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Many people embark on a lawsuit without taking into consideration all possible consequences. Litigation can be very costly and not all the costs are obvious. Most expect the costs of hiring an attorney and make payment arrangements, usually payable based on an hourly fee schedule or on a “contingency” basis (i.e., the lawyer is paid only if successful, usually out of any judgmen…

“Negligent hiring” is a legal doctrine that holds employers liable for unlawful acts committed by their employees. The issue arises when an employer hires a person that she knew or should have known could pose an undue risk of harm to others within the course and scope of employment. Under this doctrine, the employer has the responsibility for checking the background and referen…

A “class action” is a lawsuit brought by a representative plaintiff on behalf of a class of persons with similar claims. The class and the lawsuit must be certified by a judge as appropriate for class action treatment. If the case is certified, the lawsuit may proceed to resolve issues common to all class members. In general, notice of the lawsuit is mailed to all potential clas…

In most states, an individual who is injured by an employee’s negligent acts can generally sue the employer, if the negligent act was committed in the course of employment duties. Until 1946, however, “governmental immunity” prohibited individuals from suing the U.S. government for injuries committed by federal government employees. This changed with the enactment of the F…

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving accounted for nearly 6,000 deaths in the United States in 2008 alone, and over half a million injuries. That fatality number accounts for 16 percent of traffic deaths. Distracted driving is on the rise, probably due to the increased availability and popularity of electronic gadgets that take the driverR…