Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

February 18, 2019

Nurses Facing Manslaughter Charges after Patient Rots to Death

Seven former employees, including a nurse practitioner, have been indicted after prosecutors say conditions at an Ohio nursing home got so bad that one patient “rotted to death.”

The contracted nurse practitioner and two workers are being charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly neglecting two patients, according to reports, which says the four other employees are accused of neglect or falsifying patient care records.

The group worked at a care center in Columbus.

According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, nurses failed to properly care for a male patient who died of septic shock after his wounds led to gangrenous and necrotic tissue in 2017.

According to reports, an attorney for the nursing facility said all the employees involved were fired two years ago.

Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult one. Selecting the right home can be a stressful and emotional process. Regardless of how much research and thought is put in to choosing the right facility, you may end up with a facility that fails to provide quality care and treatment.

Too many Florida nursing home residents are victims of neglect and/or abuse. The result of this abusive treatment can be devastating to family members. That is why our Florida Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to help loved ones of nursing home abuse and neglect discover what they can do to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

February 14, 2019

Family Sues Pasco County School District over Alleged Sexual Assault at School

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A west Pasco County parent has sued the school district, alleging its negligence allowed her child to be sexually abused several times by a Ridgewood High teacher at the school campus.

The teacher was arrested in March 2018 and faces two charges of sexual assault of a minor child by a custodial authority.

The family contends that the school district should be held financially responsible, as it failed to properly supervise the teen or the teacher, and it did not provide adequate security as a precaution to “foreseeable criminal acts on the premises.” The family argues that the district should have known about prior instances of sexual misconduct by employees against students, and done something about it.

The complaint says the victim suffered physical and psychological injuries, and incurred medical expenses for treatment. It asks for a judgment in excess of $15,000.

The physical, mental, and emotional effects of sexual abuse and assault are very real and far-reaching. Victims often struggle for years following sexual assault or abuse. In many cases, victims find need therapy, counseling, medication,and more in order to heal. Treatment can undoubtedly be beneficial, but also costly, which can be be even more stress added on victims who are already struggling to move forward with their lives.

Our Florida Sexual Abuse Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton offer compassionate legal representation for victims of sexual abuse and assault. Many people do not realize that they can take civil action against the responsible party. We can help you pursue financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.

February 9, 2019

Amazon CEO Accuses National Enquirer of Sextortion

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said Thursday that he was the target of an extortion and blackmail effort by the National Enquirer, which he accused of threatening to publish intimate pictures of him unless he backed off an investigation of the tabloid.

Bezos said the Enquirer and its parent company, American Media Inc., made the threat after he began investigating how the tabloid obtained text messages that revealed his relationship with a former TV anchor.

Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, wrote that the Enquirer wanted him to make a false public statement that he and his security consultant “have no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMI’s coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces.”

Bezos declined to do so.

Instead, he published what he said were emails from Enquirer executives to a lawyer representing his security consultant. In one, a top Enquirer editor appears to suggest that the tabloid would publish a series of photos of Bezos and the TV anchor, some of them salacious, if AMI’s terms weren’t met.

The story spilled into public on Jan. 9 when Bezos and his wife revealed they would be divorcing after 25 years of marriage – roughly two days after the Enquirer had informed him it would be publishing a story about his relationship with the former TV anchor. The Enquirer later published what it called “sleazy text messages and gushing love notes” between Bezos and the former TV anchor, raising questions about how the tabloid was able to get such intimate material.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan did not immediately comment on Bezos’ assertion that AMI had committed extortion.

It will certainly be interesting to see how this case unfolds and if, in fact, the National Enquirer committed sextortion. Extortion is defined as the use of non-physical force or threats to persuade another person to do something for you. With the growth of the Internet, extortion has been taken to the extreme, bringing us to sextortion or the use of sexual exploitation/blackmail to compel someone to do something for you.

Extortion/sextortion crimes can be charged as state or federal offenses and involve some type of bribery, blackmail, coercion or demands. This crime is a second-degree felony in Florida, carrying potential consequences of up to 15 years in prison.

February 8, 2019

Brevard County Caregiver Arrested Years After Disabled Woman Gave Birth

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A caregiver at a Florida facility for people with disabilities has been accused of impregnating a resident who gave birth in 2015.

Authorities say the 58-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on charges of lewd and lascivious battery on a disabled person.

An arrest affidavit says the man helped care for adult clients at a facility in Rockledge.

Staff members in 2015 discovered the female client was pregnant. The baby was born a few months later and adopted by the woman’s family.

Police say the woman has the mental capacity of a small child.

Authorities say the man had previously denied having sexual contact with the woman and voluntarily submitted a DNA sample last year. Investigators say the man’s sample came back a match with the child, resulting in his arrest.

According to the Disability and Abuse Project, which focuses on physical, sexual and emotional abuse of people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, 7 out of 10 Americans with developmental disabilities report they were sexually and/or physically assaulted, or neglected, or abused in some manner. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice reported 1.3 million crimes against persons with disabilities. Disabled women and men are three times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than the general population, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s data.

If you have a loved one who is or was being abused by a caregiver, our Florida Sexual Abuse Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help. Your consultatio is completely free of charge and you are under no obligation to us. We want to make sure that you are armed with the knowledge that you need to hold the responsible party accountable for their despicable actions.

February 5, 2019

Construction Worker on Highway Job in Winter Park Killed in Accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Officials say a worker doing construction on central Florida’s massive highway expansion project was killed after being struck by a drainage pipe.

According to the Orange County Fire Rescue, the worker was struck by a 20-foot iron pipe on Monday.

Workers were moving the pipe when it fell and hit the worker in the head along Interstate 4 near Winter Park, Florida.

The sheriff’s office is investigating.

If you have lost a loved one in a construction accident that could have been prevented, you may have a wrongful death claim. After a construction accident results in injury or death, it is important to investigate the site in the same condition as it was when the accident occurred. Construction sites are constantly changing, and owners may attempt to cover up a dangerous situation that caused the accident, or it could be fixed as part of the construction job.

Losing a loved one in a construction accident could entitle you to financial compensation for damages. Our Florida Workers Compensation Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can review the facts of your case and determine what steps to take next. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we don’t get paid unless there is a settlement or recovery of funds made on your behalf.

January 31, 2019

Rand Paul Awarded More than $580K Following Neighbor’s Attack

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul was awarded more than $580,000 in damages and medical expenses on Wednesday in his lawsuit against the neighbor who tackled him and broke several of his ribs in a dispute over lawn maintenance.

A jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, deliberated less than two hours before delivering the award to the Republican lawmaker.

Paul had testified during the three-day trial that he feared for his life as he struggled to breathe after his neighbor slammed into him in their upscale Bowling Green neighborhood in late 2017.

The jury awarded $375,000 in punitive damages and $200,000 for pain and suffering, plus $7,834 for medical expenses.

The neighbor’s attorney said they would appeal.

In his lawsuit, Paul sought up to $500,000 in compensatory damages and up to $1 million in punitive damages.

The neighbor has already served a 30-day prison sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting a member of Congress. Federal prosecutors have appealed, saying 21 months would have been appropriate. The neighbor also paid a $10,000 fine and served 100 hours of community service in the criminal case.

The attack in Paul’s yard was motivated by lawn care, not politics.

The neighbor told the jury that he attacked Paul after watching the senator begin forming a brush pile near their property line.

The day before the attack, the neighbor said, he had burned another brush pile that Paul had created near the boundary. He doused that pile with gasoline and set it on fire, the neighbor said. An explosion burned his face, neck and arms, and he said he was still in severe pain when he attacked Paul the next day. The neighbor testified he had hauled away previous brush piles accumulated by Paul without asking the senator.

The neighbor testified that he tried to talk to Paul about his lawn maintenance concerns, but was rebuffed. Paul maintained in his testimony that he kept any brush pile on his own property.

A successful personal injury claim may allow injury victims to recover financial compensation for the following expenses and damages:

Medical bills
Lost income
Future medical bills
Pain and suffering
Disfigurement
Loss of consortium
Property damage
Emotional injury
Economic and noneconomic damages
Harm to one’s reputation

In some cases, punitive damages will be awarded as well. Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer for their reckless and careless behavior, and deter future negligent or intentional illegal actions.

At Whittel & Melton, our experienced Florida Personal Injury Attorneys understand the complexities surrounding personal injury cases, as well as the importance of presenting adequate evidence to support these claims. We will work diligently to compile the necessary documentation and we will consult with medical experts to effectively pursue your personal injury claim. We are dedicated to achieving the most favorable outcome possible for our injured clients.

January 21, 2019

Assisted Living Facility Sued for Neglecting Patient

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A patient’s representative is suing an assisted living facility operator for alleged negligence and reckless conduct.

The woman, who holds power of attorney for the resident, filed a complaint in Cabell Circuit Court against The Village of Riverview alleging that it violated the residents’ rights to be free from abuse, neglect and mistreatment.

According to the complaint, the resident was admitted to the facility on May 12, 2017 for rehabilitation and assistance. As a result of the facility’s negligence, the resident suffered a displaced femoral neck fracture, a periprosthetic right femur fracture and facial/scalp laceration, and a scalp hematoma.

The patient’s representative holds The Village of Riverview responsible because it allegedly failed to provide an environment free of accident hazards and failed to provide adequate supervision and assistance to prevent accidents.

Assisted living facilities provide care to hundreds of thousands of senior citizens and elderly individuals throughout the nation. Sadly, the level of care these individuals receive does not always live up to the standard of care that the assisted living facilities are required to provide. As a result, those left in the facility’s care are often abused or neglected.

If your loved one suffered serious injuries or died in an assisted living facility as a result of negligence, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the facility. However, there are time constraints for taking legal action in the state of Florida against assisted living facilities, so it is important to take action early to protect your rights.

When a loved one is injured or killed as a result of negligence in an assisted living facility, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. Our Florida Assisted Living Facility Abuse & Neglect Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to help guide you through the legal process.

January 16, 2019

Florida Family Awarded $500M in Wrongful Death Suit

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Florida jury has awarded nearly $500 million to the family of a woman fatally shot during an argument in a car in 2011.

The family of the 20-year-old Jacksonville woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man who shot her and two other men who helped dump her body.

The man who shot her was sentenced to 45 years for second-degree murder in 2017. The other men pleaded guilty to accessory charges.

On Tuesday, a Duval County jury awarded the family over $495 million for emotional distress and punitive damages.

Deciding whether to file a wrongful death lawsuit after losing a loved one is a personal matter. While no one else can make this decision for you and your family, our experienced Florida Wrongful Death Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can provide you with useful information about the benefits of filing a lawsuit so that you can make the best decision.

There are two main reasons people choose to file wrongful death suits:

Hold the person responsible for the death accountable for their actions. A wrongful death lawsuit holds the at-fault party legally accountable for a wrongful death.
Obtain and protect your financial recovery. The only way to recover monetary compensation after the wrongful death of a loved one is to file a wrongful death claim. This can provide you with money that you need to pay any outstanding medical bills and funeral costs caused by the other person’s negligence. It can provide you with compensation for the lost income your family has suffered, and will continue to suffer, and it can also compensate your family for other damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish.

January 15, 2019

Woman, Baby Killed in Crash at Florida Intersection

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A woman and baby were killed and a man and another infant were seriously injured in a crash at a Florida intersection Sunday afternoon.

Florida Highway Patrol says a man lost control of his pickup truck and crashed into the victims’ car, as well as other vehicles. Officials say a 19-year-old and a 1-year-old were pronounced dead at the scene. The car’s driver, a 22-year-old man, was taken to a Fort Myers hospital with serious injuries, and a 1-year-old was airlifted to a Tampa hospital with critical injuries.

Several occupants of other vehicles suffered minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation. No citations were immediately reported.

Highway intersections bring multiple roads and opposite lanes of traffic together. It’s no wonder that they are the site of so many car accidents. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 40 percent of car crashes in the U.S. happen at intersections.

The at-fault driver of an intersection accident that causes serious injuries or death may be legally liable if it was caused by their carelessness or recklessness. Those who have been injured or suffered a serious loss have a right to seek financial compensation when this happens.

January 9, 2019

R. Kelly Under Criminal Investigation Following Lifetime Documentary Series

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Lifetime documentary series covering distressing allegations against R. Kelly has reportedly prompted a criminal investigation in Georgia, while prosecutors in Chicago are urging any victims to come forward.

Investigators from the Fulton County District Attorney’s office in Atlanta have tried to touch base with some of the women featured in the six-part series, according to reports.

Kelly, who’s faced numerous accusations of sexual misconduct, which he’s denied, is accused of manipulating women and controlling their lives.

Authorities involved in the probe have contacted a former girlfriend of Kelly who has spoken out multiple times about the alleged abuse she endured, according to reports.

Cook County (Chicago) State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, held a press conference Tuesday encouraging any victims to come forward, calling the allegations against Kelly covered in the Lifetime series “deeply, deeply disturbing.”

Foxx said she’s been in touch with people who claim to have information regarding allegations in Cook County, and said her office has received calls from relatives of people who have been in contact with Kelly in recent years. She said that includes family members who are looking for a loved one.

Foxx noted that she has not been in touch with Fulton County officials or with Kelly himself.

The accusations against Kelly have generated renewed attention since Thursday, when Lifetime began airing its series “Surviving R. Kelly.” The investigation reportedly began after a wave of calls to officials after the series debuted.

Kelly, 52, has been accused of inappropriate behavior with multiple underage girls in the past, which he has denied. He allegedly married the late singer Aaliyah in 1994, when she was 15.

Kelly was acquitted in a highly publicized child pornography case in 2008 after being accused of appearing in a sex tape with an underage girl years earlier.

Kelly has been accused of sexually abusing minors for decades. There have been civil lawsuits and an indictment, but he’s never actually been convicted of committing any crime. There are even alleged videos and evidence that Kelly possessed child pornography floating around. He settled many civil lawsuits out of court, and throughout the years of accusations, charges, an indictment, settlements, and along with Lifetime’s latest documentary series, a new hashtag has erupted: #MuteRKelly.