| Healthcare |
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| Report: City-Run Hospitals Faked Medical Records |
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A rash of faked medical records at New York City hospitals have led to 16 state citations during the past four years, the New York Daily News reports. According to the newspaper, doctors, nurses and support staff have altered hospital records in order to cover up medical errors. In many cases, patients and family members were never notified of medical errors or state citations. Robert Gearty, Benjamin Lesser and Greg B. Smith, New York Daily News 07/26/2009
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New York Daily News
New York Daily News
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| Issues |
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| FEMA Faulted for Handling of Trailers |
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A new report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General says The Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to adequately respond to reports of formaldehyde in temporary trailers housing Katrina victims. In the 79-page report, the agency also found that FEMA didn’t do enough to ensure the safety of the trailers before relocating evacuees. About 3,000 trailers still house Gulf Coast residents displaced by storms. Rick Jervis, USA Today 07/25/2009
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USA Today
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| Laws/Cases |
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| Judge Cuts Damages to Officers |
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Three former Philadelphia police officers who were awarded $10 million in a racial discrimination case should only receive $900,000, a federal judge has decided. U.S. District Judge Mary A. McLaughlin held that Title VII capped damages at $300,000 per plaintiff. In the suit, officers claimed they became the subject of retaliation when they complained to supervisors about mistreatment of black officers. Sam Wood, Philadelphia Inquirer 07/25/2009
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Philadelphia Inquirer
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| Dell Settles Gender Bias Class Action |
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Dell Inc. has agreed to pay $9.1 million settle claims that the computer manufacturer discriminated against female employees, the Austin American-Statesman reports. According to the class-action lawsuit, Dell discriminated against current and former female employees in the areas of pay and promotion. The settlement covers female employees who held certain pay grades from 2007 through 2008. Kirk Ladendorf, Austin American Statesman 07/24/2009
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Austin American Statesman
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| Trailer Park Owners Ordered to Pay Damages |
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An arbitrator has ordered the owners of a California mobile home park to pay $350,000 to residents who claimed unsafe conditions were allowed to persist for years. In a 31-page opinion, retired Superior Court Judge Gregory C. O'Brien held that G.J. Park Associates and its management firm, M.A. Cirillo & Associates failed to respond to simple requests such as repairing a faulty electrical system. O'Brien also recommended that the owners pay punitive damages, attorney fees and court costs. Dan Weikel, LA Times 07/26/2009
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LA Times
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| Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Food Poisoning |
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Fifteen members of a church group have filed a lawsuit against the world’s largest Pizza Hut franchise claiming they were sickened after eating at a Mississippi restaurant. According to the lawsuit, 19 members of the group were treated for nausea and vomiting after eating chicken from the restaurant earlier this year. A Pizza Hut spokesman said regulators found nothing wrong with the food. AP, Kansas City Star 07/24/2009
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Kansas City Star
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| Study |
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| Study Links Agent Orange to Parkinson’s Disease |
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Exposure to the defoliant known as Agent Orange may increase the risk of heart and Parkinson’s disease, according to a report by U.S health advisors. The report is the most recent to link Agent Orange with a variety of health problems among veterans exposed to the chemical during the Vietnam War. Previous findings have established connections between Agent Orange exposure and leukemia, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and birth defects. Mohammad Zargham, Reuters 07/24/2009
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Reuters
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| Study: Phthalates May Cause Liver Damage |
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A new study suggests that a chemical commonly used in plastics may increase the risk of liver damage in premature babies. In the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that phthalates in intravenous feeding bags and tubing may contribute to liver damage. A spokesman for a trade group representing the chemical industry dismissed the findings, saying they failed to prove a causal relationship between phthalates and liver damage. AP, Ft. Worth Star Telegram 07/26/2009
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Ft. Worth Star Telegram
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