Brianna Smith, Author at Legal Reader

Brianna Smith is a freelance writer and editor in Southwest Michigan. A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Brianna has a passion for politics, social issues, education, science, and more. When she’s not writing, she enjoys the simple life with her husband, daughter, and son.

Image of a 1998-2002 Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine

Family Files First Lawsuit Involving Fatal NY Limo Crash

November 21, 2018

Last month, a limousine crashed in upstate New York, killing 20 people. Now, the parents of one of the victims are suing the car’s operators, alleging gross negligence “in putting the dangerous and defective vehicle on the road.” The suit was filed by the parents of Amanda Rivenburg, who was 29-years-old at the time of the accident. She was among the 18 people riding in the limo when it “barreled through a stop sign at the bottom of a hill and crashed into a ravine in rural Schoharie, New York on Oct. 6.” In addition to the 18 vehicle passengers, two pedestrians were also killed in the accident.

Image of the Daley Center (right), the home of Cook County Circuit Court

County Rules in Favor of Wrongfully Convicted Man

November 20, 2018

Earlier this week, Cook County commissioners voted in favor of a homeless man who was wrongly imprisoned in connection to false rape allegations. As a result, the commissioners approved a $3.7 million settlement in the lawsuit filed by the man, Carl Chatman, in response to his ordeal. According to Chatman’s suit, he was “wrongly imprisoned after a clerk at the Daley Center fabricated a rape claim as part of a scheme to sue the county.”

Butte County Settles Racial Discrimination Suit with Former Sheriff’s Deputy

November 20, 2018

Butte County recently decided to settle a lawsuit filed by Michael Sears, a former deputy with the Butte County Sheriff’s department. Sears originally filed his lawsuit against the department and county after he allegedly experienced workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation over his race. The suit settled for $645,000 and will be paid to Sears and the law firm that represented him, Mastagni Holstedt, APC.

Kansas States Officials Approve $75,000 Settlement Over DCF Lawsuit

November 20, 2018

Earlier this week, the governor of Kansas and other top legislative leaders agreed to settle a child-death lawsuit for $75,000. The suit was originally filed in Sedgwick County District Court against the “Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) after the agency failed to intervene based on allegations an 18-month-old girl was physically abused and living in a drug house.”

JBS USA Recalls Nearly 100,000 Pounds of Ground Beef Over Potential E. coli Contamination

November 20, 2018

A recall was issued late Saturday for nearly 100,000 pounds of bulk raw ground beef from a JBS USA Swift Beef facility in Utah over concerns of potential E. coli contamination. According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the recalled product was distributed to retailers throughout “at least five states,” including Utah, Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada.

Fatal Accident Involving Jackson Academy Student Results in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

November 18, 2018

A family of an 18-year-old woman who died earlier this year on May 17 recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Superior Asphalt Inc., IMS Engineers, the city of Jackson, and others. According to the suit, the woman who lost her life was Frances Fortner. The day of the fatal incident, Fortner, who was a senior at Jackson Academy, was driving to graduation practice when her “car hit an unsecured manhole cover and flipped,” according to witnesses.

Costco Hit with $4M Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

November 16, 2018

Costco Wholesale Corp. is at the center of a lawsuit filed by an African American Severn couple for $4 million. According to the suit, a manager allegedly “racially discriminated against them when he called the police for a robbery that did not happen.”

Graduate Sues Yale University Over Incident Involving Her Forced Withdrawal from School

November 16, 2018

A graduate of Yale University recently filed a lawsuit against the university, several school officials, and Yale New Haven Hospital after she was allegedly involuntarily held at the hospital when she “admitted herself for depression.” Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Yale “forced her to withdraw from the university.”

Image of the lobby of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel

Arkansas Woman Allegedly Found Bed Bugs in Her Arizona Biltmore Hotel and Resort Room, According to Lawsuit

November 16, 2018

Christine Bingaman of Arkansas filed a class-action lawsuit against the “Arizona Biltmore Hotel and Resort, a Hilton Waldorf Astoria luxury property that is known for its charm” and is popular among tourists and locals alike. Why did she file the suit? Well, it turns out that despite the fact that the hotel “promises a world-class experience,” Bingaman claims she encountered bed bugs during her four-night visit to the property in May 2018.

Image of the Recalled Eddie Bauer First Adventure Infant Carrier

Eddie Bauer Infant Carriers Recalled Due to Fall Hazard

November 16, 2018

If you have an Eddie Bauer infant carrier, listen up. Earlier this week, Gold Inc. issued a recall for Eddie Bauer fabric infant carriers over concerns that the buckles on the carriers may break, “posing a fall hazard to children.” According to the recall notice, the recalled carriers were sold nationwide at Target stores and online for $70 between December 2017 and August 2018.

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