I had the great pleasure of teaching a class to over 110 criminal defense lawyers on February 28, 2020.  They were all gathered to learn how to defend their clients who have been charged with DWI or DUI.  I was there to tell them how it works when I sue their clients for injuring my clients in drunk driving accidents.

So what does happen when someone gets hurt or killed by a drunk driver in North Carolina?

 

First, let me make this clear:  Nichols Law Firm only represents people injured or killed by drunk drivers.  We never defend drunk drivers. When I teach a class to lawyers who defend drunk drivers, I'm teaching them the best ways to help my injured clients, which sometimes can be mutually beneficial to their client.

When a North Carolina drunk driver wrecks your car and injures you or your loved ones, we all hope that they are arrested at the scene.  The arresting officer will do field sobriety tests, and if the driver does poorly on the tests, there will be probable cause to request a breath test for blood alcohol concentration.  The drunk driver can refuse that test but the arresting officer can force a blood draw to get the results.  Any blood alcohol concentration over .08% will result in an arrest for driving while intoxicated.  Some refer to that simply as DWI or DUI.

Is a personal injury claim against a drunk driver any different from a regular personal injury claim?

A personal injury case against a drunk driver is pretty similar to one against a non-drunk driver.  An adjuster from the drunk driver's insurance company will want to take a recorded statement from you over the phone.  They may ask you about all the ways you think the driver was intoxicated.  It's really important to get that right and make sure that you tell them all the signs of intoxication you saw:  glassy eyes, smell of alcohol, unsteady on feet, slurring words, and of course, any statements the other driver made about drinking.  

So what are punitive damages in drunk driving cases?

In North Carolina, under General Statute Chapter 1D, Punitive Damages, anyone hurt or killed by a drunk driver, who proves the driver was drunk and driving negligently, may be entitled to receive punitive damages on top of the compensatory damages present in every injury case.  Compensatory damages are things like medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent scars, lost work, ambulance and doctor bills, and permanent disability.  Punitives damages are damages on top of the compensatory damages and are meant solely to punish the drunk driver and deter other people from drunk driving.

§ 1D-1.  Purpose of punitive damages.

Punitive damages may be awarded, in an appropriate case and subject to the provisions of this Chapter, to punish a defendant for egregiously wrongful acts and to deter the defendant and others from committing similar wrongful acts. (1995, c. 514, s. 1.)

In general, punitive damages are limited to 3 times the amount of the compensatory damages, or $250,000, whichever is greater.  But the Legislature made an exception to the cap on punitive damages in North Carolina:  drunk drivers.

§ 1D-26.  Driving while impaired; exemption from cap.

G.S. 1D-25(b) shall not apply to a claim for punitive damages for injury or harm arising from a defendant's operation of a motor vehicle if the actions of the defendant in operating the motor vehicle would give rise to an offense of driving while impaired under G.S. 20-138.1, 20-138.2, or 20-138.5. (1995, c. 514, s. 1.)

Do I need a lawyer to represent me when I have been hit by a drunk driver?

If you or a loved one gets hit by a drunk driver in Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill, it is a good idea to at least have a free consultation with a lawyer.  There are many reasons for this.  First, you may be required to come to court as a witness in the drunk driving prosecution.  Or you may be called on to give a victim impact statement at the drunk driver's sentencing hearing.  While the local District Attorney offices do a great job with victims, they can't "represent you" or give you legal advice.  Having your own lawyer, right from the start, means that I can come to the criminal court trial with you and help you through out.  It also means that I will monitor the criminal case, and make sure the drunk driver receives appropriate punishment.

How does my lawyer help when I'm called as a witness or victim of a drunk driver?

Along the same lines, the criminal defense attorney can sometimes coordinate with me, as your attorney, to be very helpful to the injured party by facilitating money settlements with the injured party as part of criminal restitution or civil settlement.  Sometimes the drunk driver's lawyer will also coordinate with me to make sure that the insurance company for the drunk driver is paying a fair amount of money, considering the compensatory and punitive damages.

What experience does Nichols Law Firm and Chris Nichols, Attorney have making claims against drunk drivers?

I've been practicing law for 25 years and my first few years I actually defended drunk drivers when I worked for a senior attorney.  This gave me great practical insight into how the criminal prosecution works.  As a civil lawyer, I also have to prove the defendant was intoxicated, and having worked on both sides of this, I have a lot of knowledge.  At any given time, my office usually has 4 or 5 cases against drunk drivers.  Because of this, we have developed systems to catch drunk drivers in any lies or exaggerations they make about their alcohol use and rehabilitation.  It's not unusual for a criminal defendant to testify they have "put down the bottle", only to have our private investigator see them buy booze at the ABC store and drive away on a limited permit that does not allow for that.  When we catch defendants in lies like this, the cases against them often settle for more money and faster.  Rarely do we have to try one of the civil cases against drunk drivers.

If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed by a drunk driver, you can call me, Chris Nichols, directly, for a free consultation:  919.915.0212

Be safe out there!

Chris Nichols

Nichols Law Firm

People!  Do not let the statute of limitations slip past on your personal injury cases in North Carolina.  I've had three calls this week from people who did not have lawyers and who waited until the last second, or past the last second, to call for advice. None of these calls ended on a happy note.

 

In NC you have three years to settle or file a lawsuit for personal injury (but not death, that's two years)

In North Carolina you have three years to either settle a personal injury case or file a lawsuit.  I did not say "file a claim."  I did not say "talk with an insurance adjuster".  I did not say "be in the middle of negotiations."  

 

On the third anniversary of your car wreck, you either need to have a settlement worked out, in writing and agree upon by the insurance adjuster and you, or you need to file an actual lawsuit in a court of law in NC.

If you are still negotiating with that adjuster at midnight on the third anniversary of your car wreck, you can never get anything for your claim.  The next minutes that adjuster will say "Sorry, your statute of limitations ran, you have no claim."  And so you ask, "Wouldn't the insurance company tell me that my time is running out?"  The answer is NO.  In fact, I've seen situations where the insurance adjusters actively seek to delay the settlement.

 

The wrongful death statute in North Carolina has a two year statute of limitations

If the car wreck resulted in a death, or wrongful death in North Carolina, the time limit is TWO YEARS. Also, to sue for the wrongful death of a loved one, there must be an Estate set up in the name of the deceased and an Administrator or Executor must actually be the party that sues.  Cases like that look like this:

The Estate of John Doe, Susan Doe, Administrator      V.       Big Truck Company, LLC 

 

Setting up an Estate takes time. And even though there may be one type of Estate set up, it might not be the right type to bring a wrongful death claim.

 

I think I get this statute stuff, do I have to have a lawyer?

Not every case needs a lawyer.  Really, a lawyer just told you that.  I talk to a lot of people on the phone, give them a few pointers and send them on their way.  It's sometimes a good idea to settle your own case when it is simple and small.  But complicated cases probably need lawyers. So it's always a good idea to call a lawyer like me, and ask.

 

But really, if you call me on the day that your statute of limitations is about to run out, there is a 95% chance that I will not be able to save you and your case.  Lawyers can not send an email to the court to file a lawsuit.  It sometimes takes days to draft the paperwork.  We have to find the Defendant and make sure we can serve them with papers. We need to see police reports.  This takes time.

 

In law we frequently abbreviate Statute of Limitation as SOL. And if you miss one, you are SOL on your SOL. 

 

When is the latest you should call a lawyer for a personal injury case?

I would say that the latest that I would get in touch would be six months before the statute runs out.  Put another way, two and half years after the accident for personal injury and one and a half years for wrongful death.  That gives the lawyer time to gather your medical records, talk to experts, file the lawsuit, and get it served on the defendant.  You see, even though the insurance company pays the claim, the other driver is the one who gets named in the lawsuit. So it's not as easy as my office sending a letter to State Farm. We actually have to send the Sheriff or a certified letter to someone so they can be "served."

If you waited past two and half years, you should still call for advice.  Just know that a lot of lawyers don't like taking cases that close to the statute of limitations.

 

What about children or kids?  How long do minors have to settle their personal injury claims or file a lawsuit?

In NC, a minor is anyone under age 18.  Minor's statute of limitations work differently than adults. A  minor's statute does not BEGIN to run until they are age 18.  Then it runs the normal 3 years for personal injury.  Crazy, right?  So if you are in a car accident at age 2, you will have until your 21st birthday to settle the claim or file a lawsuit!  This is also true for other injury claims, like sexual abuse.

But there is a catch....  (there is always a catch, right?).  The catch is this:  In North Carolina, the medical bills for an injured minor (anyone under age 18) "belong" to the mom, dad, or legal guardian of the minor.  What does that mean?  It means that because a minor can't sign a contract, when a minor goes to the hospital or doctor and has a bill for services, that bill is actually the parent or guardian's bill.  Don't pay it?  The parent or guardian gets sued by the hospital, not the minor.

So what's the catch?  Well, the catch is this- in the example above where the two year old gets hurt in a car wreck, let's assume the medical bills are $50,000.  Three years from the date of the wreck, the parent/guardian's statute of limitations to sue for those medical bills expires. So on 3 years +1 day, the minor can still sue for pain and suffering and other economic wages, but NOT for past medical expenses.

But, there is a catch to the catch!  There is a way for the parents to assign the claim for medical bills to the minor child so that those medical bills become part of the claim for the minor that does not run out until age 21.  This can be tricky and I recommend lawyer supervision to deal with this.  The good news is that it can be done quickly, so if you are reading this on the 2 year 364th day of the anniversary of an injury to a minor, it might not be too late to fix that problem.  Call me!

Heartbreaker

I spoke to someone today who told me that the adjuster was discussing her case with her one day before her three year statute of limitations. She even asked if that was going to be a problem and the adjuster said "you have an open file claim." That made the person feel good, even though it was a meaningless phrase.

 

When she called the day after the 3 year anniversary of her accident, the adjuster said "sorry, you didn't file a lawsuit in time, you have no claim."

 

No, she can't sue him for that.  Adjusters work for the driver that hit you!  Their job is to pay you the least amount of money possible. That's what they get paid to do. Not all of them are this heartless, some would warn you to get a lawyer or file a law suit. A lot of them are very good people. But consumers don't really have the information or ability to decide who is who.

 

I had to tell this fine person that she no longer had a claim.  It was a heartbreaker.

 

So if you've been waiting, even if you are still being treated for injuries, please call me or another lawyer and just get some advice (free and over the phone) on your time limits and whether you even need a lawyer.  I've been doing this (looks at watch) for 23 years now, so I've probably handled a case like yours before.  Let's talk.

 

Chris Nichols, Attorney

800-906-5984

Two Hundred and Thirty-five years ago to the day, North Carolina was the first of the Colonies to authorize its delegates to declare independence from Great Britain.  

So how is this relevant to "tort reform" and the pending legislation called Senate Bill 33 in the North Carolina House?  Well, this law, proposed by Rep. Johnathan Rhyne (R- Lincolnton), takes away an essential ingredient of Liberty of the people of North Carolina-  The right to a jury trial.

Rep. Rhyne's bill says that when a citizen is hurt or killed by a negligent emergency room physician, or nurse, or hospital worker, that injured person has no right to sue for negligence.  Further, the bill says that when a citizen of North Carolina is injured or killed by a defective drug manufactured ANYWHERE in the world, that citizen can not sue the manufacturer if the drug has been "approved" by a state or federal agency.  Taking away the "right to redress" or "the right to sue" is the same as depriving someone the right to a jury trial.  If you can't sue, you can't get a jury.  The doors to the court house are closed to these people.

The Halifax resolves speciically address the right to trial by jury.  In the Resolves the authors talk about the King seizing "Ships belonging to America" which "are declared prizes of War" and that the colonies have been deprived the legal right to get these ships back or enter into a process of determining the legal rights to the ships:  "And ...the United Colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother Country on Constitutional Principles, have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations and no hopes remain of obtaining redress by those Means alone which have been hitherto tried."

Rep. Rhyne's proposed legislation takes us back to the days of being subjugated to the King and the Crown.  Of course, one might make the distinction that under Rhyne's law, the State of North Carolina is not "profiting" from the people.  That is true, but Rhyne's law is even WORSE.

Under Rhyne's proposals, the State of North Carolina not only denies "obtaining redress" but does so to the financial advantage of international drug companies and for-profit hospitals and corporate physician groups.

This law is a glaring example of "Big Government" taking fundamental liberties of THE PEOPLE and redistributing the spoils of war to anti-liberty, big monied cronies.

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, said, "I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution."

Senate Bill 33 takes away the trial by jury of people injured by negligent doctors and also those hurt or killed by defective drug products. These people are completely deprived of their liberty to hold bad actors accountable for their wrongs.

Why is the NC GOP rolling back our rights to pre-independence days?

Why did certain colonists remain loyal to the King? Scholars say one unifying characteristics of Loyalists to the Crown during the Revolution was this:  They had a long-standing sentimental attachment to Britain, often with business ties.  Also known as MONEY. 

How much did Rep. Jonathan Rhyne take from Big PHARMA and Medical Lobbyists?

PLEASE: preserve your liberty and rights. Call Anyone on this list and tell them to vote NO to SB33: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AlinyCcVT4eGdGZLZU95VTREcW12RXBoLXlKU2paSWc&hl=en#gid=0

The below is from:  http://ncpedia.org/history/usrevolution/halifax-resolves

HALIFAX RESOLVES

Excerpted from "Historical Miscellanea: An Early History of North Carolina," North Carolina Manual, 1991-1992, published biennially by the NC Department of the Secretary of State.

North Carolina, on April 12, 1776, authorized her delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence. This was the first official action by a colony calling for independence. The 83 delegates present in Halifax at the Fourth Provincial Congress unanimously adopted the Halifax Resolves, which read as follows:

The Select Committee taking into Consideration the usurpations and violences attempted and committed by the King and Parliament of Britain against America, and the further Measures to be taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defence of this province reported as follows, to wit,

It appears to your Committee that pursuant to the Plan concerted by the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a Power over the Persons and Properties of the People unlimited and uncontrouled and disregarding their humble Petitions for Peace, Liberty and safety, have made divers Legislative Acts, denouncing War Famine and every Species of Calamity daily employed in destroying the People and committing the most horrid devastations on the Country. That Governors in different Colonies have declared Protection to Slaves who should imbrue their Hands in the Blood of their Masters. That the Ships belonging to America are declared prizes of War and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated in consequence of which multitudes of the people have been destroyed or from easy Circumstances reduced to the most Lamentable distress.

And whereas the moderation hitherto manifested by the United Colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother Country on Constitutional Principles, have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations and no hopes remain of obtaining redress by those Means alone which have been hitherto tried, Your Committee are of Opinion that the house should enter into the following Resolve, to wit

Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be impowered to concur with the other delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign Alliances, resolving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general Representation thereof to meet the delegates of the other Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.

The Halifax Resolves were important not only because they were the first official action calling for independence, but also because they were not unilateral recommendations. They were instead recommendations directed to all the colonies and their delegates assembled at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Virginia followed with her own recommendations soon after the adoption of the Halifax Resolution, and eventually on July 4, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed. William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn were the delegates from North Carolina who signed the Declaration of Independence.

I am attaching below the letter I sent to three members of the North Carolina House Select Committee on Tort Reform.

I believe that House Bill 542 may "look" good for business but have the unintended consequence of making North Carolina the WORST place for manufacturing in the entire United States.  I've inserted a few comments below in [BOLD]  brackets.

Rep. Stam, Rep. Weiss, and Rep. Murray:

I am a lawyer, like each of you, and I would like to call to your attention what I think is a major unintended consequence of HB 542.  I called each of your offices today to discuss this issue.

HB 542 destroys the right of a NC manufacturer and their insurance company to subrogate on catastrophic losses caused by defective products.  This hurts manufacturing, business, and insurance interests in North Carolina.

Please read the below example:

Products Liability Immunity Destroys Business and Insurance Subrogation:  HB 542 gives immunity from suit to any company that produces a faulty product that has been "approved for sale" by any State of Federal regulatory agency.  This bar would apply to insurance subrogation claims against the original tortfeasor and therefore bars insurance companies and the self-insured from recouping losses caused by faulty products.

EXAMPLE.  Power Plant Explosion:  A North Carolina power company buys a defective industrial boiler from a Chinese (or any) manufacturing company. This product is "approved" by several state and federal agencies as required by law."  [Does this sound like the Apex Chemical explosion?]

That boiler explodes and spreads toxic ash over a 3 mile radius. The environment is polluted, people are made sick, and the business site is shut down. The NC business itself suffers a $300 Million dollar business and property damage loss and is sued by the State and citizens for the toxic ash injuries.  The insurer for the power company  (or self-insured company itself) must pay for the business loss, claims of injuries and property loss, but would be prohibited by HB542 from seeking a recovery from the negligent Chinese manufacturer.  The State of North Carolina would be prohibited from seeking compensation for the loss to the environment and the toxic clean up costs. This will increase the cost of insurance for business and the State and possibly force insurers to stop insuring for loss from product defect.

HB542 uses the following definitions:  [See page 8 of HB542] " (1) "Claimant" means a person or other entity asserting a claim"

"Product liability action" includes any action brought for or on account of personal injury, death or property damage caused by or resulting from the manufacture, construction, design, formulation, development of standards, preparation, processing, assembly, testing, listing, certifying, warning, instructing, marketing, selling, advertising, packaging, or labeling of any product."  (Emphasis added)

"No manufacturer or seller shall be held liable in any product liability action if any one of the following apply:"

Under this very simple language above, businesses that suffer catastrophic losses due to product defects will NOT be able to recoup those loses.

Moreover, what will be the effect on Business Insurance Policies?  A standard loss policy would have language like the following:

 "If we pay a claim under your policy, we will take over your right to recover that amount from any other person or organization. You agree to cooperate with us and not do anything that will interfere with our chances of recovery".

Insurers would be subrogated to the right of the North Carolina company.  Because subrogation is "the substitution of one person in the place of another with reference to a lawful claim, demand, or right, so that he who is substituted succeeds to the rights of the other in relation to the debt or claim, and its rights, remedies, or securities," the North Carolina Company would have no right to recover under HB542 and thus the insurance company would be subrogated to nothing.

North Carolina will be the ONLY state in the nation with such a law.

This raises many difficult questions:

1)  Will insurance companies issue large commercial policies to North Carolina manufacturers know there will be no right to subrogate in failed products cases?  Can businesses operate without this insurance?

2)  Will North Carolina manufacturers receive insurance rate increases due to the higher cost risk for North Carolina claims?

3)  Will manufacturers avoid locating in North Carolina because they will not be protected from defective products they purchase for their business?

4)  Will insurance products for consumers be impacted by the lack of subrogation for faulty manufacturing?  Will home owner insurance rates increase due to the number of fires caused by defective products where there will be no subrogatable interest for the insurance company?

5)  Why would a manufacturer choose North Carolina over 49 other states  knowing that it had no protections from faulty products within its own facility?


I ask that you stop HB542 before it further erodes North Carolina's business economy.

Chris Nichols

________________________________

(update) 

A non-hypotehtical Example of Products Liability Subrogation In Insurance

Here is an excellent example of how subrogation works in the context of product liability claims.  This is a blog post from Cozen O'Conner, a national law firm that helps insurance companies recover funds from manufacturers of defective produts when those products cause damage which is insured.  Here is a link to their full blog post. Lasko Recalls 4.8 Million Box Fans

The case involved a massive barn fire at a breeding farm in Hondo, New Mexico. Six world class race horse breeding stallions were killed in the fire and the barn itself was totaled. Cozen O’Connor represented over sixty sophisticated horsemen clients who had ownership interests in the stallions, and their insurers. The insurers for the horses and the barn went to great lengths to preserve the fire scene, and as a direct result of their diligence the experts were able to examine each electrical device in the barn and identify the fatal flaw in the Lasko fan motor.

On March 24th (long after the fire) the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of 4.8 million Lasko box fans. The recall notice reports “an electrical failure in the fan’s motor poses a fire hazard to consumers.” The CPSC cites a “barn fire resulting in extensive property damage” as a basis for the recall.

If this fire had occurred in North Carolina under House Bill 542, the lawyers at Cozen O'Conner would have been barred from seeking recovery from Lasko.  The insurer would have paid out millions and not been reimbursed by the negligent manufacturer of the fan.  And who would absorb the cost of the unreimbursed expenses?  Anyone who buys insurance.

_______________________________________

Hopefully this will make a difference.  This bill is not just about people injured by defective products, but also business.

This is an actual photo of the Apex, NC plant explosion at a chemical storage facility.

If North Carolina House bill 542 passes, and gives amnesty to corporations that kill people, we'll need to change the "welcome signs" on all of our interstate highways.

Some suggestions:

The House Select Committee on Tort Reform will be considering amendments to HB 542 at their next meeting on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM. As of right now, there will be no more public input.  Those opposing this bill were allowed 8 minutes to speak on the amnesty provision. 

If your Representative is a member of the Select Committee on Tort Reform, now is the time to contact them and express your opposition for HB 542. The action you take today will have a great impact on the final outcome of this legislation.  If you don't want NC to be the most dangerous state in the nation, call now.

House Select Committee on Tort Reform	District	Raleigh
Chair Rep. Daniel F. McComas (R, New Hanover)	910-392-3011	919-733-5786
Vice Chair Rep. Johnathan Rhyne, Jr. (R, Lincoln)	919-733-5782	919-733-5782
Vice Chair Rep. James W. Crawford, Jr. (D, Granville)	252-492-0185	919-733-5824
Vice Chair Rep. David R. Lewis (R, Harnett)	910-891-4848	919-715-3015
Vice Chair Rep. Tim D. Moffitt (R, Buncombe)	828-651-8550	919-715-3012
Vice Chair Rep. Tom Murry (R, Wake)	919-468-1213	919-733-5602
Rep. Jeff Barnhart (R, Cabarrus)		919-715-2009
Rep. William D. Brisson (D, Bladen)	910-862-7007	919-733-5772
Rep. Becky Carney (D, Mecklenburg)	704-332-1893	919-733-5827
Rep. Jerry C. Dockham (R, Davidson)	336-250-7336	919-715-2526
Rep. Nelson Dollar (R, Wake)	919-233-8399	919-715-0795
Rep. Bill Faison (D, Orange)	919-606-6700	919-715-3019
Rep. Mitch Gillespie (R, McDowell)	828-652-5548	919-733-5862
Rep. Larry D. Hall (D, Durham)	919-489-0036	919-733-5872
Rep. Dewey L. Hill (D, Columbus)	910-646-4297	919-733-5830
Rep. Chuck McGrady (R, Henderson)	828-696-0672	919-733-5956
Rep. Marian N. McLawhorn (D, Pitt)	252-524-3113	919-733-5757
Rep. Grey Mills (R, Iredell)	919-733-5741	919-733-5741
Rep. Bill Owens (D, Pasquotank)	252-335-0167	919-733-0010
Rep. Diane Parfitt (D, Cumberland)	910-864-2427	919-733-9892
Rep. Shirley B. Randleman (R, Wilkes)	336-921-2043	919-733-5935
Rep. Ruth Samuelson (R, Mecklenburg)	704-366-8748	919-715-3009
Rep. Paul Stam (R, Wake)	919-362-4835	919-733-2962
Rep. Jennifer Weiss (D, Wake)	919-678-1367	919-715-3010

 

The North Carolina House introduced House Bill  542 on March 30.  This bill grants immunity from suit to any product "regulated" by a State or Federal Agency.  This Bill will make NC a dangerous dumping ground for poisonous and defective drugs and products.

 The Bill was filed, all of 18 hours before it was debated.  House Bill 542

Here is the relevant language: 

No manufacturer or seller shall be held liable in any product liability action if:

1. The product alleged to have caused harm was designed, manufactured, packaged, labeled, sold, or represented in relevant and material respects in accordance with the terms of approval, license or similar determination of a government agency, where the approval, license or similar determination is relevant to the event or risk allegedly causing the harm; or

2. The product was in compliance with a statute of this State or the United States, ...where the stature or agency action is relevant to the event or risk allegedly causing harm....

This is HUGE.

This means that a product regulated by ANY state or Federal agency would be immune from suit by North Carolina citizens who are hurt or maimed by the product which is eventually found defective.

Think:  bad tires, bad cars, Vioxx, bad drugs, toys containing lead or poison, etc.

Here is a "short" list of products whose manufacturers would be immune from a law suit if that product killed you or hurt you or someone you love.

Manufacturers of 328 Types of Products regulated and approved by the US Agencies will receive IMMUNITY from law suits for defective products that maim, kill and destroy property and people.

The manufactures of defective products would receive immunity from suit because the agency is "vested with the authority of this State or of the United States to issue rules, regulations, orders, or standards, concerning the design, manufacture, packaging, labeling, or advertising of a product or a service." Tort Reform for Citizens and Businesses: Section 3.1(b) amendment to Chapter 99B-1 (1a)

 

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) Regulated Products

 

Acetaminophen (products containing)

Acetic acid (products containing)

Adhesives -containing methyl alcohol

Adhesives -extremely flammable contact

Adhesives -floor covering

Adhesives nitrocellulose base

Aerosols (see self-pressurized products)

Ammonia, ammonia water (products containing) household, ammonium hydroxide

Antennas – CB base station and TV

Antennas -Omnidirectional CB base station

Antifreeze, ethylene glycol

Antiquing kits

Appliances, coal and wood-burning

Architectural glazing materials

Art Materials

Artist's paints

Asbestos- containing patching compounds

Asbestos -containing garments for general use

Aspirin products

Baby bouncers & walkers

Balloons, plastic mixtures

Batteries, storage, wet-cell

Benzene paint solvents containing

Bicycles

Bicycle helmets

Biological specimens, preserved

Blasting caps

Bunk Beds

Butane in cigarette lighters

Carbolic acid (phenol) (products containing)

Carbon tetrachloride (products containing)

Carpets and rugs (large)

Carpets and rugs (small)

Caustic poisons (products containing)

Caustic poisons – potash (products containing)

Caustic poisons – soda (products containing)

Cellulose insulation

Cellulose sponges

Charcoal briquettes

Chemistry sets

Child-resistant packaging (see special packaging)

Chlorofluorocarbons, self pressurized products containing Acetonitrile (see glue remover)

Aluminized polyester film kite

Asbestos -containing artificial emberizing materials

Benzene (products containing) benzol

Bergamot oil (products containing)

Betamethasone (products containing)

Children's Products (see "Toys/Children's Products")

Cigarette lighters

Cleaning products

Clothing (see wearing apparel, sleepwear)

Coal burning appliances (see appliances)

Combustible hazardous substances

Conjugated estrogen tablets (products containing)

Consumer product

Containers consumer-owned (portable)

Controlled drugs (products containing)

Corrosive substances (products containing)

Cosmetics

Cribs -full size

Cribs -non-full size

Cushions, infant

Cyanide salts (products containing)

Dietary supplements, iron-containing (products containing)

Disclaimer deceptive use of

Dive Sticks

Drain cleaners, liquid

Drugs, Oral Prescription -All Exceptions

Drugs -controlled

Drugs -iron containing

Drugs -oral prescription

Drugs -over the counter

Dry-cleaning solvents

Epoxy resins

Ethylene glycol (products containing)

Ethylene glycol in felt pads

Exports (noncomplying products)

Extremely flammable contents of self-pressurized containers

Extremely flammable hazardous substances

Extremely flammable solids

Eye irritants (products containing)

Fabrics

Felt-tip marking devices

Cholestyramine, anhydrous (products containing)

Clacker balls

Colestipol (products containing)

Dibucaine (products containing)

Diethylene glycol (products containing)

Diethylenetriamine (products containing)

Diglycidyl ethers (products containing)

Diphenhydramine preparations

Emberizing materials artificial, containing asbestos

Erythromycin ethylsuccinate, Suspension & granules

for suspension (products containing)

Erythromycin ethylsuccinate, tablets (products containing)

Ethanol containing mouthwash

Ethylenediamine (products containing)

Ferrous oxalate (products containing)

Fire extinguishers

Fireworks

First Aid

Flammable contents of self-pressurized containers

Flammable solids (products containing)

Flammable substances (products containing)

Fluoride (products containing)

Food

Formaldehyde (products containing)

Fuel

Furniture painted with lead containing paint

Furniture polish -liquid

Furniture polish -paste

Garage Door Openers- automatic residential

Gasoline

Glazing compounds

Heaters (see appliances)

Highly toxic substances (products containing)

Household substances

Hydrocarbons

Hydrochloric acid (products containing)

Ibuprofen (products containing)

Imported products & importers

Imports

Industrial supplies

Infant cushions

Ink cartridges dry concentrate containers

Ink-marking devices

Insulation, cellulose

Iron preparations

Irritant substances

Kerosene

Kindling & illuminating preparations

Labels

Laboratory chemicals (if educational)

Lacquers

Lawn darts

Lawnmowers power

Fertilizersdry

granular

Fuel kits with diflouro dichloromethane

Glue remover containing acetonitrile (household)

Hartshorn (products containing)

Hypochlorous acid (products containing)

Isobutane in cigarette lighters

Isosorbide dinitrate -prescription sublingual and chewable forms (products containing)

Ketoprofen (products containing)

Kites aluminized polyester film

Lead in paint (products containing)

Lighter fluid, etc. (products containing)

Lunar caustic (silver nitrate) (products containing)

Lye (products containing)

Matchbooks

Matches

Mattresses (cigarette ignition)

Mattresses (open flame ignition)

Methyl alcohol (methanol) (products containing)

Mineral oil in toys (products containing)

Mineral seal oil (products containing)

Mineral spirits (products containing)

Minoxidil (products containing)

Mirrors

Mixtures of hazardous substances

Mouthwash containing ethanol

Multiple hazard substances with

Multipurpose Lighters

Naphtha (products containing)

Neutralizers, Permanent Wave (see Permanent Wave Neutralizers)

Nitric acid (products containing)

Nitroglycerine prescription (products containing)

Oral contraceptives

Orris root powdered (products containing)

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs (see Drugs, Over the Counter)

Oxalic acid and salts (products containing)

Packages, child resistance (see child-resistant packaging)

Packages, sample

Paint (lead in) (products containing)

Paint solvents

Painting kits

Paper items

Patching compounds containing asbestos

Percussion explosives

Lidocaine (products containing)

Loperamide (products containing)

Mebendazole (products containing)

Medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets (products containing)

Methacrylic acid (products containing)

Methylprednisolone (products containing)

Methyl salicylate (products containing)

Naproxen (products containing)

Nitrites (Butyl and Volatile Alkyl)

Norethindrone acetate tablets (products containing)

Pacifiers (see Toys/Children's Products)

Pancrelipase (products containing)

Paraphenylenediamine (products containing)

Perchloroethylene in visual novelty devices

Petroleum distillates

Photographic color processing kits

Plant foods -dry granular

Poisons, caustic (products containing)

Polishing products

Potassium hydroxide

Prescription Drugs (Oral)

Pressure-generating substances

Propellant devices for model rockets

Radiator cleaners

Radioactive substances

Refrigerator doors

Refuse bins -unstable

Roof coatings

Rope, cord, string, etc.

Rugs see Carpets

Rubber vulcanizing products

Self-pressurized products

Self-pressurized products containing vinyl chloride

Sensitizers (products containing)

Signal words

Sodium hydroxide

Solder kit

Solder paste

Permanent wave neutralizers containing sodium bromate or potassium bromate

Phenol (carbolic acid)

Photodynamic sensitizer

Potash, caustic

Potassium supplements effervescent

(products containing)

Prednisone

Primary irritant

Sacrosidase (sucrase) in a solution of glycerol and water

Salt (sodium chloride)

Self-pressurized products containing chloroflorocarbons

Silver nitrate (lunar caustic)

Sleepwear, children's, sizes 0-6x & sizes 7-14

Sodium arsenite

Sodium fluoride

Sodium/potassium hydroxide

Special packaging

Spot removers single-use

Spot removing kits

Sponges, cellulose

Swimming pool slides

Tank coatings

Thread, string, twine, etc.

Turpentine (products containing)

Varnish

Video games

Vienna paste (products containing)

Vinyl chloride (products containing)

Solvents (for Paint and other surface coatings)

Stoddard solvent

Stoves, coal & wood burning

Strong sensitizers

Sulfuric acid

Toluene (toluol)

Toxic substances

Toys/Children's Products- All

Toys/Children's Products- choking hazard warnings for small parts, balloons, marbles, balls

Toys/Children's Products- balls, small

Toys/Children's Products- caps & toy guns producing, impulse-type sound

Toys/Children's Products- choking incidents

Toys/Children's Products- clacker balls

Toys/Children's Products- electrically-operated toys and children's article

Toys/Children's Products- games, self-pressurized -hollow plastic toys games

Toys/Children's Products- marbles

Toys/Children's Products- mineral oil

Toys/Children's Products- painted with lead or containing lead

Toys/Children's Products- pacifiers

Toys/Children's Products -rattles

Toys/Children's Products -sharp edges

Toys/Children's Products -sharp points

Toys/Children's Products -small parts

Toys/Children's Products -model rockets

Toys/Children's Products -model rockets, propellant

Toys/Children's Products -train smoke

Toys/Children's Products -use and abuse tests

Toys/Children's Products -tubes, collapsible metal (labeling)

Toys/Children's Products -unpackaged hazardous substances (labeling)

Vinyl plastic film

Walker-jumper

Wax containers

Waxes, paste for autos, furniture, floors and shoes

Wearing apparel

Writing instruments

Visual novelty devices -containing perchloroethylene

Volatile flammable materials

Water-repellent mixtures (masonry)

Wood burning appliances

Xylene (xylol)

 

Federal Drug Administration (FDA) PRODUCTS

 

Food safety

Tobacco products

Dietary supplements

Prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical Drugs

Vaccines

Biopharmaceuticals

Blood transfusions

Gene therapy

Cell and tissue based products

Medical devices

Electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED)

cellular phones

airport baggage screening equipment

television receivers

microwave ovens

tanning booths

laser products

Veterinary products

Cosmetics

 

Sanitation requirements on interstate travel

Control of disease on products

Sperm donation for assisted reproduction

 

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regulated Products

 

Meat

Poultry

Egg products

   

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Regulated Products

 

Vehicle safety

Vehicle recalls

Child safety seats

Airbags

Safe auto parts

Tire safety

Steering components

Fuel system components

Accelerator controls

Wheels that crack or break

Engine cooling fan blades that break

Windshield wiper assemblies that fail

Seats and/or seat backs that fail

Critical vehicle components that break

Wiring system problems that result in a fire

Car ramps or jacks that may collapse

Air bags that deploy incorrectly

Child safety seats that contain defective safety belts

 

___________________________________________________________________

HIGH COSTS TO STATES

No other state in the Nation has a law like this.  The only state that is close is Michigan, which has a provision that deals only with immunity for Drug Manufacturers who receive FDA approval.  Other states have had lesser versions of this bill but none had given complete immunity.  This is an interesting history of "FDA defense" bills:  http://www.centerjd.org/archives/studies/MIDrugImmunityF.pdf

As a result of Michigan's "FDA Law", the State of Michigan lost $82 MIllion dollars in "refunds" from the manufacturer of Vioxx who was accused of falsifying safety records to the FDA.

One of the reasons Michigan passed the law in 1995 was to attempt to keep Merck and Pfizer as empoloyers in the state.  Michigan passed the law and Merck left anyhow.   also In 2007, Pfizer announced plans to completely close the Ann Arbor, Nagoya and Amboise Research facilities by the end of 2008, eliminating 2,160 jobs and idling the $300-million dollar Michigan facility.

Can North Carolina afford to give a pass on the safety of all of these items?

Vioxx cost Michigan $82 million in additional Medicaid costs.  Michigan can’t recover those damages from Merck because of the "FDA defense." If this bill is enacted, NC Medicaid and NC taxpayers will also be left holding the bag.  The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed this "defense" on March 11, 2011.

These questions need to be asked: 

WHY DOES THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO MAKE NC THE DUMPING GROUND FOR DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS, WITHOUT CREATING A SINGLE JOB? 

WHY WOULD THE LEGISLATURE LEGALIZE THE SALE OF DANGEROUS DRUGS?

HOW DID NC GET THIS PROPOSED LAW?

How did this "law" get to North Carolina?  It got here from ALEC, the "American Legislative Exchange Counsel" a libertarian and conservative think tank funded by big industry with their goal of protecting corporate interests from any safety regulation.

Who funds ALEC?  If you go to the link you will find a long list of manufacturers, drug makers, industrial polluters, and other "mega corporations".

WHAT CAN I DO??    IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA FOR  NC, PLEASE CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITEE ON TORT REFORM:

You can find them at NC House Select Committee on Tort Reform.   Or here:  http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=House%20Select_127

Send them an email or a letter.  Or give them a call.  They meet tomorrow (Thursday, March 31) at 11 am.  Act now, before it is too late.

Chris Nichols

 

NC House Bill 542 the Omibus "Tort Reform" Bill, has a provision that on its face seems to give immunity to "Emergency Rooms" for negligence.  But the Bill is very subtle in the way it defines "emergency."  This information was brought to my attention by a lawyer who used to be a Hospital Administrator and know how EMTALA works.  The drafters of the Bill used legal "slight of hand" to also make the Bill give complete immunity from negligence to any Doctor, nurse, or Hospital delivering a baby under anything than scheduled visit.

Here is the language from the proposed law:

In any medical malpractice action arising out of the furnishing or the failure to furnish services pursuant to obligations imposed by 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd for an emergency medical condition as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd(e)(1), the defendant health care provider  shall not be liable for the payment of damages unless the trier of fact finds by the greater weight of the evidence that the health care provider's deviation from the standard of care required under subsection (a) of this section constituted gross negligence, wanton conduct, or  intentional wrongdoing. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to change, alter, override,  or otherwise affect the provisions of G.S. 90-21.14, 90-21.15, 90-21.16, or 20-166."

42 U.S.C. § 1395dd is EMTALA , the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, and it says:

(b) Necessary stabilizing treatment for emergency medical conditions and labor (1) In general

If any individual (whether or not eligible for benefits under this subchapter) comes to a hospital and the hospital determines that the individual has an emergency medical condition, the hospital must provide either—

(A) within the staff and facilities available at the hospital, for such further medical examination and such treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical condition, or

(B) for transfer of the individual to another medical facility in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

 

(e) Definitions

In this section:

(1) The term “emergency medical condition” means—

(A) a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in—

(i) placing the health of the individual (or, with respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her unborn child) in serious jeopardy,

(ii) serious impairment to bodily functions, or

(iii) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part; or

(B) with respect to a pregnant woman who is having contractions—

(i) that there is inadequate time to effect a safe transfer to another hospital before delivery, or

(ii) that transfer may pose a threat to the health or safety of the woman or the unborn child.

Legal Slight of Hand

It certainly looks like the lobbyists for the medical community knew exactly what they were doing when they crafted this portion of the proposed law.  The EMTALA definition is a little bit "loosey goosey" (mostly because it was intended as a way to be broad and make sure hospitals did not "dump" people who were uninsured in the middle of giving birth).

Because of this broad definition of emergency, and because our statute integrates that definition, most people undergoing any serious treatment in a hospital:  delivering a baby, having a heart attack, bleeding profusely, etc, will be defined by EMTALA as being "in an Emergency" and thus, ANYONE treating them will have IMMUNITY.

I think the legal inquiry will be:

"When the alleged negligence took place, could the patient have been transferred to another facility pursuant to EMTALA?" 

If yes--->  no immunity
If no ---->  Emergency under EMTALA = Immunity

Do you want just about every Obstetrician to have immunity if they make an error?

Also, because this "definitional slight of hand" is not as obvious as saying "doctors delivering babies have immunity" will the Medical Malpractice Insurance Companies use this "gray area" to say "Well, the Legislature didn't give you outright immunity, so we can't lower the insurance rates of OBGYNs because we don't actually know if the immunity applies.  We'd have to look at it on a case by case basis."?

Bingo!  The doctors will raise an "EMTALA Immunity Defense" in EVERY case, creating a cottage industry for Insurance Defense Lawyers to bill hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Medical Malpractice Carriers will continue to charge too much money to the Doctors while enjoying the "Immunity Defense" that will probably kill most claims, and the babies who are born maimed or injured or die- well, they will have no right to a jury trial.

Please contact a member of the Committee and voice your opinion on HB 542.  Say no to IMMUNITY!

NC House Select Commitee on Tort Reform Contact Information

 

The North Carolina House is set to discuss a "tort reform" Bill tomorrow H542 (they have not "officially" released it but NC Trial Law Blog has an advanced copy you can see here:  Download Big Bill Tort Reform) that would grant immunity from suit to any product "regulated" by a State or Federal Agency.

UPDATE:  4:24 pm March 30, 2011:  The Bill has finally been filed, all of 18 hours before it is to be debated.  House Bill 542

Here is the relevant language: 

No manufacturer or seller shall be held liable in any product liability action if:

1. The product alleged to have caused harm was designed, manufactured, packaged, labeled, sold, or represented in relevant and material respects in accordance with the terms of approval, license or similar determination of a government agency, where the approval, license or similar determination is relevant to the event or risk allegedly causing the harm; or

2. The product was in compliance with a statute of this State or the United States, ...where the stature or agency action is relevant to the event or risk allegedly causing harm....

This is HUGE.

This means that a product regulated by ANY state or Federal agency would be immune from suit by North Carolina citizens who are hurt or maimed by the product which is eventually found defective.

Think:  bad tires, bad cars, Vioxx, bad drugs, toys containing lead or poison, etc.

Here is a "short" list of products whose manufacturers would be immune from a law suit if that product killed you or hurt you or someone you love.

Manufacturers of 328 Types of Products regulated and approved by the US Agencies will receive IMMUNITY from law suits for defective products that maim, kill and destroy property and people.

The manufactures of defective products would receive immunity from suit because the agency is "vested with the authority of this State or of the United States to issue rules, regulations, orders, or standards, concerning the design, manufacture, packaging, labeling, or advertising of a product or a service." Tort Reform for Citizens and Businesses: Section 3.1(b) amendment to Chapter 99B-1 (1a)

 

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) Regulated Products

 

Acetaminophen (products containing)

Acetic acid (products containing)

Adhesives -containing methyl alcohol

Adhesives -extremely flammable contact

Adhesives -floor covering

Adhesives nitrocellulose base

Aerosols (see self-pressurized products)

Ammonia, ammonia water (products containing) household, ammonium hydroxide

Antennas – CB base station and TV

Antennas -Omnidirectional CB base station

Antifreeze, ethylene glycol

Antiquing kits

Appliances, coal and wood-burning

Architectural glazing materials

Art Materials

Artist's paints

Asbestos- containing patching compounds

Asbestos -containing garments for general use

Aspirin products

Baby bouncers & walkers

Balloons, plastic mixtures

Batteries, storage, wet-cell

Benzene paint solvents containing

Bicycles

Bicycle helmets

Biological specimens, preserved

Blasting caps

Bunk Beds

Butane in cigarette lighters

Carbolic acid (phenol) (products containing)

Carbon tetrachloride (products containing)

Carpets and rugs (large)

Carpets and rugs (small)

Caustic poisons (products containing)

Caustic poisons – potash (products containing)

Caustic poisons – soda (products containing)

Cellulose insulation

Cellulose sponges

Charcoal briquettes

Chemistry sets

Child-resistant packaging (see special packaging)

Chlorofluorocarbons, self pressurized products containing Acetonitrile (see glue remover)

Aluminized polyester film kite

Asbestos -containing artificial emberizing materials

Benzene (products containing) benzol

Bergamot oil (products containing)

Betamethasone (products containing)

Children's Products (see "Toys/Children's Products")

Cigarette lighters

Cleaning products

Clothing (see wearing apparel, sleepwear)

Coal burning appliances (see appliances)

Combustible hazardous substances

Conjugated estrogen tablets (products containing)

Consumer product

Containers consumer-owned (portable)

Controlled drugs (products containing)

Corrosive substances (products containing)

Cosmetics

Cribs -full size

Cribs -non-full size

Cushions, infant

Cyanide salts (products containing)

Dietary supplements, iron-containing (products containing)

Disclaimer deceptive use of

Dive Sticks

Drain cleaners, liquid

Drugs, Oral Prescription -All Exceptions

Drugs -controlled

Drugs -iron containing

Drugs -oral prescription

Drugs -over the counter

Dry-cleaning solvents

Epoxy resins

Ethylene glycol (products containing)

Ethylene glycol in felt pads

Exports (noncomplying products)

Extremely flammable contents of self-pressurized containers

Extremely flammable hazardous substances

Extremely flammable solids

Eye irritants (products containing)

Fabrics

Felt-tip marking devices

Cholestyramine, anhydrous (products containing)

Clacker balls

Colestipol (products containing)

Dibucaine (products containing)

Diethylene glycol (products containing)

Diethylenetriamine (products containing)

Diglycidyl ethers (products containing)

Diphenhydramine preparations

Emberizing materials artificial, containing asbestos

Erythromycin ethylsuccinate, Suspension & granules

for suspension (products containing)

Erythromycin ethylsuccinate, tablets (products containing)

Ethanol containing mouthwash

Ethylenediamine (products containing)

Ferrous oxalate (products containing)

Fire extinguishers

Fireworks

First Aid

Flammable contents of self-pressurized containers

Flammable solids (products containing)

Flammable substances (products containing)

Fluoride (products containing)

Food

Formaldehyde (products containing)

Fuel

Furniture painted with lead containing paint

Furniture polish -liquid

Furniture polish -paste

Garage Door Openers- automatic residential

Gasoline

Glazing compounds

Heaters (see appliances)

Highly toxic substances (products containing)

Household substances

Hydrocarbons

Hydrochloric acid (products containing)

Ibuprofen (products containing)

Imported products & importers

Imports

Industrial supplies

Infant cushions

Ink cartridges dry concentrate containers

Ink-marking devices

Insulation, cellulose

Iron preparations

Irritant substances

Kerosene

Kindling & illuminating preparations

Labels

Laboratory chemicals (if educational)

Lacquers

Lawn darts

Lawnmowers power

Fertilizersdry

granular

Fuel kits with diflouro dichloromethane

Glue remover containing acetonitrile (household)

Hartshorn (products containing)

Hypochlorous acid (products containing)

Isobutane in cigarette lighters

Isosorbide dinitrate -prescription sublingual and chewable forms (products containing)

Ketoprofen (products containing)

Kites aluminized polyester film

Lead in paint (products containing)

Lighter fluid, etc. (products containing)

Lunar caustic (silver nitrate) (products containing)

Lye (products containing)

Matchbooks

Matches

Mattresses (cigarette ignition)

Mattresses (open flame ignition)

Methyl alcohol (methanol) (products containing)

Mineral oil in toys (products containing)

Mineral seal oil (products containing)

Mineral spirits (products containing)

Minoxidil (products containing)

Mirrors

Mixtures of hazardous substances

Mouthwash containing ethanol

Multiple hazard substances with

Multipurpose Lighters

Naphtha (products containing)

Neutralizers, Permanent Wave (see Permanent Wave Neutralizers)

Nitric acid (products containing)

Nitroglycerine prescription (products containing)

Oral contraceptives

Orris root powdered (products containing)

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs (see Drugs, Over the Counter)

Oxalic acid and salts (products containing)

Packages, child resistance (see child-resistant packaging)

Packages, sample

Paint (lead in) (products containing)

Paint solvents

Painting kits

Paper items

Patching compounds containing asbestos

Percussion explosives

Lidocaine (products containing)

Loperamide (products containing)

Mebendazole (products containing)

Medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets (products containing)

Methacrylic acid (products containing)

Methylprednisolone (products containing)

Methyl salicylate (products containing)

Naproxen (products containing)

Nitrites (Butyl and Volatile Alkyl)

Norethindrone acetate tablets (products containing)

Pacifiers (see Toys/Children's Products)

Pancrelipase (products containing)

Paraphenylenediamine (products containing)

Perchloroethylene in visual novelty devices

Petroleum distillates

Photographic color processing kits

Plant foods -dry granular

Poisons, caustic (products containing)

Polishing products

Potassium hydroxide

Prescription Drugs (Oral)

Pressure-generating substances

Propellant devices for model rockets

Radiator cleaners

Radioactive substances

Refrigerator doors

Refuse bins -unstable

Roof coatings

Rope, cord, string, etc.

Rugs see Carpets

Rubber vulcanizing products

Self-pressurized products

Self-pressurized products containing vinyl chloride

Sensitizers (products containing)

Signal words

Sodium hydroxide

Solder kit

Solder paste

Permanent wave neutralizers containing sodium bromate or potassium bromate

Phenol (carbolic acid)

Photodynamic sensitizer

Potash, caustic

Potassium supplements effervescent

(products containing)

Prednisone

Primary irritant

Sacrosidase (sucrase) in a solution of glycerol and water

Salt (sodium chloride)

Self-pressurized products containing chloroflorocarbons

Silver nitrate (lunar caustic)

Sleepwear, children's, sizes 0-6x & sizes 7-14

Sodium arsenite

Sodium fluoride

Sodium/potassium hydroxide

Special packaging

Spot removers single-use

Spot removing kits

Sponges, cellulose

Swimming pool slides

Tank coatings

Thread, string, twine, etc.

Turpentine (products containing)

Varnish

Video games

Vienna paste (products containing)

Vinyl chloride (products containing)

Solvents (for Paint and other surface coatings)

Stoddard solvent

Stoves, coal & wood burning

Strong sensitizers

Sulfuric acid

Toluene (toluol)

Toxic substances

Toys/Children's Products- All

Toys/Children's Products- choking hazard warnings for small parts, balloons, marbles, balls

Toys/Children's Products- balls, small

Toys/Children's Products- caps & toy guns producing, impulse-type sound

Toys/Children's Products- choking incidents

Toys/Children's Products- clacker balls

Toys/Children's Products- electrically-operated toys and children's article

Toys/Children's Products- games, self-pressurized -hollow plastic toys games

Toys/Children's Products- marbles

Toys/Children's Products- mineral oil

Toys/Children's Products- painted with lead or containing lead

Toys/Children's Products- pacifiers

Toys/Children's Products -rattles

Toys/Children's Products -sharp edges

Toys/Children's Products -sharp points

Toys/Children's Products -small parts

Toys/Children's Products -model rockets

Toys/Children's Products -model rockets, propellant

Toys/Children's Products -train smoke

Toys/Children's Products -use and abuse tests

Toys/Children's Products -tubes, collapsible metal (labeling)

Toys/Children's Products -unpackaged hazardous substances (labeling)

Vinyl plastic film

Walker-jumper

Wax containers

Waxes, paste for autos, furniture, floors and shoes

Wearing apparel

Writing instruments

Visual novelty devices -containing perchloroethylene

Volatile flammable materials

Water-repellent mixtures (masonry)

Wood burning appliances

Xylene (xylol)

 

Federal Drug Administration (FDA) PRODUCTS

 

Food safety

Tobacco products

Dietary supplements

Prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical Drugs

Vaccines

Biopharmaceuticals

Blood transfusions

Gene therapy

Cell and tissue based products

Medical devices

Electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED)

cellular phones

airport baggage screening equipment

television receivers

microwave ovens

tanning booths

laser products

Veterinary products

Cosmetics

 

Sanitation requirements on interstate travel

Control of disease on products

Sperm donation for assisted reproduction

 

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regulated Products

 

Meat

Poultry

Egg products

   

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Regulated Products

 

Vehicle safety

Vehicle recalls

Child safety seats

Airbags

Safe auto parts

Tire safety

Steering components

Fuel system components

Accelerator controls

Wheels that crack or break

Engine cooling fan blades that break

Windshield wiper assemblies that fail

Seats and/or seat backs that fail

Critical vehicle components that break

Wiring system problems that result in a fire

Car ramps or jacks that may collapse

Air bags that deploy incorrectly

Child safety seats that contain defective safety belts

   

___________________________________________________________________

HIGH COSTS TO STATES

No other state in the Nation has a law like this.  The only state that is close is Michigan, which has a provision that deals only with immunity for Drug Manufacturers who receive FDA approval.  Other states have had lesser versions of this bill but none had given complete immunity.  This is an interesting history of "FDA defense" bills:  http://www.centerjd.org/archives/studies/MIDrugImmunityF.pdf

As a result of Michigan's "FDA Law", the State of Michigan lost $82 MIllion dollars in "refunds" from the manufacturer of Vioxx who was accused of falsifying safety records to the FDA.

One of the reasons Michigan passed the law in 1995 was to attempt to keep Merck and Pfizer as empoloyers in the state.  Michigan passed the law and Merck left anyhow.   also In 2007, Pfizer announced plans to completely close the Ann Arbor, Nagoya and Amboise Research facilities by the end of 2008, eliminating 2,160 jobs and idling the $300-million dollar Michigan facility.

Can North Carolina afford to give a pass on the safety of all of these items?

Vioxx cost Michigan $82 million in additional Medicaid costs.  Michigan can’t recover those damages from Merck because of the "FDA defense." If this bill is enacted, NC Medicaid and NC taxpayers will also be left holding the bag.  The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed this "defense" on March 11, 2011.

These questions need to be asked: 

WHY DOES THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO MAKE NC THE DUMPING GROUND FOR DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS, WITHOUT CREATING A SINGLE JOB? 

WHY WOULD THE LEGISLATURE LEGALIZE THE SALE OF DANGEROUS DRUGS?

HOW DID NC GET THIS PROPOSED LAW?

How did this "law" get to North Carolina?  It got here from ALEC, the "American Legislative Exchange Counsel" a libertarian and conservative think tank funded by big industry with their goal of protecting corporate interests from any safety regulation.

Who funds ALEC?  If you go to the link you will find a long list of manufacturers, drug makers, industrial polluters, and other "mega corporations".

WHAT CAN I DO??    IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA FOR  NC, PLEASE CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITEE ON TORT REFORM:

You can find them at NC House Select Committee on Tort Reform.   Or here:  http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=House%20Select_127

Send them an email or a letter.  Or give them a call.  They meet tomorrow (Thursday, March 31) at 11 am.  Act now, before it is too late.

Chris Nichols

 

OK folks, hold on to your hats (does anyone wear hats these days?) it is time for a trip down an Orwellian rabbit hole (to mix some metaphors) into political intrigue, lawyers, lobbyists, and a organization posing as "we, the people."  No, it's not a national political party, its a North Carolina effort to take away the Constitutional right of trial by jury if you, or someone you love, is maimed or killed by a simple, preventable, mistake.

As these things go, we lawyers know that the best way to get to the bottom of things is to "follow the money" and that's what this post is all about.

And of course, what I'm talking about is the very recent creation of a "grass roots" effort to change the the laws of medical malpractice in North Carolina.  That "grass roots" organization stealthily sprung to life on March 10, 2011, as a non-profit organization called "North Carolinians for Affordable Health Care, Inc."

What follows is the story of the "birth of an astro-turf" organization.  And if you are not familiar with that term, let me give you my definition.  We've all heard of "grass roots" organizations, right?  They start out with regular people who have a concern about something.  Those people organize and get the word out and suddenly they create a movement which gains momentum.  And when that movement gets big enough, these regular people get a "voice" on the public stage with the politicians and large corporations that can simply "buy" access to government with lobbyists.  Well, "astro-turf" is the opposite of that.  An "astro-turf" organization is something created by a corporation or a lobbyist to appear to be "of the people" when it is, in fact, just a shill by "the man"- some corporate interest that wants to pose as "the people."

As you read this rather lengthy post, you'll get to see how a small group of politically connected lawyers created an "astro-turf" organization to persuade politicians and the public to take away the rights or regular people to bring a claim against an insurance company and hospital when that hospital makes a mistake that injures, maims, or kills someone they love.

3/10/2011 Articles of incorporation for North Carolinians for Affordable Health Care (NCFAHC) is filed.

 

It is, of course, a Section 501(c)(4) Corporation. 

The name and address of the incorporator is R. Donavon Munford, Jr.,

P. O. Box 2611, Raleigh, NC 27602-2611.

 Reference: NC Secretary of State Filings

 

North Carolinians for Affordable Health Care is incorporated by a Republican former member of the NC General Assembly who is a partner in the Smith Anderson Law Firm

 

R. Donovan "Don" Munford was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's thirty-fourth House district, including constituents in Wake County from 2002. Munford is a lawyer and accountant from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Munford ran for re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives in the 2004 General Assembly election. He defeated J.H. Ross in the Republican primary, but lost to Democrat Grier Martin in the November 2004 general election.

 He is a partner at Smith Anderson, the largest law firm in the Raleigh area. He practices in the areas of corporate and business law, estate planning and asset protection planning. Munford is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant. (Reference: Munford Wikipedia Entry)

 

Smith Anderson Law Firm is a leading Medical Malpractice Insurance Defense law firm and also a government lobbying law firm.

 

 

 

Smith Anderson Law Firm registered the website for NCFAHC.

 

Reference: WhoIS Registration link

 

Smith Anderson Law Firm has a longstanding relationship with the North Carolina Medical Society and lobbies for them before the General Assembly.

 

 

 

The North Carolina Medical Society is lobbying for immunity from negligence for Emergency Rooms in NC.

 

 

3/16/2011 NCFAHC releases a commercial falsely alleging that North Carolina is experiencing "frivolous lawsuits" which increase taxes and insurance costs.

 

FOLLOW THE MONEY

 

Are "North Carolinians" demanding immunity for negligent Emergency Rooms and physicians, or is a small group of lawyers, lobbyists, and physicians looking to walk away from their responsibility to the injured, maimed, and killed?

Can anyone explain how making Emergency Rooms immune from claims or lawsuits for "negligence" furthers the Medical Society's stated purpose to"raise the standards for their profession" and "protect the quality of patient care?"

North Carolina Senate Bill 33 (SB33) does exactly the opposite.  SB 33 changes the rules for any medical person in the Emergency Room and eliminates responsibility for "negligence".  This does not "raise the standard" for the profession, but in fact drastically lowers the standard. 

So how does this "protect the quality of patient care?"  Well, what happens when you say "you can no longer be held financially accountable for the consequences of sloppy work, negligent work, or breaking and ignoring the established rules in all other Emergency Rooms in the state of North Carolina?"

Does taking accountability away from Doctors, Nurses and Hospitals somehow make people more responsible?  Or does it make them act "less responsible?"

How about this?  What would happen if we eliminated all speed limits in North Carolina, and just told people not to drive "grossly fast"?  Would our roads be safer, or less safe?

Bottom line, the NC Medical Society, through their lawyers and lobbyists are "posing" as you, the people, in an effort to take away your right to hold a small group of bad doctors accountable.

And of course, where do the ACTUAL people stand on this issue?

 

Please write your elected House member a note and tell them to oppose this Bill.

Here is how to look them up:  Who Represents Me?

(Scroll down to the bottom and look up by your Zip code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NC Lawyers' Weekly has provided a great link to an article that was run in the Winston-Salem Journal about contributory negligence laws in North Carolina. 

Contrubutory Negligence is an issue that people don't know or care about, until they face the problem themselves.  Basically, in NC, even if you are hurt by someone else's negligence, if the other person can prove you are just a little bit to blame for your injury, you are barred from any recovery.  That's right.  Someone else is 99.9% to blame, and you are barred from recovery.

Columnist Scott Sexton has written a series of excellent articles on the subject and really puts a human face on this convoluted and political issue.  I highly recommend reading these articles.

I'll also add this to the mix.  One of the problems with contributory negligence is that it is so often a bar to people seeking legal representation.  Lawyers who represent injured people know that they could spend years working on case and lose everything at trial simply because a jury felt the Plaintiff may have played some very small part in causing the accident.

Here are some the the previous articles by Sexton:

Contibutory Negligence: it's "an insurance company's dream "

"Never mind that Joshua was 7 years old and was within 3 feet of the curb, or that Logan was drunk and driving on the wrong side of the road. "By way of affirmative defense, Defendant Logan pleads the contributory negligence of the decedent Plaintiff Joshua Franklin Palomares-Beckles," wrote Rodney Guthrie, Logan's attorney. If a jury in North Carolina decides that you are even a tiny bit at fault in this sort of case, you are entitled to nothing under state law, under a concept called contributory negligence. "In general, I'd say contributory negligence is an insurance company's dream," said Walter Holton Jr., the attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Beckles-Palomares. "

Wreck victim faces being victimized by outdated law

"After an automobile accident in New Hanover County involving his daughter, Ashley, a student at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Norris has become something of an expert on a legal concept known as "contributory negligence," an outdated and completely unfair area of insurance law used only here and in three other states. That leaves option C. "Our insurance company is also using the contributory-negligence law claim that Ashley is limited in what we can recover," Norris said.

'There is no lobby for the little people' in this state

"Just four states - North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama and Maryland - still hang on to the concept of contributory negligence, a relic from English Common Law. "

Scott Sexton
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