| Issues |
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| Officials Probe Health Problems in Texas Town |
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About 100 residents of a small Texas town are scheduled to participate in interviews with state and federal officials as part of an inquiry into whether industrial pollution is to blame for a variety of health problems. According to researchers, Midlothian, located southeast of Fort Worth, has significantly higher rates of Down syndrome and birth defects than other areas in the state. Midlothian is home to one of the largest concentrations of cement kilns in the country and also hosts a steel plant, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reports. Gene Trainor, Ft. Worth Star Telegram 07/08/2009
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Ft. Worth Star Telegram
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| Laws/Cases |
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| Class to be Notified in Meal Break Case |
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About 100,000 current and former employees of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the West Penn Allegheny Health System and the former Mercy Hospital will be eligible to participate in a class-action lawsuit, an attorney representing plaintiffs in the case said Thursday. In the suit, plaintiffs claim the health care providers failed to pay them for instances when they were forced to work through meal breaks. In a statement issued Thursday, UPMC maintained that the allegations were without merit. Steve Twedt, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 07/09/2009
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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| Lawsuit Filed Over Indiana Bridge Collapse |
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A northwestern Indiana township was negligent in the collapse of pedestrian bridge following a 4th of July fireworks show, a lawsuit filed this week claims. According to an attorney for the plaintiffs, about 100 people were allowed on a bridge designed to hold no more than 40 people. The lawsuit seeks $5.5 million in damages for spinal and leg injuries suffered by the plaintiffs. AP, Indianapolis Star 07/09/2009
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Indianapolis Star
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| Court OKs Damages for Loss of Household Services |
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The family of a woman who died following a Cesarean section can pursue damages for medical malpractice, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled. In a 4-3 decision, the court rejected arguments on behalf of Mercy Memorial Hospital and physicians that loss of household services should be considered noneconomic damages. The family is seeking $1.4 million in damages. AP, Chicago Tribune 07/08/2009
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Chicago Tribune
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| Judge Approves Settlement in Wal-Mart Bias Case |
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A federal judge has approved a $17.5 million settlement between retail giant Wal-Mart and black truck drivers who claimed they were denied jobs because of their race. According to the class-action lawsuit, the company’s word-of-mouth recruiting practices prevented black applicants from obtaining truck driving jobs. The class includes applicants who were turned away for truck driving jobs between 2001 and 2008, an attorney for the plaintiffs said. AP, Las Vegas Sun 07/09/2009
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Las Vegas Sun
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| Products |
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| Nine Companies Fined for Lead Violations |
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Federal safety officials have fined nine companies more than $500,000 for knowingly manufacturing, selling or importing toys contaminated with lead. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the fines stem from the manufacture, sale or import of items recalled in 2007 and 2008. The companies were not required to admit wrongdoing under the settlement. Staff, Journal Gazette & Times Courier 07/08/2009
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Journal Gazette & Times Courier
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| Fall Hazards Prompt Play Yard Recall |
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 1 million Kolcraft play yards imported to the United States since January 2000. In a statement, the agency said the play yards, manufactured for Carter's, Sesame Street, Jeep, Contures, Care Bear and Eric Carle, could pose a fall hazard to children. The play yards were manufactured in China, Spain and Italy and imported by Kolcraft Enterprises of Chicago. UPI, United Press International 07/08/2009
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United Press International
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| Lawmakers Seek Details About Bottled Water Safety |
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Lawmakers are asking the makers of bottled water to turn over information about the source of their water and how it was treated. The request comes after members of Congress heard testimony questioning the oversight and safety of the bottled water industry. Americans drank more than 8 billion gallons of bottled water last year, according to the New York Times. Andrea Fuller, The New York Times 07/08/2009
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The New York Times
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