Steve Lombardi was born and raised in New England and in 1975 moved to the Midwest to obtain his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa. In 1981, he graduated from Drake University Law School. During law school he worked as a private investigator in a five state region of...
MoreHere is video of the ship, it's sister ship under power and the discussion of the captain talking with the Italian Coast Guard. This was an amazing ship.
Cruise Ship Captain Says He Fell Overboard Amid Chaos, cough-cough... apparently he fell right into a life boat. Isn't that lucky. Even the crew of Saturday Night Live couldn't come up with this script. So why didn't he get back on the ship? But all that said, look how close the ship is to land.
Today I'm back to taking no prisoners. Sorry but it's one of those days.
For you landlubbers a transom is the backend of a boat.
If you are a passenger and you’re one of the people who dislike the dreaded trial lawyers, call them greedy and scream for tort reform welcome to the world of the Costa Concordia’s cruise ship mumbo-jumbo legal maze. As a passenger of the sinking Good Ship Lollipop you won’t be suing from wherever you live or lived. You won’t even be seeking legal redress on terms you would be if there was a level playing field. Fact of the matter is pursuing your legal claims against the captain and cruise line will be litigated on the listing deck of some venue the cruise ship line chooses. You wanted tort reform in favor of big business, well… you got it. Welcome to their captain's quarters, a world of hot coffee that bites you squarely in the transom.
What happens when world dominators in the business world fear no one?
If you think cowardly captains are something new then visit the Oceanos where a guitarist is forced to take over as the captain because the captain and crew left with their luggage inside one of the lifeboats.
According to a story in the Waterloo Courier and one in the Mason City Globe Gazette a lawsuit has been filed by a Wisconsin couple following a pileup on Interstate 35 on January 25, 2010. A look at the photographs sort of say it all and begs the question the jury will certainly be asking – What were any of you doing driving during that storm? That's the elephant in the room that no will want to discuss but everyone will be looking to explain.
Lawsuit filed over pileup during 2010 blizzard on I-35, Laura Bird, Courier Lee News Service
Lawsuit filed in I-35 blizzard pileup, Laura Bird, Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa
For today’s article we have several real life rollover accidents. The first is a 16-year-old driver (Beth Opperman) who is said to have suffered only non-life-threatening types of injuries. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson described the accident for the WCF Courier as a single vehicle accident where she lost control of her driving on L Avenue north of 110th Street, then entered the ditch and the vehicle rolled. There is no discussion as to why or if anyone else was in the Ford Ranger truck. She’s just 16 and probably inexperienced so we’ll leave it at that.
A second roll-over car accident takes place in Chamberlain, S.D. reportedly killing a northwest Iowa man, Leon Contreras of Estherville, Iowa. The driver is described as 37-year-old Ramon Castillo; neither man is described as wearing a seatbelt, although no details are given about what happened to cause the accident.
Question: How is negligence determined in personal injury cases?
Does negligence have to be established in order to collect damages in any personal injury case?
This story takes the cake, well maybe not…
A gay couple comes into a local baker and after introducing themselves as partners are told by the baker that as a Christian this businesswoman is unable to bake the cake for this couple.
I’m serious. And they wonder why Iowa has a brain drain?
Story brought to us by KCCI, Channel 8, Des Moines, Iowa.
Bristol, Rhode Island has the longest running parade in the United States. The 4th in Bristol is like Christmas in terms of the celebration's importance to the town. Plans for next years parade starts July 5th. Dunkin Donuts and Del's Lemonade, alogn with quahogs and clam boils are the main staples. It's a great day to be in Bristol, only wish I were there.
http://youtu.be/3ErYDQcI33Y
No matter where you are today you can watch the parade with Full Channel's live feed.
http://www.eastbayri.com/detail/144275.html
Just remember the parade won't start until 10:30 a.m.
http://www.fullchannel.net/corporate/index.php?id=a23192eb4cf3ddbbf88be208e8f53c06&display=detail
UPDATE: An interesting Op-Ed piece in the Financial Times by Christopher Caldwell, April 22, 2011 is titled Three cups of platitudes. This is not going to just disappear. If this is going to go away it won't be without an explanation and full disclosure by the board from Pennies for Peace. It's a shame because this was a good idea.
Did you see 60 Minutes the other night doing an expose about Greg Mortenson and his charity that claims to build schools in Pakistan?
Greg Mortenson wrote Three Cups of Tea, a book about his experiences with climbing K2 and how it changed his life afterward. Some friends gave me the book, but after reading the cover leaf I had little interest. I’ve seen adventure travel first hand and it’s changed my life in a positive way, but frankly some of it makes me wince because I’ve seen enough to know there is a lot of fraud that goes on in that business. There is the small rip-offs that are covered up by the ambiguous agreements you sign with the guides and guiding services and then there is a larger problem with the whole adventure book writing culture that writes stories about life and death adventure that can’t be proven and probably never happened. There is a certain type of personality that seeks to guide adventure climbs and senses how people back home could be taken advantage of in a way that rakes in the dough for them. The way 60 Minutes laid out this story Mortensen is being accused of running his organization in a way that lacks financial transparency and is being placed into this latter category.
If I understand Mortensen’s story he tried climbing K2, was unsuccessful, ended up in a small village with a Pakistani family and being somewhat injured, this family nursed him back to life. Their generosity caused Mortensen to make a promise to go back and build a school for the children in the village. He did raise the money to build the school and since then an organization (Pennies for Peace) created solely for raising funds to build schools in Asia has raised … well that’s the problem, raised how much and what have they done with the donations?
Before talking to the insurance adjuster or defense attorney or the case mismanager remember this from I Claudius, don't touch the figs.
The premise held by most clients is that this system of law is fair. They'll say they want only to be treated fairly. When representing themselves they make the assumption that when defense lawyers talk to you they will be fair. Well I'm here to tell you, you had better not trust in being treated fairly. I mean exactly that and it has nothing to do with whether or not the defense lawyer or the insurance company is dishonest. They don’t have to be “honest” and they aren’t trying to be “fair”. Fact is they are hoping you aren’t smart enough to ask the right questions so they don’t have to not answer you. You think I’m kidding? Hell no. I’m not and I can prove I’m right. Here let me prove it to you.
Defense work has nothing to do with treating people fairly. If it did you could come up with the name of at least one defense lawyer who has said in the past, "I don't think you're asking for enough, can I pay you more?" Or, "Did you know you're entitled under the law to be paid more for your damages?” Go ahead find me one insurance company representative that has said that in the entire history of insurance. Go ahead, think real hard; I can wait, go ahead and think harder.
Umnnn dee dum, dee-dum... Have you remembered one? No? I didn't think so. I've not heard anything like that in 30 years.
You could also ask what’s a faraday cage? This is really an interesting video.
High Power Electrical Line Maintenance Worker or their Instructor – On a magic carpet. Remember this because you'll need to know about the Faraday Cage later today.
This story is about job creationg and how to create your own job by being a MoJo. A MoJo is a mobile journalist. In this instance the MoJo is one who covers the Cedar Rapids area of Iowa. The Internet has redefined most everything so why not journalism too? A MoJo can take photos, write stories and then sell content via a web links etc. This MoJo journalist is Jeff Raasch from SourceMedia Group News. That’s a great idea Jeff – I like that, a MoJo.
I’d suggest Jeff carry workers’ compensation insurance and higher limits of auto coverages including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Also consider a libel policy.
Taking this one step further this could be a money maker for students in college or at one of our state Universities. Give it some thought; you never know where it could lead.
Click here to e-mail Jeff.
“All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure.” Mark Twain
On November 30, 2010 I wrote Will Iowa Voters Next Bring Back the Witchcraft Act of 1542? Little did I know how out in front of this issue I was?
Bucharest, Romania - Romanians have changed labor laws to officially recognize witchcraft as a profession. Oh Sarah Palin would be so happy; finally she could have a real job.
TARROT CARDS – SPELL KITS – WANDS – JEWELRY – RITUAL TOOLS – CANDLES - INSENSE
Ode to Katrina...
Katrina, my stepdaughter, a while back forwarded to me a YouTube link to the group Black Keys predicting they would become popular. That was long before they were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Having been in high school in the 60’s and 70’s their sound reminded me of the various garage bands that played in neighborhoods long before people would complain about kids being kids and we chased them out of neighborhoods and into crack houses. So I’m somewhat familiar with the sound of a promising young garage band. Today I thought we could post the list of what I consider to be the ultimate garage band must-play song list.
Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin – NY 1973
Iron Butterfly – In A Gadda Da Vida
Steppenwolf – Born to be Wild (1969)
The Troggs – Wild Thing
If you want to read a good story about a courageous young man from Waterloo, Iowa and his equally courageous and loving sister read the news story, Sister helps her disabled veteran brother, December 25, 2010 by Mike Kilen. (mkilen@dmreg.com) Named at birth Emerald Ralston, this young woman is a gem. She serves us and then comes home and assists with her brother's care; her brother is a quadriplegic from injuries received when an IED exploded. I’d like to write more but I’ll never do it justice, so visit the Kilen article, its well worth your time.
In another story a 24-year-old marine on his way home to visit over the holidays was killed in an auto accident. The young man is Blake G. Hinds from Burlington, Iowa. See Iowa Marine dies en route home for holidays and Crash Kills Burlington Marine on Leave.
You can tell its winter in Iowa. The first snow mobile accident has come to my attention. The report has a snowmobiler being airlifted to Mercy Medical Center North Iowa where he’s reported to be in fair condition. The report from the Iowa State Patrol has the guy driving with a group on the median of Highway 218 around Charles City, Iowa. He strikes a culvert, surprise-surprise, goes airborne and crashes. Iowa isn’t a ditch friendly state for snowmobilers. Now in northern Minnesota the local governments created a ditch friendly highway for snowmobilers, but not in Iowa. The ditches are full of concrete culverts. So let’s be careful out there. If you do a Google search for “snowmobile accidents” you’re likely to find news stories concerning snowmobile accidents leading to death or serious personal injury too numerous to mention. Utica, New York must have large snowmobile population because they have plenty of serious accidents. See the article. And of course Michigonians seem to have their fair share of accidents leading to pi or even death. Here is a video from Oakland County about a couple of snowmobilers colliding. The quote I find of interest.
Like everyone else I’m reading the Des Moines Register story about the UPS worker who while making a delivery at Des Moines’ International Airport was run over and killed. The worker is Daniel Raber who they describe as opening a gate to make a delivery when he was run over by the rear duals. The news report is difficult to comprehend and appears to say another driver was involved or a second truck was involved; it’s just difficult to decipher from the way the article is written. Like you I’ll have to await the follow-up reporting or the OSHA investigative reporting. Right now it’s as clear as Delhi Lake.
Even without all the facts what’s the likely cause of this death on the job?
Today's feature video is from Russia. I did like Russia, it's an interesting country and people although I would never want to live there. Listen as you read because today's post is another example of the more we rush the father behind we get. As personal injury lawyers we continuously see the worse. So listening to beautiful music is one way to escape. Listen as you read; and I should mention, the name is Russian, and should be spelled VIAgra or Via Gra and it means a cappella.
This morning is Monday Morning Roundup of the personal injury news from around the State of Iowa. Let us see how Iowans are getting seriously injured or killed.
Gay Non-News - Bob Vander Plaats continues to distract voters with his efforts to get attention by blaming the Iowa Supreme Court for God’s work in making people gay. Now he’s saying the Iowa Supreme Court should have sent the issue to the Iowa Legislature rather than decide the controversy before them. Bob, Bob, Bob this isn’t all that difficult an issue. The Iowa Legislature passes laws and the Courts decide controversy’s interpreting or applying those laws. It’s basic civics 101 from high school. You did go to high school didn’t you? Next he’ll be advocating gay counseling to un-gay them. I’m beginning to wonder why Bob is so interested in this subject.
Spencer, Iowa – The debate between Agriculture Secretary, Bill Northey and his challenger Francis Thicke involved a lengthy discussion about the egg recall, how it has affected Iowa’s reputation and how to change state regulations to protect consumers.
The Iowa State Fair is something to behold; it really is. I wasn’t born and raised in Iowa; I grew up in Rhode Island and in Massachusetts. New Englanders, at least in my neighborhood, didn’t attend a state fair. In fact today I have to check and see if Rhode Island ever had a state fair. I was surprised to read that Washington County, Rhode Island does have a fair, but it’s an infant compared to the Bristol 4th of July celebration and the Iowa State Fair.
So what’s State Fair all about?
Mainly it’s about people, what it means to be a working stiff in Iowa and for everyone to get together over a 10 day period for socializing and for some serious entertainment.
