NEWS ONLINE: 6/22 American Lawyer Academy

American Lawyer Academy

E. coli Outbreak

June 22, 2011 at 4:51 AM

Our Michigan food poisoning attorneys represent those who suffer from foodborne illnesses. It has come to our attention that in Germany at least 30 people have recently died at the hands of E. coli. Contaminated sprouts are to blame for the E. coli according to German health officials. An environmental sanitarian, Tim Link says "Fruits and vegetables are part of a healthful diet, but because they don't get cooked, they can become contaminated."

Contamination of fresh produce often occurs when the produce are being watered in a field or washed during processing with water already contaminated with salmonella. Also, if juices form raw meat and poultry come into contacts with these products in the kitchen then contamination may occur.

The amount of food poisoning cases are rising, with one in six Americans sickened this past year. According to Dr. Richard Fairley, "Most food poisoning, for most people, is uneventful – not life threatening. But there are occasionally people who are at risk of serious complications." Approximately 50 million Americans get sick from foodborne illnesses with about 3,000 dying as a result annually, estimated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Surprisingly, even though infections caused by E. coli have dropped in the past 15 years, infections from Salmonella have increased.

About 1 million Americans each year are sickened by Salmonella each year costing $365 million in direct medical costs. Symptoms of Salmonella include:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal Cramps
• Headaches

These symptoms usually last up to between 4-7 days. Link says, “Foodborne illness is very under-reported. If you have the 'flu' and it's (gastrointestinal), it's probable food poisoning.”

Some precautions to help limit exposure to foodborne illnesses include:

• Washing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce
• Cut away damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating
• Wash produce before you peel it
• Throw away the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage
• Refrigerate cut melons and cut tomatoes

The statute of limitations for Michigan food poisoning cases varies from state to state. In Michigan, you must file a lawsuit within three years of the date of the poisoning. It is important that you hire a food poisoning lawyer as soon as possible so that your claim is not destroyed due to a missed deadline.

To learn more about the laws in Michigan food poisoning cases, you should request our FREE BOOK, “The Ultimate Guide To Injury Cases in Michigan” which includes The “Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case.” We will send it out immediately. Call us now at (800) 606-1717 to request your free copy of our book.

California DUI and Employment

June 22, 2011 at 12:04 AM

California motorists arrested for driving under the influence face numerous consequences, including license suspension, fines, and possible jail time. Many drivers don't realize that a DUI arrest, or worse yet a DUI conviction, can also have a significant effect on the driver's current job and future employment opportunities, particularly if driving is part of the job description.

This is because many public and private employers conduct background checks on all prospective employees. In addition to occupations involving driving, jobs that require security clearance or involve children, the elderly, or the disabled may require background checks.

Also, many fields of employment require an applicant to disclose a past California DUI conviction. For example, those running for public office or applying for a professional license in the state must disclose a DUI conviction from the past 10 years.

To ensure that California DUI offenders are not barred from securing future employment, there are certain laws in place. For instance:

California and many other states offer certificates of rehabilitation for employment purposes to those convicted of a DUI.
California Labor Code §432.7 states that employers cannot ask you about an arrest that did not result in a conviction.
If you successfully complete probation, you can file a motion to withdraw your plea or set aside the verdict; this will show in your records that the California DUI case was dismissed.

Finally, if you are concerned about a how a DUI arrest or DUI conviction may impact your current or future employment, it is important to consult with an experienced DUI defense attorney.

Further information California DUI laws can be found at the California DUI Guide website. Drivers are also encouraged to contact experienced California DUI defense attorney Thomas Wallin if they are arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in California.