helmet.

The summer of 2009 has been a deadly one for motorcyclists. According to a Virginian-Pilot database of motorcycle crashes, there have been at least 11 fatal motorcycle accidents since the beginning of May. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has these safety tips for motorcyclists:

• Be visible. Drivers have a hard time seeing motorcyclists at night, so always use headlights. Wear reflective materials, and be aware of blind spots.

• Dress for safety. Wear a helmet and eye protection, wear protective clothing, and remember that only clothing will be between you and the road in the event of an accident.

• Apply effective mental strategies. Always watch for changing conditions, give motorists the opportunity and time to see you, and give yourself the time and opportunity to respond to autos or obstructions.

FedEx worker dies in rollover truck crash in Chesapeake

mike@mcnarney.com (Blog Author)18716 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Virginia Beach Web designer who had started a new job with FedEx was killed Friday afternoon when the truck he was riding in rolled over on Fentress Airfield Road in Chesapeake, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

Andrew Copeland, 38, of Virginia Beach, was thrown from the truck during the crash, which happened at about 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Copeland was a passenger in the truck, the newspaper reported, and was training a new driver when the accident happened. The driver, headed south, swerved to avoid oncoming traffic, a Chesapeake police spokesman told the Pilot. The truck left the road and rolled.

WVEC-TV reported that the driver pulled to the side of the road to allow traffic pass, but ran off the road, overcorrected, and lost control, triggering the rollover.

WAVY-TV reported that it was not known whether either person was wearing a seat belt.

Copeland’s widow, Rhonda, said to the newspaper that he took the FedEx job after his Web design business – Web Design by Cope LLC – slowed.

“He loved technology, computers and things like that,” Rhonda Copeland told the Pilot. “He was real friendly, outgoing, always talking to people.” Andrew Copeland, in a video he posted to YouTube last year, discusses the Web design services he offers.

FedEx spokesman David Westrick told the Pilot that both men – the driver remains unidentified and was treated for minor injuries – worked for a FedEx Ground contractor.

“Our thoughts and prayers and condolences go out to their families and friends,” Westrick said, according to the Pilot. “Our goal right now is to figure out what happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Chinese Drywall found in Newport News, Virginia Homes

rserpe@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)18565 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

While Atlantic Homes is only in the inspection phase, there is a very good chance that they will turn up several homes that were built with Chinese drywall. Many homeowners in the community have already contacted the builder with concerns over failing appliances and other problems that are often times related to defective drywall.

Click Here to View the Article

Football Study Finds Linkage Between Multiple Concussions and Dementia

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17562 — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

With the football season about to go into full swing, warnings continue to reverberate about traumatic brain injury on the gridiron.

Earlier this year, Boston University School of medicine researchers as reported by CNN and other news outlets found extensive brain damage in six deceased former National Football League players.

The study also found the initial stages of the degenerative condition, known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), in an 18-year-old athlete who had suffered multiple concussions.

View the rest of the article here...

Charlottesville Area To Get Red Light Cameras

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17561 — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Lawmakers in Albemarle County Virginia have authorized the installation of cameras at major area intersections to catch drivers running red lights.

The Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance earlier this month.

Albemarle County Police Chief John F. Miller commented that he anticipates the cameras will significantly decrease accidents. “We hope
we save people from being involved in crashes and being hurt and turning their lives upside down.”

The dangerous intersection of Rio Road and U.S. 29 would likely be the first Albemarle County location to get a camera if the county's plan is approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

View the Entire Article Here...

Motorcycle Accident Fatalities Higher than 2008

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17272 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

2009 is tragically emerging as a record-setting year for Virginia motorcycle fatalities in the Hampton Roads area. According to the Virginia Pilot, more than twice as many people have been killed in motorcycle wrecks in Norfolk/Virginia beach and surrounding communities so far this year than in all of 2008.

Two men died last weekend in separate Virginia Beach crashes–marking the fourth time this year that police have investigated multiple motorcycle fatalities within a week–bringing the local fatality total to 13.

In 2008, six persons died in local motorcycle accidents.

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The Link Between Pain Pumps and PAGCL

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)17157 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis is a condition that occurs in the shoulder when cartilage deteriorates and bones grind together. There are many likely causes for PAGCL, one of which is the usage of shoulder pain pumps. The pumps are often used following arthroscopic surgery and inject pain anesthetics into the shoulder. The American Journal of Sports Medicine and Dr. Charles Beck conducted studies that proved a significant connection with intra-articular (directly in the shoulder joint) use of pain pumps and the deterioration of cartilage in the shoulder.

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Seizures – A Serious Symptom of Brain Damage

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17156 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

While there may be numerous indications of brain damage in patients who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, the manifestation of seizures after an accident in a person who has not previously experienced such a condition is a sign of brain damage. Given the debilitating nature of epilepsy, much research is currently being conducted to produce better and more efficient drugs.

It is important for victims and loved ones to understand the classification of symptoms in relation to brain injuries. “Immediate” (aka Impact) symptoms are felt at the time of the accident or blow to the head. “Early” symptoms are experienced within a few days to weeks, and “Late” symptoms are felt within months to years of the injury.

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Blue food dye offers promise as spinal cord drug

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17155 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

The compound known as Brilliant Blue G (BBG) (the agent that gives M&Ms, Gatorade, and other products their blue appearance) has been linked by researchers to a reduction in “secondary damage” caused by spinal cord injuries.

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center discovered that injecting BBG into rats with damaged spinal cords allowed the otherwise disabled rodents to walk again. The only noted side effect was that the treated animals literally turned blue, albeit temporarily.

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Nationwide Mobile Texting Ban May Be On The Horizon

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17154 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Car accidents brought about by distracted or reckless drivers cause serious injuries and death every day across the state of Virginia. Lives have been ruined and families devastated by reckless or inattentive motorists.

In the immediate wake of the Virginia Tech University study showing that a texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into an accident than a non-distracted driver, the U.S. Senate may take action to implement a nationwide ban on mobile texting.

On July 29, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and three other colleagues introduced a bill that would ban any driver from texting on a cell phone or other personal electronic device.

View the Entire Article Here...

Virginia Municipality Says Medians Off Limits to Motorists and Pedestrians

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17153 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

In a stated effort to protect the safety of motorists and pedestrians from personal injury, Virginia Beach no longer allows panhandling and other similar activities on concrete medians and dividers within the city limits. Persons and vehicles among the general public must avoid occupying a roadway median under the newly passed ordinance.

In other words, standing or driving on medians is against the law in Virginia Beach.

The City Council apparently concluded that the measure was necessary to reduce the possibility of car accidents or even pedestrians being run over in these areas.

View the Article...

Feds Announce Distracted Driving Summit Meeting

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17151 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

With text messaging behind the wheel posing an increasing threat to roadway safety in Virginia and around the country, the federal government will hold a summit conference in September to study the dangers of distracted drivers.

A recent Virginia Tech study indicated that a texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into an accident than a non-distracted motorist.

Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation, various authorities–including administration officials, lawmakers, safety advocates, police, and academics–will convene in Washington, DC to discuss ideas about how to combat distracted driving.

Click to View the Article...

Reports of Chinese drywall received from U.S. territories; Florida protocol offers hope

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17150 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

As recently reported by Thechinesedrywalllawyer.com, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released an updated supplemental status report which is aimed at providing consumers information regarding the current and upcoming investigations surrounding the influx in consumer issues with potentially defective drywall from China. In case you missed it, view the report here.

The CPSC stated in its report that the exportation of Chinese drywall reaches further than solely the continental United States – Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa also were included in the report as locations where residents have filed reports with the agency. 28,778 sheets were imported in to the three above mentioned locations during 2006. Diligence, however, is within the purview of the agency – the CPSC has indicated that investigators intend to visit on-site locations in China starting today – Monday August 17.

Click to View the Article...

Chinese Drywall: One Virginia Homeowner's Dilemma

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17149 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

A retired Newport News police officer is one of many Virginians living the nightmare of Chinese drywall. He and his family moved into — and then out of — their dream home in the Wellington subdivision of James City because of drywall issues.

The officer, a cancer survivor, and his family, including a daughter who also survived cancer, now live in a trailer.

According to a published report in the Virginia Gazette, his house was confirmed as containing drywall that releases corrosive sulfur gas. In addition, corrosion has wiped out many electric devices in the home, and turned his wife’s jewelry black.

Click to View the Article...

Feds Seek to Close Loopholes Protecting Overseas Manufacturers

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17147 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

In response to the Chinese drywall crisis, a bi-partisan group of U.S. Senators introduced a bill on August 6 that could make it easier for U.S. consumers to sue foreign manufacturers for defective products, including Chinese drywall.

Homeowners in Virginia and several other states have been particularly hard hit by toxic drywall.

To get around technicalities and hurdles that can block legal authority over foreign companies doing business here, the proposed legislation would bring foreign manufacturers--such as those responsible for introducing Chinese drywall into the U.S. construction industry--within the scope of the American justice system.

Click to View the Article...

Lead Poisoning Sickens Hundreds in China

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17010 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Contrary to popular belief, lead poisoning is still a big problem in many parts of the world. It may not be as common as it was several decades ago, but it is something to be aware of nonetheless. If you have been keeping up with the news, you have probably heard that roughly 600 children in China were recently sickened by lead poisoning. No, this is not in the United States. But who is to say where this may happen next?

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Nationwide Mobile Texting Ban May Be On The Horizon

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17009 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

View the Article...

Virginia Drivers Charged In DUI Deaths

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17006 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Two recent accidents on Virginia roadways serve as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of alleged drunk driving, and that car accidents brought about by distracted or impaired drivers cause serious injuries and death every day across the state of Virginia.

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Medtronic Pacemaker Recall: Your Legal Rights

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17005 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Were you affected by one of the roughly 21,000 Medtronic pacemakers that were recalled in May 2009? If so, you need to know your legal rights. In other words, you may be able to take action against Medtronic to be compensated for this serious problem. As you know, your pacemaker is very important to your overall level of health. Living with one that is defective can lead to serious problems and even death.

View the Article...

Inquisition, diligence, and communication with an attorney needed to preserve rights

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17004 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

As if poisonous toys were not enough for negligent Chinese manufacturers to export to the west, thousands of American citizens have recently been reacquainted with the possibility that their lives may be adversely affected by the exportation of hazardous Chinese products. The daunting prospect that homes potentially contain Chinese drywall is a cause for urgent concern, as it is suspected by many to be the cause of a plethora of illnesses and symptoms.

Drywall- Strontium sulfide a possible health hazard when released as gas

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17002 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Among various toxic substances reportedly present in some Chinese drywall, is a phosphor known as strontium sulfide. Sometimes used as an additive in firework displays, it produces a bright red flame when ignited. The chemical is specifically required to be labeled by the U.S. Department of Transportation as hazardous when shipped in packages, trucks, or railroads due to its potential risk. Strontium sulfide reacts with acids, and releases a gas which may lead to skin irritation. More disturbingly, the compound possesses an explosion risk and fire hazard...

Chinese drywall woes continue in Virginia

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)17000 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

In this day and age, judging a house by its exterior is akin to judging a book by its cover. Pristine on the outside, James City resident Bill Morgan recently discovered contaminated Chinese drywall as the source of his worst nightmares - foul smelling odors, the inexplicable corrosion of his household appliances, and the mystery of his wife’s jewelry literally developing a black residue...

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Critical Updates on Defective Drywall in Virginia

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)16793 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Host: The Virginia Accident Lawyers
Type: Meetings - Informational Meeting
Price: FREE
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library
Street: 111 W. Oceanview
City/Town: Norfolk, VA
Phone: 7572330009
Email: rcohen@serpefirm.com

Critical Updates on Defective Drywall in Virginia

Topics
- CPSC's Local Investigations
- Remediation Update for Residents in Dragas Homes
- Update on Court Hearings in State Court Cases
- Update on the Virginia Germano Class Action (Federal)
- Recent Chinese Drywall Discoveries in Virginia
- Statues of the MDL in New Orleans (Federal)
- Upcoming Scientific Testing of Homes in Virginia

Question & Answer

VA, FL legislators seeking tax relief for Chinese drywall victims

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)16494 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Last month, the Internal Revenue Service implemented special tax deductions for homeowners severely affected by Chinese drywall. United States Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) wrote to the agency in June, claiming that deductions would be necessary to relieve the enormous financial burden faced by many of his constituents with Chinese drywall. Such tax breaks, according to Webb's statement, would be permissible on the premise that drywall damages fall under the category of "casualty losses"--losses of property not connected with a trade or business or a transaction entered into for profiit, if such losses arise from fire, storm, shipwreck or other casualty or from theft. Congressman Glenn Nye (D-VA), who signed on to Webb's letter, claimed that the damages caused by defective drywall are "just as severe as any fire or flood" and that homeowners should be entitled to the same financial protection as fire and flood victims. Webb's letter also earned endorsement from Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bill Nelson (D-FL). Thanks to congressional initiative, distressed homeowners with defective drywall now have some financial recourse.

Scammers Cashing In on Chinese Drywall Crisis

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)16422 — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has advised his constituents to beware of scamming operations borne from the current Chinese drywall hysteria pervading the Southeast. McCollum has received numerous reports of scams offering phony tests to determine the presence of Chinese drywall and false remedies for the damages caused by it. Some of these supposed "cures" for defective drywall--such as ozone generators and spray-on products--have actually been shown to accelerate the damaging effects of defective drywall; yet con artists have been successful in marketing such products to distressed homeowners throughout Florida. Other scammers are masquerading as scientific "experts," charging exorbitant fees for phony home inspections. McCollum advised homeowners to be particularly wary of "experts" who soliicit their services via phone calls and door-to-door advertisement. While it is unclear whether the wave of scamming has hit Virginia, it is certainly important that all homeowners in areas affected by Chinese drywall be aware of this fraudulent activity.

Hampton Roads homebuilder under scrutiny for alleged use of Chinese drywall

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)16343 — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Virginia Beach-based homebuilders Dragas Management Corp. have been named in numerous Chinese drywall complaints. Owners of Dragas-built homes in The Hampshires at Greenbrier in Chesapeake and Cromwell Park in Virginia Beach have reported a rotten-egg odor and significant corrosion of metal in their homes. Dragas responded to the complaints by agreeing to inspect nearly every home it built in the two neighborhoods; after some inspection the company released a statement claiming that the drywall it installed in those homes "appears to emit elevated levels of sulfur compounds that may corrode air conditioning coils, any may damage other mechanical and electrical systems over time." The company also stated that the wallboard in question was imported in 2006 and that Dragas Management had no knowledge of its defects. Furthermore, the builder is now offering to repair the homes in order to circumvent seemingly imminent litigation. The saga of Dragas Management is closely tied to now-defunct materials distributor Venture Supply Inc., the alleged supplier of defective drywall to Dragas; Venture closed its doors on June 30 due to widespread allegations of distributing Chinese drywall, and has recently been named in Proto v. Venture Supply Inc., the first Chinese drywall suit to make it to court in Virginia. The Dragas controversy is the latest development in Southeastern Virginia's growing Chinese drywall dilemma.

Fatal Kiteboarding Accident in North Carolina

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)15559 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Gusty winds proved deadly for a Canadian kiteboarder riding in Pamlico Sound on Easter weekend. Ontario resident Timothy Holman was kiteboarding near Avon, NC around 6 p.m. on April 11 when a severe weather front arrived abruptly, causing the wind to gust from about 15 mph to 35 mph in a matter of seconds. The sudden turbulence swept up Holman, who then fell approxiamtely 40 feet and was dragged across the water by his kite; he was face-down in the water by the time help arrived. Carl Giordano, marketing director of Hatteras-based company Real Watersports, claimed that Holman's only mistake was neglecting to get out of the water before the weather front arrived. "The weather came in fast--you could see it on the horizon," he said, "[but] that front was predicted all day." The incident, which is the first fatal kiteboarding accident on Hatteras Island, serves as a cautionary tale to all watersports enthusiasts who court the volatile weather of the Outer Banks.

Local Supplier of Defective Chinese Drywall Shuts Down

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)15361 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Norfolk- based wallboard distributor Venture Supply Inc. and its installation company Porter-Blaine Corp officially closed on June 30. The companies imported and installed defective Chinese drywall at the peak of the housing boom from 2006-2008, and are now facing a number of lawsuits for their negligence; the president of the companies, Sam Porter, has stated that involvement in the Chinese drywall controversy wiped out business. To the allegations of gross negligence, Porter says he had no reason to believe the imported drywall was defective. He had planned to lease out a portion of the Venture warehouse to stay afloat through the drywall crisis, but his bank recently foreclosed and seized his assets, leaving him little choice but to close Venture's doors. Despite his dismal financial situation, Porter maintains that he will not file for bankruptcy--he intends to pay his dues in their entirety, even though "it's going to wipe me out," he claims.

U Cn't Txt & Drv in VA Nemore l Virginia Bans Texting and Emailing while Driving

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)15114 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Virginia state legislators have recognized that texting and emailing while driving is a major distraction to drivers. The Virginian Pilot reported that in 2008, distracted driver crashes totaled 28,395 which led to 114 deaths.

This is why it is now illegal to text or e-mail while operating a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The ban will be a secondary offense, which means officers may not cite you for this offense unless you are being stopped for another violation. The first offense will hold a $20 fine and a $50 fine will be enforced thereafter.

There are a few exemptions from this new law. Any drivers that are parked, reporting an emergency, using GPS devices, and emergency vehicle operators will not be fined.

A study by Car and Driver Magazine, which involved recording reaction times when texting and driving, concluded that texting while driving proved to significantly decrease reaction time, even more so than drinking and driving.

PAGCL l Pain Pump Lawsuits Adding Up l Dangerous Products Lawyer

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)15108 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Pain pumps are small devices used in the post surgical treatment of should injuries. Through a catheter, pain pumps inject anesthetics into the shoulder for approximately 72 hours after the surgery.

Pain pump manufacturers have come under fire lately because they have incorrectly instructed surgeons to inset the catheters directly into the shoulder joint. The Food and Drug Administration never approved of pain pump manufacturers instructions.

With over 100 lawsuits filed in at least 21 states, the litigation is gaining a full head of steam. According to a firm located in Maryland, in recent cases lawyers have made the anesthetic manufacturers just as liable as the pain pump manufacturers. Some of the most popular anesthetic companies include AstraZeneca, Hospira, APP Pharmaceuticals, and Abbott Labs.

Although it is harder to prove guilt, lawyers are still adding them to their depositions because they knew their products were being used in the pain pumps. The safety of the patients should have been examined by pain pump manufacturers and anesthetic manufacturers. Due to the fact that the patient's safety was not considered they acted in a negligent manner.

2 Women File against Pain Pump Manufacture

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)15106 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

A firm located in Montgomery, Alabama reported that they have filed two pain pump lawsuits for post shoulder surgery patients cause severe damage to patients' upper extremities.

The plaintiffs in the two cases are Laura Ashworth and Sheri Patrick. Mrs. Ashworth underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery and was treated with the On-Q Painbuster at the end of her surgery. The pain pump was inserted into the space above her shoulder joint and was given anesthetics. Ashworth re-injured her shoulder a few years later and underwent the same operation. During this recovery time the pain pump was inserted into her shoulder joint. This method has proved dangerous and can cause the patient to develop chondrolysis. Mrs. Patrick underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery and after her surgery she was implanted too with the On-Q Painbuster. She underwent the same procedure a few years later and was treated with the On-Q Painbuster.

Pain pumps are designed to help patients recover safely, yet they now have been linked with causing chondrolysis. Both women above developed chondrolysis. Mrs. Ashworth will eventually need a complete shoulder replacement while Mrs. Patrick has already received a replacement and will most likely need several more operations. The American Journal of Sports Medicine has identified intra-articular pain pumps as the cause of chondrolysis. The lawsuits that have been filed are alleging that pain pump manufacturer of I-Flow Corporation knew that its product had not been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration but still promoted the product to physicians.

Pain Pump Lawsuit Patrick vs I-Flow Corporation

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)14609 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Sheri Patrick underwent arthroscopic surgery on her shoulder on September 2, 2004 and was treated with the On-Q Painbuster after her surgery. The pain pump is manufactured by the I-Flow Corporation and provided medication directly into her shoulder joint. Another surgery was needed approximately two and a half years later and as before the On-Q Painbuster was implanted into her shoulder joint.

It is intended that the pain pump help with the recovery of patients after they have a shoulder surgery, but the pain pumps are being used in the wrong way according to the Food & Drug Administration. I-Flow Corporation instructs surgeons to implant the pain pump via a catheter directly into the shoulder joint, yet these directions were denied pending unproven safety to the patient.

It has now been proven that insertion of the pain pump into the joint causes cartilage to burn away in the shoulder and the bones to grind. Patrick has already undergone additional surgeries, which includes a complete shoulder joint replacement. It has been proven that the surgeon used the pain pump in a manner consistent with the instruction of the manufacturer.

The first claim filed against the I-Flow Corporation is for not warning the medical community of its product's failure. The labeling of the pain pump failed to disclose the necessary information of the device's effectiveness and upon insertion into the joint can cause serious and permanent damage.

The second claim filed was for negligence. The use of the pain pump was never approved by the FDA and entirely rejected.

The third claim was filed by Sherri Patrick for relief upon the pain and suffering from the permanent damage to her shoulder. Wade alleges he suffered the loss of love, affection, support, protection, services, care, and marital relationship.

The plaintiffs demand on judgment for economic and non-economic damages in excess of $75,000. All amounts are to be determined by a jury.

Pain Pump Manufacturers Refused to Listen

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)14608 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

The improper use of pain pumps have caused chondrolysis in patients, a painful and debilitating condition in shoulder surgery patients. The manufacturers of pain pumps were denied approval by the Food and Drug Administration because of how they instructed the insertion of its product directly into the joint.

When pain pumps are used correctly, by insertion into the area around the tissue, they offer a convenient alternative to oral or intravenous painkillers. In the late 1990s pain pump manufacturers first sought out approval of their products by the FDA.

In order to gain permission safety studies would need to be done and the results reported back to the FDA. Pain pump manufacturers never composed a safety study and began to promote their products to physicians.

Physicians began to see their patients develop chondrolysis and lawsuits from all over the country have been filed in state and federal courts.

Surgeons are safe from prosecution because they were following the directions in accordance to how pain pump manufacturers instructed the use.

Pain pump manufacturers have received over 140 lawsuits and many more are forthcoming.

Source

Pain Pump Shatters Football Player's Dreams

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)14607 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Matthew McKeown was an all-American football player in high school and earned himself an impressive full scholarship to the University of Miami. In the minds of coaches and spectators he was destined to shine in the National Football League. Unfortunately while recovering a fumble during a game he had injured his shoulder.

The On-Q Painbuster, manufactured by I-Flow Corporation, was used in his post surgical treatment. While the pain pump was implanted directly into the shoulder joint, anesthetics began to deteriorate his cartilage. McKeown rehabbed and impressively went on to lead his team in weightlifting statistics. Although he never said anything to his coaches and teammates, McKeown was in serious agony with his shoulder.

Eventually he was administered the same On-Q Painbuster from his previous procedure to receive medication in his shoulder. An MRI was taken after his treatment and revealed his shoulder cartilage was worn down to a point beyond medical repair.

Dreams of an NFL career were shattered.

A lawsuit has now been file by McKeown against I-Flow after a medical study revealed insertion of the pain pump directly into the joint was extremely damaging.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the pain pump to be inserted into the muscle tissue, but never directly into the shoulder joint as manufacturers of pain pumps instruct surgeons to do.

Numerous lawsuits are being filed from similar effects suffered like McKeown's.

Washington Update: Senators, Congressmen Pushing New Chinese Drywall Bills

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)14506 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

A few weeks ago, the City Councils of Virginia Beach and Norfolk became the first two legislative bodies to pass a formal ban on Chinese drywall. Now, the effort to ban defective wallboard is garnering support in U.S. Congress. Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) are co-sponsoring the Drywall Safety Act of 2009, which calls for a strict ban on imported wallboard as well as a recall of Chinese drywall imported between 2004 and 2007. The bill would put the Consumer Product Safety Commission in charge of the recall, despite widespread outrage over the agency's initial failure to address the Chinese drywall crisis; Senator Landrieu claims, "The Consumer Product Safety Commission should have been the first line of defense in preventing this inferior product from entering the U.S. market in the first place." Representative Bill Wexler (D-FL) has sponsored the bill's counterpart in the House. While the new legislation has yet to come to a vote, it is another indicator of looming federal intervention in the Chinese drywall dilemma.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter l Lawsuits l Pulmonary Embolus, Deep Vein Thrombosis

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)14451 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

An Inferior Vena Cava Filter, also referred to as an IVC Filter, is used to prevent pulmonary embolus (blockage of the lung artery). These devices are usually implanted into a person's inferior vena cava after finding blood clots in their veins. The device is used to catch the blood clots and keep them from reaching the lungs or heart.

The initial purpose for the device was to treat Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). According to the National Institutes of Health, DVT "is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein that is deep inside the body." The condition usually affects larger veins in the thighs and lower legs. The blood clot can prevent normal blood flow, and even cause severe damage if it breaks free and gets stuck in the heart, lungs, brain, etc.

The entire device or pieces of the device have been known to fracture and migrate to the lungs and the health causing immediate medical attention.

IVC filters can cause:
Severe and reoccurring pain in the heart or other parts of the body,
cardiac tamponade (bleeding in or around the heart),
pulmonary embolus (blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs by blood clots),
hematoma (blood the collects under the skin or in an organ),
perforation or puncturing to the vena cava wall and the heart,
perforation or puncturing to lungs,
respiratory compromise, internal bleeding, infection,
other serious complications/injuries and death

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury due to a defective IVC filter,
contact us today by e-mail or toll free 888-9-BARDLAW

Fixodent & Poligrip Denture Cream Lawsuits l Dangerous Zinc Buildup

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)14446 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Denture cream manufacturers, such as GlaxoSmithKline PLC (Poligrip) and Procter and Gamble Co (Fixodent), are being sued for the failure to warn consumers that their product has the potential of causing zinc poisoning. Studies show that zinc buildup causes zinc poisoning and neurological problems. If you think that you may be a victim of zinc poisoning due to your denture cream, contact us today for a free case review.

Immediate Legal Help is Critical

Our lawyers understand the need to conduct immediate legal investigation which includes:

- An immediate investigation to determine if you have health related issues caused by a denture cream
- Determining the extent of your injury
- Determining who is responsible for your injury
- Reviewing your medical documents to look for hidden legal deadlines
- Giving you answers to the tough legal questions you are facing right now
- Choosing the best place to file your lawsuit or claim
- Getting a far recovery for issues related to your injury such as medical bills

We understand that victims are not only faced with costly medical bills,
but are also faced with very tough economic problems.

This is why our legal team works on a contingency fee basis.
Unless we make a recovery for you, you will not owe us any attorney's fees.

Call us today Toll Free 877-544-5323
for a free case review

Lawsuits

Over 35 million Americans use denture creams or adhesives to keep their dentures in place. Among these consumers, the larger part of denture cream use is by the elderly. Lawsuits have been filed in California, Colorado, Florida, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. On May 28, 2009 the Multi district Litigation panel held a hearing in Louisville, Kentucky, but lawmakers are still waiting on results.

Zinc Toxicity

The National Academy of Sciences reported that the highest amount of zinc that can be safely tolerated is 40 milligrams per day. Our recommended daily allowances, according to gender, are 11 milligrams per day for men and 8 milligrams per day for women.

Fixodent and Poligrip contain between 17,000 and 34,000 micrograms per gram. On average, these consumers are potentially exposed to about 330 milligrams of zinc per day depending on how often the product is used.

Symptoms of Zinc Poisoning

Dizziness
Lethargy
Paralysis
Numbness
Loss of Sensation
Tingling in Hands of Feet
Muscle Weakness
Unexplained Pain
Loss of Balance
Incontinence (loss of urinary control)

Contact Us Today for a
Free No Obligation Consultation

We offer a free no obligation case review, or simply more information on these class action lawsuits and your legal rights. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury from these products, you may have a claim against the manufacturers.

Pain Pump Lawsuits are soaring in Numbers

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)14363 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Two of the most commonly used pain pump models have been the Stryker Pain Pump and the I-Flow On-Q Pump. There are various other models being used in the medical community and the many lawyers are currently reviewing potential lawsuits of victims who have experienced side effects.

The shoulder pump is used in patients after they have had a surgical procedure. The pump is inserted directly into the shoulder joint and has been the cause of Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL) , a painful shoulder condition caused by cartilage break down between the humeral head and the ball and socket of the shoulder. With the deterioration of the cartilage, the bones grind together and disable normal functions of the shoulder.

According to a study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, as many as 63% of patients who are administered shoulder pain pumps are at risk of developing PAGCL.

Over 75 lawsuits have been filed in the United States since the beginning of 2009. Pain pump manufacturers failed to warn the medical community that the Food and Drug Administration had denied the direct insertion of pain pumps into the shoulder joint. The insertion of the pump into the tissue around the joint was deemed safer by the FDA but pain pump manufacturers instructed surgeons to do otherwise.

If you have fell victim to PAGCL from a pain pump you are entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other injuries.

Chesapeake, Virginia Hotel Contains Chinese Drywall

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)14359 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

A new Comfort Inn & Suites hotel near South Military Highway and North George Washington Highway in Chesapeake was caught using defective Chinese drywall during its construction.

The hotel’s developer, Dilip Patel, was issued with a criminal summons because he violated state building codes. He was due in court June 24, 2009, unless he removed the defective drywall and has testing evidence to prove it has been replaced with legal materials.

City officials say that this is the first local instance of defective drywall used in the construction of a commercial project. They discovered the use of Chinese drywall during a routine inspection on March 26, 2009.

Mr. Patel says that he will test the drywall and if it is defective, it will be replaced.

Norfolk and Virginia Beach officials have voted to make the use of Chinese-made drywall in construction or renovation illegal in any building.

Source

Medtronic Pacemaker Class 1 Recall l US & Canada

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)14325 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

On May 18, 2009 the FDA announced a Class 1 recall on certain Medtronic pacemakers because there is a high risk of failure due to a separation of wires that connect the electronic circuit to other parts of the pacemaker, such as the battery. Health Canada also issued a letter. For patients who depend on pacemakers for the regulation of a normal heart beat, facemaker failure could lead to serious complications.

Click here to read more

WVEC-13 Interviews Realtors, Homeowners, and Attorney Richard Serpe l Chinese Drywall

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)14307 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Click Here to watch the Interview

Realtors in Hampton Roads attended an HRRA Town Hall Meeting to discuss what they are supposed to do if there is Chinese drywall in homes that they are trying to sell.

The meeting was led by Toxic Tort Attorney Richard Serpe who has teamed up with a consortium of lawyers across the country in an effort to help suffering homeowners deal with health problems, noxious odors and the corrosion of exposed metals throughout their homes.

WVEC-13 interviewed realtors who attended the meeting, homeowners who are victims of chinese drywalll, and Attorney Richard Serpe who is part of a Chinese drywall legal team representing victims across the US.

Chinese drywall lawsuits consolidated in New Orleans

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)14306 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Lawsuits have been filed around the country against Chinese drywall manufacturers. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has decided to consolidate these class action lawsuits in New Orleans.

May 27, 2009 the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) panel held a hearing in Louisville, Kentucky. The hearing drew the attention and presence of attorneys from across the country that were involved in Chinese drywall lawsuits.

The initial choices for the location of the hearing included Miami, New Orleans, and Tampa. Many Florida attorneys that are involved in lawsuits argued that the hearing should be held in Miami because a majority of the lawsuits and complaints occured there.

In an effort to rebuild homes that were destoryed after Hurricane Katrina and Wilma, a shortage in domestic drywall forced builders to look overseas. Chinese drywall is known to release noxious odors, corrode exposed metals, cause headaches, nosebleeds, and respiratory difficulties.

During the hearing the panel seemed to focus mostly on the individual judge than the geographical location.

The Multidistrict Litigation panel decided to send the cases to Judge Eldon E. Fallon in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Judge Fallon, who seemed please with this decision, has dealt with large multidistrict court cases in the past (Vioxx Litigation).

Attorney Richard Serpe & Realtors discuss Chinese drywall disclosure

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)13975 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Realtors in Hampton Roads attended an HRRA Town Hall Meeting to discuss what they are supposed to do if there is Chinese drywall in homes that they are trying to sell.

Realtors and sellers are now faced with a dilemma when selling homes: If a seller does not tell the realtor that their home contains defective drywall, the realtor will have no knowledge of the contamination. However, if a seller does tell their realtor, they are obligated to release this information.

The question is, why aren't builders required to disclose this information? Hampton Roads homeowner, Kathy Leach, says that it's "decieving," one for the medical reasons, and also because now it will be even harder to sell their home.

Big Amounts to be paid out by Pain Pump Manufacturers

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)13891 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

From nine lawsuits, plaintiffs are suing pain pump manufacturers for $68 million according to the Phoenix Business Journal. A growing number of lawsuits are being filed due to the disabling of the plaintiffs' shoulders from post surgical treatment. The pain pumps administer anesthetics via a catheter into the shoulder joint.

The Food and Drug Administration denied pain pumps to be directly inserted into the joint and doctors have now linked a connection between the uses of the pumps with a disabling condition known as chondrolysis. Chondrolysis is caused from the catheter's insertion directly into the joint and the anesthetics it shoots into the joint burns away the cartilage causing the bones to grind each other. It is a permanent condition usually resulting in partial and complete shoulder replacements.

It is because pain pump manufacturers direct surgeons to insert the pumps directly into the joint that they are being prosecuted for negligence. The Food and Drug Administration approved, however, the pain pumps to be inserted safely into the tissue around the joint, but pain manufacturers did not want to adhere to them.

As a result, more than 140 lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts.

Need to Know Facts for Potential Pain Pump (PAGCL) Lawsuits

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)13889 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

According to drugrecall.com, it is proven that pain pumps are ineffective in the recovery of shoulder surgery patients. More so they leave patients with permanent damage because the pumps are inserted directly into the joint and the anesthetics burn the cartilage away.

Many people develop a condition called PAGCL (Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis) where eventually the operated shoulder becomes useless and a replacement is often needed.

More and more people have started to file lawsuits and if you are a victim it is imperative that you seek an experienced lawyer. You need to have an understanding of your rights. It is in your best interest to choose a lawyer that has experience with shoulder pain pumps because those who have little experience usually find little success in properly representing their clients.

There are various ways that you can receive compensation from the lawsuit. Some of the types include compensation for permanent physical damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills and expenses, and for future medical bills and expenses. To better understand your rights as a victim you should consult a lawyer.

Class Action in the Developmental Stages - Pain Pumps - PAGCL

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)13796 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

The American Journal of Sports Medicine has concluded that pain pumps are the likely cause of Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL), the painful deterioration of cartilage causing bones to grind.

Hundreds of lawsuits are being filed against pain pump manufacturers for negligence to inform the public of the pumps unproven reliability and safety. The Food and Drug Administration turned pain pump manufacturer’s down for approval to insert the pump directly into the joint as directed. The more effective use of the pain pump would be to insert the catheter into the tissue around the joint instead of directly into the joint.

A Baltimore lawyer,is looking to pool together approximately 34 lawsuits on the behalf of 48 injured plaintiffs a class action against pain pump manufacturers. The firm along with other attorneys are representing dozens of injured plaintiffs that allege pain pump manufacturers influenced surgeons to directly insert the pump into the joint. Manufacturers of the anesthetics used in pain pumps are also to be sued.

Some of the pain pump manufacturers being sued include the Stryker Corporation (Kalamazoo, Michigan), I-Flow Corporation (Lake Forest, California), and DJO (San Diego, California).

More Lawsuits for Pain Pump Manufacturers

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)13795 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

According to PRWeb, On behalf of 3 victims of shoulder pain pumps, two law firms have filed 3 lawsuits. They are filing lawsuits on the basis of negligence on the part of pain pump manufacturers.

Pain pumps are used to inject anesthetics into patients after a surgical procedure most commonly with shoulders and knees. The pain pumps via a catheter are instructed by the manufacturers to be directly inserted into the shoulder joint. When inserted directly into the joint, the anesthetics burn away the cartilage causing permanent damage.Many patients that have been affected will eventually need shoulder replacements.

Jaimee Fougner underwent surgery for her shoulder problems and a pain pump was used while she recuperated. Fougner now suffers from chondrolysis and has filed a suit against I-Flow Corporation and the manufacturers of the anesthetic drugs used in the pain pump.

Another pain pump manufacturer is the Stryker Corporation. The Stryker Corporation is being sued by Karen Van Heest after she too developed shoulder chondrolysis after a pain pump was used after she had rotator cuff surgery. The case is currently pending.

Ashworth vs. I-Flow Corporation l Shoulder Pain Pump Lawsuit

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)13749 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

On March 29, 2006, Laura Ashworth underwent right shoulder arthroscopic surgery to repair her torn labrum. Following the surgery a surgeon inserted a pain pump not directly into her joint. Ashworth re-injured her shoulder injury and underwent the same operation on June 12, 2006.

Following the second operation the surgeon implanted the pain pump directly into the joint space of her shoulder. The pain pump used was the On-Q Painbuster manufactured by the I-Flow Corporation. The pain pump caused Ashworth to permanently lose the cartilage in her shoulder and future loss of the use and function of her shoulder. She received harmful doses of medication in her shoulder joint resulting in chondrolysis.

Chondrolysis (PAGCL) is an extremely painful and disabling condition where there is complete or nearly complete loss of cartilage in the shoulder joint. The surgeon who administered the pain pump acted in accordance with instructions directed by I-Flow Corporation. Eventually Laura Ashworth will have to undergo a complete shoulder replacement.

Laura Ashworth and her husband, Jeffrey Ashworth, have filed three claims against the I-Flow Corporation. The first claim outlined I-Flow Corporation's failure to warn the medical community of its product's design defect. More specifically the labeling failed to include a warning against placing the catheter of the pain pump directly into the joint space.

It is documented that the Food and Drug Administration considered I-Flow Corporation's request to put a disclaimer on the pump label but altogether rejected the use of the pain pump directly into the joint space. The second claim filed was for negligence. The use of the pain pump was never approved by the Food and Drug Administration and was entirely rejected.

The third claim was filed by Jeffrey Ashworth for relief upon the pain and suffering from the permanent damage to her shoulder. Jeffrey alleges suffered the loss of love, affection, support, protection, services, care, and marital relationship. The plaintiffs demand in judgment for economic and non-economic damages in excess of $75,000. All amounts are to be determined by a jury.

9 Lawsuits for Pain Pump Manufacturers from Arizona Alone

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)13743 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Permanent and painful damage has been the result of many shoulder patients after being treated with post surgical pain pumps. The plaintiffs allege that pain pump manufacturers failed to alert the medical community that the use of the pumps can cause permanent damage. Pain pump manufacturers will stand behind their products' safety citing they significantly relieve pain more effectively than any drugs following surgical procedures on the shoulder.

The lawsuits filed against pain pump manufacturers are for the negligence of not informing doctors that the United States Food and Drug Administration has denied them clearance on more than one occasion to use the device for use in the shoulder joint. The pain pump was approved however by the FDA for use in tissues around the shoulder, but injecting it inside the joint was blatantly denied.

According to BizJournals.com Matthew Goldstein injured his shoulder while playing football; he underwent corrective surgery which proved successful but six months later the pain returned severely. An x-ray was taken and his doctor concluded that the anesthetics delivered through the pain pump had burned the cartilage in his shoulder. Due to the reoccurrence of his shoulder pain, Goldstein claims to have missed his opportunity to play professionally and is asking for $7.6 million in damages. Many plaintiffs are suing for vast amounts of money in an attempt to cover all of the medical expenses they have already incurred and for the future medical expenses they are yet to incur.

If you think that a shoulder or knee pain pump
has caused you injury,
contact us toll free 1-877-544-5323 or by e-mail
for information on your legal rights and a free case review.

Chinese drywall crisis being addressed in U.S. Congress

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)13684 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

The issue of defective Chinese drywall is now a hot topic within federal congressional chambers. On May 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the "Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act" that warrants an immediate investigation of the Chinese drywall problem. The amendment, which was introduced by Florida Representatives Robert Wexler (D-Boca Raton) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Miami), would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to work in conjunction with the Treasury Department in researching the number of recent home foreclosures that involved homes known to contain defective drywall. The agencies would also be required to report on whether or not home insurance was available to owners of such houses. This legislation has yet to pass the Senate, but a subcommittee hearing on the issue was held on May 21. Testimonies by executives from the CDC, CPSC, and EPA offered the opinion that the problem of Chinese drywall is indeed pressing, but that more research is necessary before major legislative action should be taken. On the other side of the debate, U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) claimed that immediate action is imperative. Senator Landrieu stated, "While I understand the need to be thorough and build a case that might stand up to future legal scrutiny, families in my state need answers now. Parents caring for sick children or pets need answers, workers removing these products from homes need to know potential health risks, and local health officials need to know what environmental impact may occur if this drywall is dumped into landfills." Although the fate of the amendment is not yet decided, it is important to note that the Chinese drywall crisis has finally attracted the attention of the federal government.

Virginia Beach and Norfolk place ban on Chinese drywall

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)13678 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Southeastern Virginia is leading the charge in confronting the problem of Chinese drywall. On May 19, the City Council of Norfolk voted unanimously to ban all Chinese drywall products in the city. In accordance with this legislation--the first of its kind in the nation--contractors in the Norfolk area must guarantee that they will not use Chinese drywall in any upcoming projects. Contractors refusing to make that pledge will not be granted the requisite permits to continue with construction. Inspired by the new Norfolk law, Virginia Beach legislators passed a similar bill in City Council the following week. Again, the vote was unanimous. Two Hampton Roads communities are now the first indicators of what is expected to be a national initiative in addressing the hazards of Chinese drywall.

Chinese Drywall Not to Blame for Deterioration of Florida Home

temp2@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)13566 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

After extensive testing, an independent engineering company has determined that allegedly defective drywall in the Florida home of George and Brenda Brincku was not of Chinese manufacture. A sample of the Brincku's wallboard and a Chinese sample were both exposed to extreme levels of heat and humidity in the presence of copper. While chemicals from the Chinese wallboard corroded the copper in 16 hours, the Brincku board did nothing of the sort. After three weeks, the copper still showed no signs of corrosion. Yet the Brinckus' complaints match those of the myriad other homeowners affected by Chinese drywall. The family has claimed that their home exhibits four of the five criteria employed by the State of Florida to identify toxic drywall: "presence of sulfur-like or other unusual odors," "observed copper corrosion," "documented failure of air conditioner evaporator coil," and "confirmation by an outside expert or professional [of] the presence of premature copper corrosion." According to the Brinckus, conditions in the house became so intolerable that they were forced to leave. Because the recent testing seems to exonerate Chinese manufacturers as the source of the Brincku's troubles, it gives rise to the notion that defective drywall is coming into circulation from other sources.

Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana - $2Million for Chinese Drywall

jseldenharris@gmail.com (Blog Author)13376 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

WWLTV reports, Senator Mary Landrieu, of Louisiana, has asked for congress to add $2 million to a war spending bill in order to allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission to research the ongoing Chinese drywall problem in the United States. Landrieu spoke in Washington with Senator Nelson, Democrat-Florid, in order to make congress aware of the urgency of the problem.

The EPA has already confirmed the presence of sulfur and other chemicals in Chinese drywall, and specialists say that gases being emitted from the drywall are the cause of corrosion to copper pipes, electrical wires, air conditioning machinery/ducting, and other household appliances.

"So this 2 million dollars is just the beginning," says Landrieu. "This agency desperately needs this money to be able to really focus and study. We've asked for a six month, very quick turnaround, and if it can be done in three months, all the better. And then perhaps there is some other actions that obviously will need to be taken."

Good and Bad News for Homeowners of Covington, Louisiana

jseldenharris@gmail.com (Blog Author)13375 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

WWLTV reports,Sunrise Homes, a homebuilder based around the Gulf Coast, sent letters asking for permission to investigate the possible presence of Chinese drywall to about a third of the homeowners in the Penn Mill Lakes subdivision in Covington, Louisiana.

Linda Williams was relieved to find-out that her home was free of toxic drywall, "I'm glad to hear that everything is going to be okay, that we don't have the Chinese drywall." However, her down-the-street neighbors, Steve and Dana LeBlanc, weren't so fortunate.

An inspector found Chinese drywall in an air conditioning closet, "It's rough. I'm shaking right now," says Steve LeBlanc. "I've got goose bumps. It's hard, it really is hard."

Sunrise Homes Director of Operations, Natalie Culpeper, believed that the companies supplier had provided them with only domestic drywall until controversy on the matter began. "They were unable to guarantee us with certainty that none of it was delivered to our job sites," said Culpeper. "At that point, we obviously take these concerns very seriously, and thought it appropriate to actually do inspections."

Sunrise Homes has sent approximately 400 letters to residents whose homes could possibly contain Chinese drywall but are still trying to figure out how to handle the problem when they find it. "Currently there is no established protocol for testing or remediation," Culpeper said. "However, we have been in contact with the manufacturer and the supplier regarding what the appropriate next step will be. Unfortunately, at this point we are a little bit frustrated; because the manufacturer has not been able to give us what we feel is an appropriate answer to that question."

"Is it going to be a month?" says a worried Dana LeBlanc. "Is it going to be two months, is it going to be six months, is it going to be a year? I mean how long do we stay here knowing that we already have it?"

Video: Katrina Vicitims Face Chinese Drywall Problems

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)13364 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Victims of Hurricane Katrina are now being faced with Chinese drywall problems. The New York Times has done a documentary on a family that was forced to rebuild their home after Katrina, and have now discovered that defective drywall from China was used.

Click Here to Watch the Documentary

Other News: Senator Julie Quinn has propsed a bill that will allow Louisiana homeowners to sue manufactuers, distributors, and suppliers, who inadvertently used defective drywall from China to build homes. Click Here to Read More...

Toxic American Drywall l Lawsuits l Virginia North Carolina Florida Georgia

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)13238 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

CNN Reports "Toxic American Drywall?"

Chinese Drywall Reaches Capitol Hill | Senators Discuss the Problem | American Manufacturers | Florida Virginia North Carolina Georgia California Texas New York

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)12769 — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

Defective Chinese drywall has been the news of concern for thousands of homeowners across the U.S. and even in Canada. This past week, the issue finally reached Capitol Hill.

According to the Herald Tribune "Two separate hearings were held in the Senate to discuss the problem." Senator Bill Nelson of Florida attended the hearings and reportedly drilled into federal agencies who have been investigating the situation, but have not produced any solutions or relief to homeowners.

Discussion of new laws to be put in place also circulated the hearings: new standards on imported materials, making it easier to sue foreign manufacturers of defective products, and of course discussing a possible nationwide recall of defective drywall.

For now the Consumer Product Safety Commission says that China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will be coming to Washington in June. Although they have yet to answer any of the "detailed questions" sent to them. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also plans to send investigators to China.

Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Daniel Inouye, proposed that he would like to see the CPSC use more than $2 million of its budget for drywall testing and investigation. There also seems to be support coming from other departments, "Let's get this analyzed as quickly as possible, and if it poses any danger we ought to know it," says Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin.

Florida Attorney Robert Gary, who is part of a federal lawsuit in Florida seeking class action status against drywall manufacturers and suppliers, also traveled to the nation's Capitol for the hearing.

The Herald Tribune reports, "He said the focus on Chinese drywall alone may obscure Congressional probing of the homeowners who have corrosion and smells, but no Chinese drywall -- only products coming from American manufacturers."

"It's only going to be just the tip of the iceberg," Attorney Robert Gary said.

Chinese Drywall Update: Virginia Family Forced to Leave Home

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)12160 — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Nguyen's of Virginia Beach were visited by Congressman Glenn Nye Saturday. The family was forced to leave their home because of Chinese drywall problems.

Congressman Nye has been visiting homes across Hampton Roads that have been affected by Chinese drywall. Homeowners are pleading for some type of action to be taken. They are urging him to "pass legislation to roll back taxes on their possibly contaminated homes, put thier mortagages on hold, and stop the importation of Chinese drywall."

Watch the Video Here

Visit our Chinese Drywall Facebook Page or WordPress Blog

A Virginia Dream Home Becomes a Chinese Drywall Nightmare

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)11873 — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

Jason and Lisa Dunaway's new home was well suitable for their two children to grow up in. Little did they know, their new home had a material in the walls that emits noxious odors, eats away at electrical systems, and causes respiratory problems.About two months prior the Dunaway family found out that their home contained dozens of sheets of defective Chinese Drywall.

Chinese-made drywall has been the center of many homeowner complaints across the country. They had only been in their home a few months and a new television stopped working, and an air conditioning unit filed. After a while more problems started to arise resulting in $20,000 spent by the family fixing a/c units and various electrical and electronic problems. Jason’s retirement plan was soon tapped into in an effort to pay for these replacements.

They also began to experience issues with their health. Nose bleeds, fatigue, watery eyes, and a daughter forced to miss weeks of school due to sinus infections. Lisa Dunaway even developed bronchitis which was a battle to get rid of.

The odor is described as “a chemical, acidic odor.” When they first moved in they deemed the smell as a “new home” smell, but it never faded. Jason comments “after a while, you just get used to it.”

The family heard about Dragas Companies, a large home builder in the region, who found drywall from China in its developments. The Chinese Drywall used was from Venture Supply Inc, who admitted to importing 100,000 sheets of defective wallboard. Dragas says that it is confirmed that Chinese drywall was used in some home at The Hampshires at Greenbrier and Cromwell Park. The Family found Venture Supply Inc., MFG Taihe China on their wallboard.

The Dunaways are one of three homeowners in a lawsuit, with our Chinese Drywall Lawyers, against the Norfolk supplier, contractor and Chinese manufacturer of the wallboard.

Source: The Virginian Pilot

Fairfax, Virginia Weekend Car Crash Ends in Elderly Woman's Death

ppblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)11870 — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

An elderly woman was killed and the driver was critically injured Saturday when her car ran off a road, hit an electrical transformer and then flipped over.

Edith Frey, 61, of Manassas Park, was driving her 2004 Saturn in the 8700 block of Quarry Road in Manassas just after 7 p.m. when she ran off the road and knocked over several traffic signs.

After running over the signs, the car, with Frey and her 87-year-old passenger, Elfreda Cycholl, then hit an electrical transformer. Cycholl was killed instantly. Frey was flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

The circumstances of the crash were still under investigation, and it is not known whether alcohol or speed was a factor.

We would like to extend our condolences to the Cycholl family and friends.

This type of accident could fall under that "Virginia Wrongful Death Act," which is designed to provide family members compensation for the loss of a loved ones caused by someone else's negligence. Family member's may obtain compensation for loses such as sorrow, loss of services, protection and care, fuel expenses, and punishment damages. Our Virginia automobile accident lawyers are immediately available to assist you with any questions or assistance you may need.

Chesterfield County, Virginia Car Accident Lawyer

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)11717 — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

In 2007, according to the Virginia DMV approximately 17.48% of total crashes, in Chesterfield County, were alcohol-related. 12.7% of accidents were speed related.

Types of Injuries include mild traumatic brain injuries, closed head injuries, spinal cord injuries ...

Our lawyers have devoted a large portion of their time in serving victims badly injured, as well as the families that have lost a loved one to a fatal car accident in Virginia Wrongful Death cases.

Visit our Chesterfield County, Virginia Auto Accident Page for more information.

Obama Replaces CPSC Commissioner - Growing Chinese Drywall Problem

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)11697 — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

President Obama is replacing CPSC Commissioner Nancy Nord. The controversial acting-chair Nancy Nord has been heavily criticized for the agency's slow response to the fast growing Chinese Drywall problem.

Homeowners across the country have been concerned for quite a while now that this material emits an awful smell and has been corroding metals within their homes. Relatively new homes are experiencing problems with their a/c electrical and plumbing systems. Many homeowners are also complaining about health concerns which include, respiratory problems, nosebleeds, and headaches.

President Obama has chosen Inez Moore Tenenbaum to replace acting-chair Nancy Nord. Teenbaum is a former South Carolina Education Superintendent. She was also on Obama's campaign committee. Obama has also named Robert S. Alder, a law professor at the University of North Carolina, as a CPSC Commissioner.

Although she is being replaced as chairman, Nancy Nord has not been asked to give up her seat as a CPSC Commissioner.

Florida Senator Bill Nelson has repeatedly advised Nord to step down because of the slow response to the Chinese drywall problem. Florida was the first state to address Chinese drywall and has also been that state hit the hardest by this defective wallboard from China. Nelson states "For too long consumers have been ignored by a board that's been too cozy with industry."

On May 4th, Senator Nelson made a request to include emergency funding to the CPSC in Obama's Fiscal Year 2009 Supplemental Appropriations request.

For more information on Chinese Drywall...

Download our FREE Report

Visit our YOUTUBE channel

or check out our Chinese Drywall BLOG

Chinese Drywall Virginia Class Action Lawsuit Filed

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)11505 — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

PRESS RELEASE

Law Firms Announce Filing of
Chinese Drywall Class Action in Virginia

Norfolk, VA (May 1, 2009) - The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C., along with a consortium of other national law firms, announced today that they filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk on behalf of all Virginia homeowners whose residences contain defective Chinese drywall. The lawsuit is captioned Germano, et al., v. Taishan Gypsum Co., Ltd., et al. The Defendants are Taishan Gypsum Co., Ltd. (a Chinese drywall manufacturer), its U.S. distributor, Venture Supply, Inc. and its installer, Porter-Blaine Corporation, as well as a local homebuilder.

This defective Chinese drywall is currently being investigated by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several federal law makers. The drywall, imported into the U.S. by distributors and homebuilders and installed in a large number Virginia homes, is causing serious problems by emitting sulfides and other toxic gases into homes.

In addition to creating noxiousodors, the gases emitted from this drywall cause the accelerated corrosion of air conditioner and refrigerator coils, kitchen appliances and utensils, electrical wiring, electronic or computer devices, and other metal surfaces and household items. Long-term exposure to low-levels of sulfides has also been associated with several health conditions including fatigue, headaches, irritability, dizziness, and neurologic issues.
The plaintiffs are seeking broad relief for affected homeowners, ranging from repair and replacement of homes and property devaluation damages to medical testing for illnesses related to the drywall exposure.

"Defective Chinese drywall is destroying thousands of consumers' homes and threatening their health," said Richard Serpe, a lead attorney on the case. "Manufacturers, suppliers, and builders have failed to properly investigate the damage this drywall is causing. They have been slow to acknowledge the problems that exist and provide appropriate compensation to impacted homeowners."

The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have teamed up with Hausfeld LLP, a global plaintiffs law firm in Washington, DC, to help prosecute the case. Additional co-counsel include Ervin Gonzalez of Colson, Hicks, Eidson and Arnold Levin of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, among others.

In addition to filing the action in Virginia, this team has also filed similar cases in Florida and is actively investigating homeowner complaints in numerous other states including Louisiana, California, and New York.

For more information please contact attorney Richard J. Serpe at 757-233-0009. Electronic copies of the Complaint and related materials can be found at: www.ChineseDrywallClaims.com.

Virginia & North Carolina News Investigates: 'What's in that Drywall'

rserpe@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)11409 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Wavy 10's Andy Fox decided to do a Chinese Drywall investigation to find out what is really in drywall from China. Homeowners nationwide are finding out that there homes have been contaminated by Chinese-drywall. It has been estimated that over 100,000 homes could contain toxic drywall.

A sample of the suspected drywall was taken from Sam Porter's supply company, Venture Supply Inc., and taken to Old Dominion University's chemistry lab in Norfolk, VA.

The article notes that the developer Dragas Companies, has confirmed that they bought some of the imported drywall from Venture Supply. After complaints from homeowners, testing was done and they are now making efforts to replace the drywall in those homes that tested positive.

Norfolk's Old Dominion University confirmed that the Chinese drywall from Venture Supply contained almost 10 times more hydrogren sulfide than domestic drywall.

Watch that investigation below.

Chinese Drywall in Virginia Beach Family's Home from Venture Supply Inc

rserpe@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)10819 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Colleen Nguyen of Virginia Beach says that her dream home contains Toxic Drywall. Her home was built in 2006, and at least a third of the walls contain Chinese drywall from Venture Supply. Venture Supply is a Norfolk-based supplier that admitted to distributing Chinese drywall.

Watch the Live WVEC Report Here

Visit our Chinese Drywall Blog

Senator Nelson will be Holding a Chinese Drywall Conference

rserpe@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)10662 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson will be visiting Cape Coral, Florida to spread the word about toxic Chinese-made drywall. He plans to spread awareness about Chinese drywall at the home of Sonny and Joyce Dowdy.

These homeowners have been through 3 air-conditioners in a year and are also experiencing health problems.

"Nelson is proposing legislation which would ban the drywall until safety standards are put in place."

Chinese Drywall Lawyer Blog

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)10427 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Chinese-made drywall has been an increasingly important topic in the news. Our Chinese Drywall Lawyers have created a new blog just for just this reason. We wish to keep our clients as well as the public informed of updates on the Chinese drywall housing crisis.

Our Chinese Drywall Blog will include, links to the leatest articles, photos, videos, and live news casts, to keep you up to date. Please feel free to join our RSS feed to receive a notification at the time a new article or video is posted to the blog.

Please Visit www.TheChineseDrywallLawyer.com

A 68-year old Virginia Beach woman is killed in a single vehicle crash.

autoblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)10281 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

68-year old Barbara T. Duzant, lost control of her 2002 PT Cruiser around 11:30 p.m. while turning onto Kempsville Rd. from Princess Anne Road.

According to police she veered into traffic and sideswiped a car, hit a brick sign, and struck a building on the corner of Oakmears Crescent and Princess Anne. Authorities are stressing that speed and alcohol were not factors in this accident.

This is a tragedy for all the Duzant family and friends. We hope them the best in these trying times.

Seniordrivers.org is a site with a lot of information regarding seniors and driving, covering such topics as safe driving tips and using alternate forms of transportation.

Three people seriously injured in Richmond, Virginia car crash.

autoblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)10279 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Police in Richmond Virginia are investigating an accident, which left 3 people injured and damage was done to two cars and a house.

The accident, which occurred at 4:48 p.m. involved a Lincoln Town Car that was traveling southbound on Meadow Street crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was thrown into the windshield before landing on the pavement, and the Lincoln continued driving, ran over a stop sign and into a house on the 800 block of Meadow.

Police are still investigation why the Lincoln caused the accident; so far no charges have been filed.

Motorcycle riders are frequently the victims of careless and inattentive drivers of cars and trucks. Whether the carelessness is caused by a drunk driver, or the all too frequent indifference that motorists exhibit towards motorcyclists, the results of a collision with a motorcycle are all too often catastrophic or fatal.

Man Killed in Henrico County, Virginia Accident

autoblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)10250 — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Man Killed in Henrico County, Virginia Accident

Virginia state police have identified Jeremy M. Steen, of Mechanicsburg, Pa as the victim of an accident that occurred at 4:20 p.m. on Interstate 295 in Henrico County, Virginia. Steen was one of three people that exited their vehicle on the right shoulder while they tried to retrieve luggage that had fallen off their car.

A car being driven by Trudy Lynn Williams, 29, of Hopewell, Virginia ran off the right side of the road, struck Steen, two other men, and then their parked vehicle, ejecting the woman inside.

Steen was pronounced dead at the scene, while everyone else involved suffered non-life threatening injures.

The “Virginia Wrongful Death Act” is designed to provide family members compensation for the loss of a loved one caused by someone else’s negligence. Family members may obtain compensation for losses such as sorrow, loss of services, protection and care, fuel expenses, and punishment damages where death results from the unjustifiable conduct or recklessness of the defendant.

Snow Leads to Increased Number of Accidents All Over Virginia

autoblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)9768 — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

The recent snowfall that hit south eastern Virginia has lead to 204 reported automobile accidents between the hours of 5 a.m and 3p.m. on Monday March 2^nd, according to VDOT, which also stated that it is normal to see fewer than 20 accidents during this amount of time. The snow along with high winds was also blamed for the estimated 6500 Dominion power customers who were reporting power outages. This has been the first time that the peninsula has received significant, more than one ince of snow, since 2004 when 5 inches of snow fell, National Weather Service meteorologist Larry Brown stated that, ” Snow in Hampton Roads is rare, primarily because the ocean keeps the air temperature here just above the freezing point”.

While we are glad to say that very few accidents led to injuries and as of now none of them have been reported as life threatening, we still believe it is still a good idea to only commute anywhere when the roads freeze if absolutely necessary, and when you do try to stay on main roads because those are more likely to receive more traffic which helps melt the ice, and the road crews are more likely to salt those roads first.

Virginia Senate Passes Bill Banning Text Messaging While Driving

autoblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)9766 — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Virginia Senate has passed Bill number 1876 , which places a ban on the use of text messaging while driving. If this bill is signed by the governor and is made a law, then Virginia will be the 6^th state along with the District of Columbia to pass such a law. The Bill would make it illegal to use a wireless device for sending or receiving text messages and emails while operating an automobile, moped, bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, and an electric power-assisted bicycle. The bill would provide exemptions to this rule for people who are legally parked, or stopped, emergency vehicles, and people reporting an emergency. First time offenders will receive a $20.00 fine and repeat offenses will carry a $50.00 fine.

This is a step forward in lawmakers and law enforcement's attempt to limit the number of distracted drivers on Virginia roads.

Northampton Blvd Drunk Driver Fatal Car Crash

autoblog.serpefirm@gmail.com (Blog Author)9539 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

A motorist by the name of Ronald K. Sharpe has been charged with driving under the influence and was a part in a chain- reaction car accident that claimed the life of West Point Native, Alexandra Marie Calamia. The accident happened around 1:30 am on Northampton Blvd, one vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound when it struck another vehicle traveling in the same direction, the vehicle that was struck then veered onto the eastbound side of the road where it collided with the 3^rd vehicle. Calamia was pronounced dead at the scene and the third victim was transported to a nearby hospital.

This is extremely tragic. We would like to convey our sympathies to the Calamia family and friends. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, driving while under the influence is taken as a very serious crime. The Calamia family and friends should not have to face this kind of tragedy that irresponsible drivers cause.

Florida's News Channel 10 - Ervin Gonzolez - Toxic Chinese Drywall Investigation - National Class Action Lawsuit Lawyers

rserpe@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)9471 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

Channel 10 News of Florida aired a toxic chinese drywall investigation and interview last night. One of the Drywall Consortium Lawyers, Ervin (misspelled as: Irvin) Gonzolez of Coral Gables, Florida speaks about sulfur in drywall destroying dream homes across the country.

Toxic Drywall is being found in thousands upon thousands of homes across the country. Between 2004 and 2006 homes were being built with toxic drywall, which has been found to release a number of highly toxic sulfide gases. These gases are causing major property damages, decreasing property values, and causing health problems. Homeowners affected by toxic drywall experience "rotten egg" odors in their home, air-conditioning coil corrosion, corrosion of metals and appliances within their homes, as well as headaches, nose bleeds, and respiratory problems.

A National Class Action Lawsuit , against manufacturers and builders who neglected the safety and health of homeowners, will be announced at a press conference being held on March 2, 2009.

If you need more information, or think that your home has been affected by toxic drywall, contact our Toxic Drywall Lawyers today! Our Lawyers have been featured in Super Lawyer magazines and rated among America's Best Lawyers. We are helping homeowners across the country.

Call us Toll Free 1-866-573-6691, or contact us via e-mail to Get Started on your claim, and get a recovery that you deserve.

National Class Action Lawsuit Against Drywall Companies For Manufacturing Toxic Emitting Drywall - Defective Chinese Drywall

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)9463 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

National Class Action Lawsuit Against
Drywall Companies for Manufacturing Toxic Emitting Drywall

On Monday, March 2, 2009 at 11:00am, a press conference will be held in Coral Gables, Florida to announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers and builders who supplied and used toxic emitting drywall in homes. In addition, the lawsuit will include the manufactures that have produced this material, which has been found to contain highly toxic levels of sulfur. These high levels of sulfur have been linked to property damages and health hazards to those living in homes built with the toxic emitting drywall.

Attorney Ervin Gonzalez and the Plantiffs, homeowners representing the class, will be present to answer any questions concerning this crisis. They will also be providing photographs, visuals, and copies of the complaint. Scientific evidence will be provided to explaian the process and cause of damages to the affected homes.

After moving into newly built homes, in 2007,these homeowners noticed a "rotten egg-like" odor. Along with this odor came wire corrosion, replacement of air-conditioning coils, headaches, nose bleeds, sorethroats, and respiratory problems. The cause of these problems-- defective drywall that emits a number of sulfide gases and other chemicals that produce an odor similar to rotten eggs. These gases are the cause of the corrosion of many metal surfaces such as jewelry, air-conditioning coils, microwaves, faucets, and other surfaces and electrical appliances.

The cause of this problem is hidden behind the walls of homes, and their is absolutely no sublte correction that can be made. To fix these problems, homeowners will need to move out of their homes, and have the interior gutted out and replaced, along with any metals that have been corroded.

The Drywall Legal Consortium, which includes Mr. Gonzolez and a team of lawyers across the country, are eager to help homeowners that have been caught up in this crisis. We want to help you fight these manufacturers and builders who neglected your safety as a homeowner.

If you believe that your home has been affected by defective drywall, please contact our office immediately so that we can make a recovery for you!

Toll Free: 1-866-573-6691

For additional information and resources please visit our website.

CPSC Announces a Federal Investigation of Chinese Drywall

alex@serpefirm.com (Blog Author)9349 — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has now began a federal investigation on Chinese made drywall after receiving 90 complaints fron the Florida Department of Health.

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Chinese made drywall has ruined property values for tens of thousands of home and building owners. "Defective" Chinese drywall is now known to release a number of different sulfur gases, which in turn causes extensive metal and electrical wire corrosion and a rotten egg smell. It is also known to cause mild respiratory problems, as well as nose bleeds, headaches, and eye irritations.

Frequent replacement of A/C and refrigerator components, or wiring, piping, and silver jewelry becoming blackened are all signs that your property may be part of this Chinese drywall crisis.

Those affected by this crisis, be aware of hidden legal deadlines in construction or closing documents, which is preventing many victims from making any sort of recovery.

If your property was built between 2004 - 2006, and you are not sure if it was built with this "defective" drywall, download our FREE 5 Step guide to investigating your property for Chinese made drywall.

Once you have done this, if you believe that your property contains defective drywall, contact our Chinese Drywall Legal Consortium immediately to start an investigation. (Note: Unless we make a recovery for you, you will not owe us any attorney's fees)

Please act immediately, don't let irresponsible builders and manufacturers get away with contaminating your dream home.

If you would like more information please visit: www.ChineseDrywallClaims.com where you will find links, studies, photos, videos, and additional information.

Or Call TOLL FREE 1-866-573-6691 today!