Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Florida Court Clarifies Notice Rules for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
A Florida Appeals Court ruled earlier last month that a tolling provision in the state laws regarding medical malpractice lawsuits applies to all potential defendants once any notices of intent are timely served, and it even applies to prospective defendants who have not yet been served. A three judge panel from the Third District… Read More »
Florida PIP Insurance Data Looking Positive
A report recently released from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation shows that the growth of fraud in personal injury protection (PIP) claims has stopped. As a result, legislators in the state are unlikely to change the law that was designed to reduce fraud in the state’s “no-fault” auto insurance system and proponents of… Read More »
Brevard County Dangerous for Pedestrians and Motorcyclists
Florida is one of the most popular states for walkers, joggers, and motorcycle riders for its scenic beach roads. But a 2.2 mile-long stretch of coastal highway in Brevard County is one of the most dangerous places for a pedestrian or motorcyclist to be. Between 2009 and 2013, a total of 22 “vulnerable road… Read More »
Whistleblower Files Suit Against St. Petersburg V.A. Office
Just days after a report was released about the Department of Veterans Affairs St. Petersburg Regional Office, Javier Soto was informed by that office that his services were no longer needed as a Ratings Benefits Services Representative. Mr. Soto filed a whistleblower complaint with the federal Merit Systems Protection Board, claiming that he was… Read More »
Two Men Killed in Boating Accident
Two men were killed and two women were injured in a boating accident last Sunday on Lake Jessup. The accident occurred a little after 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, when an airboat struck the support beams of a bridge under the State Road 417 bridge. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that… Read More »
Florida Workers’ Compensation Exclusive Remedy Bars Wrongful Death Settlement
A Florida Supreme Court recently ruled that the exclusive remedy provisions of the state’s workers’ compensation laws prevent the estate of an employee killed on the job from receiving a multi-million dollar judgment against the employer and its insurer in a separate wrongful death case. The estate of Santana Morales, Jr. was denied a… Read More »
Family Agrees to Multi-Million Dollar Settlement for Son’s Wrongful Death
According to reports, the family of a 19-year-old boy who suffocated and died while strapped into a restraint chair at the Clay County Jail has reached a multi-million dollar settlement for their wrongful death lawsuit filed against the jail. Daniel Linsinbigler, 19, was asphyxiated in Clay County Jail in March 2013. The death was… Read More »
Pasco County Child Mauled by Pet Dog
A family in Pasco County is devastated after their family pet mauled their young child. The County Sheriff’s Department says that Jasper Debow, 4, was bitten by the family’s Rottweiler at his grandmother’s home in New Port Richey shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Sunday of this week. The Pasco County Animal Control took possession… Read More »
Sinkhole Swallows Car Outside Tampa
Earlier this month, a ten-foot-by-ten-foot sinkhole opened up in front of a home in Holiday, Florida and swallowed an entire car. The owner of the home, 63-year-old Anna Maria Boi Jones, was devastated to learn that her entire home, near the corner of Torch and Button Streets, has to be condemned as a result… Read More »
Slip and Fall Lawsuits on the Rise in Florida
Some of the most commonplace items in restaurants, stores, and other businesses if not properly stored or taken care of can cause slip and fall accidents. Hand sanitizer, fried foods, liquid soap, water puddles, napkins, ice, and other things have all contributed to this type of accident in the last few years. A rising… Read More »