Sexual Harassment on Delta Plane, 250 Injured by Samsung, and Concerns over Tesla’s Autonomous Vehicles.

California’s August News Round-Up Features $350K Fiona Ma Sexual Harassment Settlement, Disney Wrongful Death Lawsuit, and Listeria Outbreak

In addition to personal injury and infrastructure damage, the August 2024 earthquake has reawakened the worst fears of California residents. Earlier this month, OceanGate was also hit with the first lawsuit alleging negligence in the operation of its submersible. The family of the French explorer who died in the Titan’s implosion is seeking $50 million in damages. The lawsuit claims the crew suffered “terror and mental anguish” knowing they were going to die.

The case of Friends Actor Matthew Perry and the causes of his death have also received a lot of attention recently. As many as five people have been implicated in his death, including his assistant and two doctors. One of them just pleaded guilty to medical malpractice for selling him a surgical anesthetic, ketamine. This drug appears to have been the primary cause of his fatal overdose.

Other less publicized but equally serious cases involve companies like Samsung. The electronics giant is recalling one million electric stoves after more than 250 reports of fires resulting in injuries.

Meanwhile, in a month that set a new record for the number of people flying, it was also revealed that it was one of the worst years for in-flight incidents involving passengers, with 1,400 cases. Most of the negligence, however, is on the part of the airlines. A ramp supervisor at San Francisco airport has sued Southwest Airlines for civil rights violations.

California Personal Injury News Highlights for August 2024

In this post, we will bring you the latest California personal injury news for August 2024. This month sees more cases of sexual abuse and police misconduct. Police negligence has also affected traffic. In fact, the city of Los Angeles is being sued for an accident caused by a speeding police officer on patrol. The two victims, who suffered devastating injuries, are seeking justice and compensation for the damages caused by the officer.

In addition to traffic accidents, California has once again experienced a deadly dog attack. As many as 25 Great Danes were found near the body of a woman who died from dog bites.

Finally, we cover the latest incidents and recalls from automotive companies. We include a section dedicated to Tesla and its recent vehicle mishaps.

Read on to stay current on California personal injury cases in August 2024.

If you’ve had a similar experience as any of those mentioned, don’t hesitate to seek legal help. Call us at (800) 310-1606 for legal assistance.

Police Shoot Teenagers to Death

Practice Area: Police Misconduct

We begin this blog with the resolution of a case from 2021. Eddie Gonzalez, a California school safety officer, pleaded guilty to the shooting death of an 18-year-old teenage girl. Gonzalez shot the student multiple times as she tried to flee a fight at school.

Another teenager was shot and killed in South Los Angeles similarly. According to official videos and authorities, the officer who fatally shot the 18-year-old was in plain clothes. The unarmed victim was in a car wearing a ski mask when the vehicle stopped and blocked traffic lanes. When the victim and another person got out of the car and approached a vehicle, the officer fired.

Also, as mentioned at the beginning of this blog, the City of Los Angeles is being sued over a traffic incident involving an LAPD officer. According to official documents, the officer was speeding when he hit another vehicle. Two elderly people were seriously injured and left with devastating permanent injuries.

FCI Dublin Prison Sexual Assault and Dozens of Lawsuits Against Irvine Hepatology Clinic

Practice Area: Sexual Abuse or Harassment

Continuing with incidents involving law enforcement officers, a woman reported earlier this month that she was sexually harassed and abused while incarcerated at FCI Dublin Federal Prison. The victim alleges that several correctional officers participated in the abuse and rape, and that they also threatened her on an ongoing basis.

Separately, a juvenile has filed a lawsuit against Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center. The complaint alleges that the victim was sexually assaulted and abused by other juveniles. The plaintiff claims that staff at the center allowed this behavior to occur.

In late August 2024, 15 women held a conference to announce a personal injury lawsuit for sexual abuse suffered at a California clinic. The victims stated that Dr. John C. Hoyts, a hepatologist, sexually assaulted them while they were receiving medical treatment. According to the victims, the doctor abused their trust to grope them. Last month, Hoyts was accused of sexually assaulting six other patients.

Lawsuit Over Sexual Assault of Child on Delta Flight

Practice Area: Airplane Accidents

The family of a girl who was sexually assaulted on a Delta flight two years ago has filed a lawsuit against the airline. The perpetrator, who is in prison, fondled the 13-year-old girl during a flight from Los Angeles. The lawsuit alleges that Delta flight attendants served the man alcohol and failed to take action after the incident. The family claims the offender had previously assaulted another passenger. As a result of these events, the plaintiffs are seeking compensation for emotional distress.

Unfortunately, airplane incidents of all kinds have been on the rise lately. The FAA has recently stated that although there has been a slight decrease, cases of abuse and misconduct are becoming more serious. In fact, the FAA has referred as many as 43 serious cases to the FBI, for a total of 310 since 2021. The Federal Aviation Administration reports that there have been 1,423 aircraft mishaps caused by passengers so far this year.

California Drivers Are Most Violent in the US

Practice Area: Traffic Accidents

California roads have been the scene of all kinds of personal injury and death in August 2024. Sadly, the most serious cases involve children. In San Jose, a driver fatally struck a 12-year-old boy who was riding his scooter in a crosswalk. Also in San Jose, a 14-year-old boy and his mother were killed when they were struck by a car traveling the wrong way.

August also saw several incidents of road rage. In one case, a heated argument behind the wheel in West Hollywood turned tragic. The episode occurred after the cars collided in a mall parking lot. After arguing over who was at fault, one of the parties involved punched the other, who died within hours.

Unfortunately, road rage incidents are more common than we think. And sadly, California is one of the states with the most cases. In fact, a survey shows that drivers in the Golden State are the most violent.

The survey, which included 10,000 people, found that nearly half of the incidents involved a California driver. According to the data, there has been a 400% increase in the number of violent incidents on the road since 2014.

As for drunk driving, numerous people have been killed again because of alcohol. Among them is an on-duty police officer who was directing traffic and was fatally struck.

An NHL star, Johnny Gaudreau, also fell victim to a drunk driver. The hockey player and his brother were killed when a drunk driver hit them while they were riding their bicycles.

Tesla’s Autonomous Cars Get All The (Negative) Attention

Practice Area: Tesla

Not a month goes by without the Adamson Ahdoot team reviewing a car accident case involving a Tesla vehicle. The autonomous car company is experiencing an era of constant incidents on the road. One of the most talked about stories recently involves its Tesla Cybertruck.

The Auto Safety Agency has asked Tesla for more information about a fatal accident that occurred in Texas. According to police reports, the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck died after his car caught fire after hitting a ditch.

Mold and Insects at Bear’s Head Factory and Recall of 720,000 BMW Cars

Practice Area: Product Liability

In terms of food-related incidents, listeria outbreaks continue to make headlines. The CDC has reported six more deaths from eating deli meats. This is the largest listeria outbreak since 2011.

Boar’s Head is also back in the news for other reasons. An inspection found insects and mold at one of the company’s plants in Virginia.

On the other hand, Walmart just recalled more than 9,500 cases of Great Value apple juice. According to the Food and Drug Administration classification, it was an emergency recall. The agency reported that the juice contained harmful levels of arsenic. Perdue is another company that recalled frozen chicken nuggets because of possible metal contamination.

As for the auto industry, the National Highway Safety Administration has said that there are still more than 50 million defective airbags on U.S. roads. While many drivers have been struggling to replace Takata airbags for years, the defects are now coming from two other different airbag manufacturers – ARC Automotive Inc. and Delphi Automotive Systems LLC. NHTSA reported that these defective parts have already caused two deaths. Automakers using these airbags include General Motors Co, Volkswagen AG, and Hyundai Motor Co.

Related to this news is Ford, which just asked more than 750,000 drivers not to use their cars until their Takata airbags are repaired. On the other hand, BMW is recalling 720,000 vehicles for water pump problems.

Did You Suffer an Injury in a California Accident in August 2024? Call Us Now!

You never know when an ordinary incident can turn into a lifetime of tragedy. A motorcycle accident, a slip and fall at the grocery store, or eating contaminated food can result in permanent injuries. Unfortunately, many of these victims do not know how to move forward when these unfortunate mishaps occur.

At Adamson Ahdoot, we are passionate about protecting the rights of injured people in California. With over 100 years of combined legal experience, we are a bilingual personal injury law firm. We work hard to get our clients the compensation they deserve.

We strongly encourage those who have suffered any type of accident to contact us today. Feel free to discuss your case with our experienced injury attorneys at no cost. Let us show you what your legal options are. Call us at (800) 310-1606 or submit your inquiry through our website.