Millions of Keurig Machines Recalled for Risk of Burn-Related Injuries

The popularity of Keurig machines has exploded in recent years.  With the holidays just having passed, it is likely several people received a Keurig coffee machine as a present.  Last week, Keurig recalled more than 7 million of its coffee brewing machines after several reports of users getting burned from hot liquids spraying out.  The Keurig Mini Plus machines made between 2009 and 2014 are the only models affected.  There have been 90 reports of burn-related injuries.  Keurig will send a free repair kit to affected machines that will fix the problem.  It is recommended that until the repair is made, stand at least “an arm’s length away from the brewers and [do] not brew more than two cups in quick succession.”  Keurig Mini Plus owners should check for a model number K10 and an identification number starting with “31” on the bottom of their machines.

    There are a variety of safety defects that can affect consumer products and lead to severe injuries for users.  We have the experience and technical resources to analyze your case, answer your questions, and pursue the compensation you deserve.  If you or a family member has been injured from these machines, contact Portner & Shure for a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on personal injury accidents at (410) 995-1515 or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury

Personal Injury Attorneys Have a New Column

Our firm is now writing for Korea Daily (http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?art_id=2466777) and the Korean Biz Journal (http://www.koreanbizjournal.com/web/)!

Maryland Auto Accident Attorney| Difference Between State and Federal Law

Many of our clients ask us to explain the distinction between Federal laws and state laws. State laws only apply to those who are within that state. Local laws are for counties, towns, and municipalities. This is different from Federal laws, which apply to everyone within the United States. Federal and state laws are separated by the areas of law in which they cover.

Federal laws include:

• Immigration Law


• Bankruptcy Law


• Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Laws


• Civil Rights Laws (Laws that protect against discrimination based on race, age, gender, and disability)


• Patent and Copyright Laws


• Federal Criminal Laws (This includes laws such as tax evasion, kidnapping, counterfeiting, immigration offenses, and certain drug-related offenses)

State laws include:

• Criminal Matters


• Divorce and Family Law


• Welfare and Public Assistance


• Wills and Estates Law


• Real Estate and Real Property Law


• Business Law


• Personal Injury and Negligence Law


• Workers' Compensation Law

Local Laws include:

• Rent Laws


• Zoning Laws


• Local Safety Laws

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney|April Newsletter

Take a look back on the rainy month of April with our latest newsletter!

http://emailstyles.com/portnerandshure/2014-0425-english-newsletter.html

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney|Distracted Drivers to Face Harsher Penalties

Just last week, Governor Martin O'Malley signed the bill for Jake's Law into the books. The law is named after Jake Owen, a 5-year-old boy from South Baltimore who died after a distracted driver crashed into his family's vehicle in 2011. The law creates harsher penalties and jail time for drivers that cause serious or fatal car accidents while talking or texting on their cell phones. The idea behind the law is to make distracted driving similar to drunk driving. The Owen family was shattered when Jake was killed, but when the distracted driver was only fined $1,000 as a result of the crash, they were livid. At the time of the trial, many jury members did not consider talking or texting on the phone while driving to be reckless behavior. Now, a judge may impose a jail sentence up to one year and a $5,000 fine if a driver causes a serious or fatal accident while texting or talking on the phone. It is essential for all drivers to be careful while driving and to know, now more than ever, to put down the phone.

Maryland Personal Injury | Facebook and Twitter Can Hurt You as Much as Your Injury

After suffering from a serious personal injury due to the negligence of another in Maryland, most of our clients focus on getting better. In fact, in the past we would instruct clients that going to the doctor was all they needed to do, with the rise of social media this has now changed.

All Portner & Shure clients are now instructed that they need to be aware that the defendant's insurance company may be viewing their Facebook and Twitter posts. In fact, posts are now discoverable during the course of litigation. Discovery is permissible regardless of whether privacy settings have been set to allow limited access. All of our injury clients are specifically told, therefore that they should no longer post anything that could be considered relevant to their claims.

Once a post is made that could be viewed as harmful to any injury cases, your lawyer cannot ethically instruct you to delete the post. Be aware, in short, that social media posts that are inconsistent with your claim can actually destroy settlements.

Not long ago our injury firm only had to instruct clients in work injury cases or serious injury cases, that doing activities inconsistent with their claim could be caught on video tape. Despite my warnings, I did have several cases that I remember distinctly where a video tape of my clients activities was played at trial. Once, a client claiming a serious injury was found bowling. Another, a sympathetic nice Chinese speaking client, claimed she could not do any activities, yet was filmed raking leaves. Another, a man who claimed he could not raise his arms or lift anything, was filmed putting a rack on top of his car, and filling it with luggage and vacation items. Now, I fear defense attorneys can easily use documents revealing damaging statements, or pictures. from social media.

Maryland Personal Injury|Pre-Settlement Funding

Being involved in an accident can become a financial burden. There are unexpected daily expenses that arise as a result of being injured in an automobile accident. Many are inclined to take out pre-settlement loans to ease their financial burdens.

Be warned, there are many pit falls to pre-settlement loans. These are not like traditional loans that you would receive from your bank. The interest on pre-settlement loans is very high and increases the longer the loan goes unpaid. Typically, rates range from 2% to 4%, plus fees, compounded every single month. A $1,000.00 loan could cost you $1,601.03 after a year. That is a 60% increase.

Pre-Settlement funding companies woo clients with misdirection and word play. They tell clients that the loan is not a direct cost to them, but rather a cost against their final settlement. Any cost against the final settlement is a cost to the client. The money for repayment of that loan comes out of the client's portion of the settlement proceeds. The loans, like any lien on a case, must be paid before medical expenses. Depending on the age of the loan and the compounded interest, clients could find themselves receiving nothing out of their settlement. Further, clients could find themselves receiving nothing out of their settlement and still owing money for medical expenses.

It is true that if your case is not successful, you do not pay back the loan. However, success can come at a high cost.

We caution our clients against taking these loans unless absolutely necessary and only after they have exhausted all of their option such as seeking financial assistance from their families and friends or their private lending institution. If you find yourself in a position to take a pre-settlement loan, it is recommended that you take only a small amount of money, essentially take only what you absolutely need. Do not borrow yourself out of your own recovery.

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney|Newsletter

Check out our March Newsletter

Maryland Dog Bite Attorney|New Bill Seeks to Make All Dog Owners Liable For Bites

In 2012, the Court of Appeals made the controversial ruling that outraged dog lovers across the state: owners of pure bred pit bulls would be held strictly liable for all bites because pit bulls were deemed inherently dangerous. To top it off, landlords could be held liable as well. This court ruling caused many pit bulls to be put into shelters and many landlords to ban pit bulls from their property.

A new bill has been proposed to take another look at dog bites and liability. This bill would set a measure that applies to all dogs, no matter their breed, and would presume that all dog owners are liable for a dog bite, even if that dog has not bitten anyone before. In addition, the law would allow for owners to neutralize that presumption by showing that their dog had been docile before the bite occurred.

The previous breed-specific law caused uproar amongst dog lovers and made many disproportionately wary of pit bulls. This new proposed law holds all dog owners equally responsible for the actions of their dogs and is sure to gain favor in this respect, but some remain wary that the ability to neutralize the presumption would allow dog owners to escape responsibility entirely.  We will have to wait to see what a dog owner will actually have to show in order to prove that their dog was 'docile' before a fight. For the sake of dog bite victims, I hope that the standard is high.

Maryland Workers' Compensation Attorney|The New "Move Over" Law that Seeks to Protect Tow Truck Drivers

A new bill, nicknamed the "move over" bill, seeks to protect those who work in one of the most dangerous industries on the road. The bill has just cleared in the Maryland House of Delegates unanimously just this week. The Senate vote is awaiting action the Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Tow truck drivers face grave danger every day in their line of work. The AAA Mid-Atlantic found that from January 2000 to December 2005, 130 tow truck drivers were killed nationwide while assisting clients. This number does not even take into consideration the countless tow truck drivers who have been seriously injured on the job.

The new bill will require motorists to move into an open lane when tow truck drivers are attending to clients who need roadside assistance. This procedure is the law for when motorists approach police and other emergency vehicles.