“I would give them a rating of good,” Francendese told reporters. “I’m kind of a taskmaster, so I wouldn’t give them an excellent, but I am pleased that the rate has gone from 2,500 cubic yards (of coal ash) a day to 15,000 cubic yards.”

Francendese said the goal is to finish the cleanup of coal ash from the Emory River by spring 2010. Then, operations would shift to cleaning up coal ash from land, which will probably take three to four years, he said.

Steve McCracken, TVA general manager for the Kingston cleanup, said TVA is on track to meet those goals.

“By spring 2010 we should be finished with the Emory River, and then we will start with the Swan Pond area,” he said. “We intend to clean up the Swan Pond embayment to the way it was before.”

Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel

This incident is a perfect example of how sometimes accidents just find us. Thankfully the clean up effort is going successfully and we can only hope that the people affected can be compensated in a fair manner.

Do you have a Knoxville personal injury case you would like to discuss with an attorney? Call us today to set up a free consultation.

At the other end of the scale – last in happiness – is New York state.

As if to illustrate the problem, residents attending a meeting Wednesday in rural Queensbury unleashed their anger and cynicism at a state government they described as corrupt, self-dealing and too quick to increase taxes. It was a tirade that had one lifelong resident saying he was ready to flee “this stinkin’ state.”

Oswald suggested the long commutes, congestion and high prices around New York City account for some of the unhappiness.

Tennessee really is a great state and it’s easy to see why we are relatively happier compared with other states.

Whittington Creek is known for its upscale homes and peaceful streets. All that changed dramatically December 9th just after 3 a.m. when a home belonging to Stephen and Sue Krzeski violently exploded. The explosion blew the couple from the home and into the back yard. Both were transferred to the hospital where Stephen is listed in serious condition and Sue is listed in stable condition. Their son is believed to have perished in the blast. Clean-up efforts will involve recovering his body in what is left of the basement.

Flames from the fireball shot 40 feet into the air. Debris was scattered 60 yards in all directions. Within a minute the entire house was completely collapsed and consumed by fire. It appears the couple’s lives may have been spared by being blown out of the house. The cause is reported to be related to natural gas, though the exact cause is still unknown.

“They didn’t seem to be burned, they were more in shock,” Farina said. “I don’t know how they survived.”

She said Sue Krzeski was lying on top of a pile of rubble in her back yard, while Stephen Krzeski was under a pile of rubble, also in the back yard.

“We are two football fields away, and the whole ground shook,” Farina said.

The blast tilted pictures on the walls of her house and flung open cabinet doors, she said.

“There was a huge explosion,” said neighbor Ed King. “I thought a tree had fallen in the back yard.

“When it wasn’t a tree, then I thought we’d had an earthquake.

“I looked out and within 60 seconds the house was totally collapsed, and it was totally on fire.”

Larry Elmore, who lives across the street from the house that exploded, had just moved in last month.

“My son said the house across the street is gone, it’s just gone,” Elmore said.

Our deepest condolences go out to the victims and other families affected by this accident. A thorough investigation is critical to determine what caused this tragedy.



Accidents can strike anywhere and affect us in many ways. If you or someone you know has been affected by an accident and would like to discuss your case with an attorney, feel free to call us today to set up an appointment.

Hatfield’s truck went off the roadway, struck the two workers and knocked down numerous metal fence posts before coming to rest about 100 yards from the initial impact point, investigators said.

Hatfield, 50, sustained a minor head wound. Criminal charges are pending against him, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The lawsuit states it will rely on “all of the evidence, as it comes in, to make a full, fair and accurate determination as to the exact form of negligence.”

The complaint alleges Hatfield was speeding and failed to have the truck under control.

Our condolences go out to the families of the victims of this horrible accident.

If you or someone you know has been hurt in an accident, get help. It’s the only way to make sure you get a fair and reasonable settlement for your suffering. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with an attorney. We’re here to help.

The rails of the front seats are equipped with sensors that detect whether the seat is in the forward or rearward position. Their data flow into the calculations of the restraint control system. Since the computer knows the approximate position of the occupant in relation to the airbag, it can ensure optimal use of the available forward displacement region – the distance in which the upper body is decelerated by the belt and the airbag – which significantly reduces the effect of the impact on the occupants.

The belt force limiters too react flexibly. In this subsystem, two small torsion bars are interconnected by gears. For smaller and lighter persons, the torsion bars are disengaged promptly. This provides more slack in the seatbelt, enabling the upper body to sink deeply into the airbag, which reduces the force on the thorax. In more violent crashes, the torsion bars are disengaged later or not at all, increasing the belt’s restraining force.

The IIHS has recently awarded no less than four Audi models the “Top Safety Pick” rating again for the second time in a row for their high level of occupant safety. And in the Euro NCAP test the Audi A4 earned the highest rating of five stars.

The purpose of this post isn’t to encourage everyone to go buy an Audi, but the safer car you drive, the less likely you are to be injured in an accident.

Have you or someone you know suffered an accident injury? Call a trusted and experienced Knoxville personal injury attorney today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

In 2007, there were 5,104 deer-related crashes, including 257 that involved injuries and one that was fatal; in 2006, it was 5,839. Since 2003, deer-related crashes in Tennessee have risen almost 17 percent.

There were 578 deer versus car crashes in October 2007 and 870 in November. Deer-hunting season begins in November, which is the worst month for deer-related crashes.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol also warns motorists not to overcorrect to avoid a deer because that could lead to serious accidents.

“It’s amazing even at 40, 50 miles per hour what a 200-pound deer can do to a car,” said Lt. Tony Barham, adding that striking the animal can total one’s vehicle.

The four teens had been to Crossville to see a movie and were on their way back home, the trooper said. In the westbound lanes just east of Monterey, a tractor trailer truck was traveling in the left lane alongside the Ford SUV. The truck driver attempted to enter the right lane, and that forced Matthew Harris to swerve over off the road to avoid being hit, and the truck traveled on, the trooper said. “The truck had given a signal that he was moving over, and Matthew Harris blew his horn, but had to move to the side to keep from being hit,” the trooper said. The Ford SUV may have been in the trucker’s blind spot, Trooper Bilbrey said.

After moving over, the Ford SUV hit the guardrail, then bounced back onto the highway and struck another tractor trailer truck which had been traveling right behind the Ford, the trooper said. “That second truck swerved trying to keep from hitting Matt’s SUV, but there was a collision, and Lindsey A. Toft was ejected through the back window.” The two girls in the back seat were not using seatbelts, the trooper said.

This tragedy should never have happened. Hopefully the driver of the 18-wheeler will be located and help responsible in an appropriate manner. We wish the victims and their families the best.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Tennessee tractor trailer accident? If so, call us today to set up a free consultation. We represent clients throughout the state for many types of injury cases. Call us today so we can help you.

A man faces two federal misdemeanor charges in a summer crash that killed two people inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, authorities said today.

Clyde L. Grubbs, 74, of Cincinnati was driving south on Newfound Gap Road on Aug. 19 when his Oldsmobile Bravado sport utility vehicle crossed the center line, sideswiped a Mercury sedan and hit a Harley-Davidson motorcycle head-on, park officials said. The Mercury’s driver wasn’t hurt, but the motorcycle’s riders, Charles and Diane Bolt, both 55 and from Belton, S.C., died.

Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident? Call us today to discuss your Knoxville personal injury case at no charge. We can help!

A “dramatic” increase in the number of plaintiffs seeking medical monitoring would have a number of negative consequences, the authors argue.

Among them would be an adjustment of the statute of limitations, which begins running when a personal injury is found. If there is no injury, the statute would have to be altered.

Also, large medical monitoring awards like the one in a West Virginia case against DuPont could prevent some businesses from having the funds to pay personal injury plaintiffs if they do cause them harm.

A Kentucky decision says, “(s)pending large amounts of money to satisfy medical monitoring judgments will impair (Defendants’) ability to fully compensate victims who emerge years later with actual injuries that require immediate attention.”

The paper notes the reputations of some Illinois counties, such as Madison, that were termed “Judicial Hellholes” by the American Tort Reform Association. Madison County has been seen as a haven for asbestos claims because of its ability to deal with them quickly.

This is an interesting debate that is happening all over the country. There can be short term benefits to injury victims, but at long term costs to those same victims. The answer is hard to pinpoint but it may involve extending the statute of limitations in cases of medical monitoring and maybe other reforms as well.

The fireworks were a product of Zambelli Fireworks Internationale based out of New Castle. A supervisor of the company was cooperating with Etna police officials to determine what caused the display to tip over. Emergency transportation arrived at the scene. Paramedics treated the nine injured victims at the scene. Many people stood around in shock and horror of what had just taken place.

Police and Fire Department officials tried to keep the crowd from stampeding away from the scene while the injured were treated inside a local store by EMS. The misdirected fireworks also damaged the exterior of three local buildings. The victims remained unidentified.

Source: Injury News

Have you been injured in some way? You need to speak to a Knoxville personal injury attorney to make sure your rights are protected. Call us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Of course the tabloids are abuzz right now with stories about infidelity, spousal battery (Tiger’s wife Elin is accused of scratching Tiger’s face), and intrigue. Tiger has successfully managed his brand and his privacy to a level few public figures have done. Until now, that is. Read more about the Tiger Woods car accident.

Your car accident may not be as dramatic as Tiger’s accident, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need help. If you’ve been hurt in some way, call us today to discuss your case at no charge. We’re the personal injury attorneys Knoxville trusts. Call today!

The accident has not proved fatal to any of the three, but they are listed in critical condition, with one in a coma. (Source: New York Injury News)

It’s hard to imagine what was so pressing on the driver’s mind that would cause her to be so reckless. Regardless of her reasons she should be held accountable civilly and criminally.

If you’ve been injured in some way, call us today to discuss your case at no charge. We can help!

A 3-year-old Alabama boy drowned on his birthday today at a rental cabin’s swimming pool, authorities said.

The boy, Drake L. Speegle of Hartselle, Ala., apparently slipped away from his family and either fell or jumped into the 4-foot-deep pool at the cabin on Bird Nest Way just after 12:30 p.m., according to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department. Emergency workers tried to revive him with no success.

What a sad story. We wish his family the best as they grieve his loss. It’s impossible to know without an investigation whether this tragic event was preventable or not. If it was preventable, steps should be taken to hold the responsible party accountable and prevent this from happening in the future.

Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident? Get Knoxville personal injury help from the lawyers who care. Call us today to discuss your case free of charge.

Baker was using a seat belt and was injured in the crash, Mabe noted. Baker was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where he was listed this morning in stable condition.

Mabe’s report states alcohol and drugs were not involved in the crash. Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Best wishes to those grieving the three lives lost and to Bradley Baker for a speedy recovery.

However, the good news is that’s why we’re here. If you’ve been injured in some way and need help getting fair compensation, you can discuss your case with us at no charge. We’ll gather the facts and determine who is responsible and what level of compensation you are entitled to. We’ll then work to get you the highest amount possible. We don’t get paid until you do.

If you’re wondering whether you have a case, call the personal injury attorneys Knoxville trusts to set up a free consultation with an attorney.

The two plaintiffs in Armes v. TVA are seeking compensatory damages up to $10 million and punitive damages up to $20 million. The two plaintiffs in Wallace v. TVA are seeking up to $600,000 in compensatory damages and up to $1 million in punitive damages.

Plaintiffs in the other four cases are seeking unspecified damages.

Most of the lawsuits allege that TVA’s negligence led to the spill. TVA is countering that its status as an entity of the federal government shields it from the claims. TVA has hired the firm Shook, Hardy and Bacon of Kansas City, Mo., to work with its in-house counsel on the lawsuits.

The spill has no doubt affected these and other families greatly, not to mention the health risks posed by the coal ash that has now been introduced into area drinking and agricultural water sources.

Have you been affected by the TVA coal ash spill? If so, call us today to discuss your case free of charge. We’ll go over your options and offer you advice on how to pursue your case. Call us today!

Have you been injured in some way due to someone else’s negligence? If so, call us about your Knoxville personal injury case for a free consultation. We’re the attorneys who care.

The News-Sentinel reports no other injuries. An investigator was on scene this morning to determine what started the fire.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, was expected to provide more details Wednesday on the fix. The Japanese automaker announced the massive recall in late September and told owners to remove the driver’s side floor mats to prevent the gas pedal from potentially becoming jammed.

Popular vehicles such as the Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger car in America, and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid, are part of the recall. It includes the 2007-10 model year Camry, 2005-10 Toyota Avalon, 2004-09 Prius, 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma, 2007-10 Toyota Tundra, 2007-10 Lexus ES350 and 2006-10 Lexus IS250/350.

On Tuesday, Toyota announced a recall of 110,000 Tundra trucks from the 2000-03 model years to address excessive rust on the vehicle’s frame.

The recall was prompted by a horrific crash in California that killed a highway patrolman and three members of his family. The car reached 120 miles per hour before crashing and bursting into flames.

Have you been injured in a car accident? Call us today to discuss your case at no cost or obligation. We’re the Knoxville personal injury lawyers you can trust. Call us today.

The vehicle was developed in response to plummeting interest rates.

Whereas personal injury victims would have traditionally parked their pay-out in a cash deposit or a Court of Protection Special Account, both now offer just 0.5 per cent annual growth.

In the case of the Court of Protection account, this was cut from 6 per cent at the start of the year.

7IM said victims of personal injury were not “ordinary investors” and their complex financial needs were rarely catered for by standard investment products.

There was a danger IFAs may be tempted to put such clients into riskier equity-based portfolios in an attempt to beat cash returns, the firm said.

The 7IM Personal Injury fund will look to achieve its Libor-plus return with less volatility than the market.

As a way to address this issue, a personal injury cash advance program allows plaintiffs to borrow money against future settlements. Of course the amount would depend on your case and what the likely payout will be, but if you need a way to make ends meet in the interim, this could be your best option if you can’t get help elsewhere such as friends and family.

Most of the time, personal injury victims have limited options: they could borrow from the bank, but the bank expects a monthly payment on a cash loan; they could max our their credit cards, but still, a check needs to be sent every four weeks to cover the costs; they could get a cash loan from friends and family, but that has the capacity to strain long-formed relationships. When there is no money to make monthly payments, plaintiff’s with personal injury suits lapse into a crisis situation where a cash loan is essential!

When a personal injury cash loan is needed, help is available. By taking a personal injury cash loan against their personal injury lawsuit, plaintiffs can ease the strain of financial burden and not be out of pocket with money they don’t yet have! Best of all, the cash loan is non-recourse. If the plaintiff doesn’t win their personal injury lawsuit, they don’t have to pay anything back.

Source: Oasis

If you have questions about your own case, call us today and we’ll go to work for you. We are the injury attorneys in Knoxville who care.

Rather than go with these minimums, it’s highly advisable to get an increased amount of insurance in all categories to protect yourself financially. The risk you run is facing a lawsuit from the other party to cover their medical bills if your insurance limits are not high enough. This insurance article explains more:

When it comes to Tennessee car insurance, the state law for Tennessee requires a minimum coverage of $25,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per injured person. It also requires up to a maximum of $50,000 per accident. The minimum state requirement for Property Damage Liability coverage is $10,000. This type of coverage is generally referred to as 25/50/10 coverage.

What happens if you don’t get car insurance in Tennessee? Law enforcement officers will ask you for proof of insurance at the time of traffic stops or accidents. Insurance companies notify the department of motor vehicles of all policy cancellations, non-renewals, and new policies. If this is the case with you, the law enforcement officer will know it and it could cause you huge fines or worse. Failure to maintain proper insurance could lead to the suspension of your vehicle registration and/or driver license. This can be expensive to the vehicle owner. Be sure that you follow the Tennessee car insurance laws!

Have you been injured in an accident? Need help getting fair compensation? Call the personal injury lawyers Knoxville trusts. Get a free consultation with a lawyer to discuss your case.

It’s a serious legal issue for any healthcare professional who acts against the wishes of a parent and gives a vaccination without consent. Richard Gurfein explains:

According to recent media reports, school nurses mistakenly gave the swine flu vaccine to two students whose parents didn’t sign up for it, including a Brooklyn girl with epilepsy who wound up in the hospital after getting the shot.

“Any unlawful touching,” Gurfein explained, “or unauthorized administration of medical care not in an emergency situation is a battery, a legal term for an assault. A school district cannot unilaterally administer vaccinations without parental consent, in writing.”

Gurfein explained that on the issue of liability, it wouldn’t matter if the child got sick or not from the vaccination.

“If there is a battery,” Gurfein said (medicine given to a child without an emergency situation, or parental consent), “by law the child is entitled to compensatory damages.”

Of course there is also the usual amusing name-calling in which highly-trained lawyers seem to specialize and without which no legal tussle would be complete.

Robert Habush said of Cannon’s strategy said “… if Bill Cannon thinks this is a correct way to do business he needs to have his moral compass taken to the repair shop.”

We are not sure how you repair a moral compass, but we suspect it requires more than WD40.

William Cannon, the founding partner of Cannon & Dunphy, spat back saying that Habush was free to do the same thing if he “… weren’t too cheap to bid on his own name.”

Source: The Tech Generation

But sometimes they step over the line and cross into ’stalking’ territory. Where is the line for a PI? It’s not easy to tell. Colleen Collins talks about this issue and says:

Surveillance is a critical skill for any private investigator (PI). In our investigative agency, over half our cases, from criminal defense to personal injury, require some degree of surveillance. For PIs who specialize in insurance or infidelity investigations, surveillance can be the bulk of their work.

Sometimes the issue arises of when legal, permitted surveillance crosses the line into stalking. A rule of thumb is to analyze one’s motive for conducting surveillance. If the performed surveillance serves a purpose for obtaining information that PIs usually obtain, courts will generally uphold rigorous surveillance.

Below are two separate case examples, the first where a state court found that a PI’s actions were stalking, the second where a state court found that the PI’s surveillance was in the course of legitimate investigative activities.