Apollo and General News

This story is a tad off topic, yet I just got back from Chicago and wished to write about this story: Michael Lauer, the hedge fund manager who has been on trial has been found guilty by a Miami U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth A. Marra of defrauding investors during the years of 1999 and 2002 totaling more than five hundred million dollars. He must not have had a very good lawyer I would gather to guess.

Judge Marra found in a sixty-seven page order that Lauer had manipulated the prices of 7 different securities. These were a large part of the funds portfolios, which he didn’t provide a basis for such exceptionally high valuations. The Judge in question also found that he lied to investors about the hedge funds holdings. As the head of the Lancer Management Group and Lancer Management Group II, his actions were premeditated and resulted in the loss of millions and millions worth of investor’s hard earned funds. I realize that no one really suffered personal bodily injury per say but what about the emotional scars?

All in all, a ruling has not been given on the amount that Lauer will have to pay back to his victims. That amount is pending an evidentiary hearing and a fine amount decided by the Securities Exchange Commission which has to be made within sixty days or so. By the way if you happen to live in Chicago or the surrounding region and need a top drawer
Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer then I strongly wish to suggest the Budin Law offices as he is one of the finest Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer around that whole area.

The criminal trial for Lauer will begin in April for the charges in the hedge fund and according to his lawyer stated that Lauer will be pleading not guilty and will fight the charges at trial. The lawyer who is representing Lauer is Norman Moscowitz.

Many of you may not be aware that back in the 90’s, when $200 million dollars was a lot of money, congress caved to special interests and capped damages in train accidents no matter how many people were killed, to $200 million dollars. At least one Chatsworth train crash lawyer is speaking out and challenging this law.

Ever since the September 12, 2008 Chatsworth train crash, public transportation attorney, Michael Ehline, has been questioning the constitutional validity and fairness of the $200,000,000 single train crash damages cap ever since the Metrolink spokeswoman accepted fault.

After all says Ehline, “this was the deadliest train crash in Metrolink’s short history”. Readers will recall that this federal damages cap was passed into law back in the 90’s and there has never been any consideration as to inflation, or costs of living increases.

Ehline said that: “All this does is give train companies a chance to weight whether or not to spend the money to make things safe, or rest comforted and assured that if they do nothing, all they have to pay is $200 million dollars, no matter how many people are killed”

And since this recent Chatsworth train crash will likely be the costliest and deadliest and most avoidable train crash in recent memory, Ehline said he will challenge legality of a $200 million cap Congress imposed on a railroad’s liability for single train collisions.

Metrolink accident lawyers representing victims and families alleging negligence in the Chatsworth Metrolink crash are warning that the general, special and punitive damagesarising from this current crash, will more likely than not, exhaust the small pittance of $200 million dollars.

This is especially true when considering that many people aboard the train were professionals who lived in the Valley with incomes that exceeded six figures. This means those well to do people who suffered wrongful death could have come close to or exceeded that figure over their lifetimes in expected contributions to their families left behind.

Typical awards for wrongful death and catastrophic injuries would include economic support of the decedents. Ehlne believes that this may be one instance in which greedy insurance companies and special interest bought and paid for congressmen and senators will have to reverse themselves in the face of the public outcry in the avoidable Chatsworth train crash of September 12, 2008. “It may be the only time in U.S. history where a damages cap would be increased, or at least be made to conform with the costs of living and inflation, unlike medical malpractice damages caps which make it much easier for unscrupulous doctors to get away with malpractice today” Ehline said.

In all events, a constitutional challenge to the damages cap will be likely challenged.

Recent statistics are showing that motorcycle accidents resulting in brain injuries are on the rise in Orange County cities like Anaheim, and LA cities like Santa Monica. With the recent increase in gasoline prices, many people are deciding to commute via motorcycle instead of automobiles, SUV’s or trucks.

Orange County and Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorneys are finding they are receiving an increasing number of calls for information on motorcycle accidents and brain injury lawsuits. This may be because more motorcycles are on the roadways. It is a well-known fact that there is a substantial risk for brain injury when a collision with a car or truck and motorcycle is involved. Even though California has a mandatory helmet law, motorcycle riders are still experiencing head injuries and brain injuries when they are involved in an accident.

Any motorcycle accident carries with it the inherent risk of a fatal or traumatic brain injury resulting from an accident. Unfortunately, many of the fatalities will leave the family members in a state of confusion and grief. They may not know that they could be compensated for wrongful deaths caused by negligent drivers. There is always the option to contact an experienced Motorcycle Accident attorney for much needed advice and direction. Anaheim personal injury lawyers can be located in the phone book or can be found on the Internet and provide a much-needed service in Orange County or LA County.

Every year there are many people that are injured in motorcycle accidents that can leave the victim with amputated limbs or TBI’s. Spinal cord injuries are also common, leaving the victim in a state of life long paralysis. These accidents can lead to an unalterable lifestyle change for the victim and the family. Anaheim residents who ride motorcycles are really at the disadvantage when it comes collisions with other vehicles, they have little protection from impact and the size and weight of a car or truck. Even what would be a small fender bender for two automobiles could be a major cause of damage if a motorcycle is one of the vehicles involved.

Motorcycle riders are notoriously at risk of injury when riding a motorcycle. They have little bodily protection. A leather jacket and chaps may help stave off road rash but will be of absolutely no value against another vehicle or light pole, fence, concrete wall, etc. Broken limbs, severed spinal cords and damaged brains can leave devastation in more ways than the physical element. Untold emotional suffering may be the consequence for the duration of the victims’ life also. Seeking lifetime compensation might not help emotionally but will go a long way to relieve the costs of medical care and lost wages. Always seek out legal representation in these matters and always remember that any motorcycle accident carries with it the inherent risk of a fatal or traumatic brain injury resulting from an accident.