Miscellaneous | InjuryBoard Sarasota

Apparently 23 year old Anthony J. Harris of Bradenton had met the state's 4 criteria for having his name removed from the sex registry list. However, the judge didn't see it that way especially when she learned that Harris had made false statements about engaging in sex with teenage girls. Judge Diana L. Moreland cited the need to keep the public safe outweighed Harris' desire to have his name...

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According to a draft report from the State of Florida, the Sarasota YMCA is doing a poor job in their foster child program. The YMCA which contracts with the State of Florida Department of Children and Families, was criticized in the report for arrogance, defensiveness, and a retaliatory attitude toward those who criticize its programs. If true, this is disturbing news. The state run foster...

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A female special education teacher has been accused of having sex with a 15 year old male student. She was released from the Orient Road jail on $7,500 bail. This most recent arrest comes on the heels of a report citing the alarming prevalence of sexual abuse among teachers and their students. The study and the arrest highlight the fact that children are often abused by authority figures...

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In a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, MRSA infections cause more deaths each year than AIDS, emphysema, Parkinson's and homicide! MRSA, also known as Staphylococcus aureus, is a virulent drug-resistant bacteria prevalent in hospitals in nursing homes. The bacteria can be transported from infected patients to other patients through unsterilized equipment and...

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A former bishop of the Catholic diocese of Bani in the Dominican Republic has been accused of sexual abuse by a 42 year old Cuban refugee. I don't understand why a bishop would be working as an ordinary priest in the Diocese of Venice. That is definately not the norm in the Catholic Church. Bishops simply don't become demoted and work as priests in different dioceses. I wonder if this bishop...

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Mass torts are different from other litigation in that they usually involve a large number of claims concerning a single product, device, or concern. Secondly, there is a common thread in legal and factual issues. Today, mass torts often involve medical devices and/or pharmaceutical products. The issues are complex and the litigation is increasingly expensive. Recently, the tendency has been...

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The NY Times reported today the hazardous working conditions found in nail salons across the country. Both environmental groups and women's groups have voiced concern over the chemicals manicurists use on a daily basis. According to the story, "The intensity of exposure for salon workers is 1,200 times what it would be for the average American," said Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst for the...

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The deposition of Sister Lucy Vasquez, O.P., the former Chancellor of the Diocese of Orlando, has led to a very good piece of investigative journalism by Mark Pinsky of the Orlando Sentinel. Pinsky, read the deposition transcript and began his own investigation. He found that two Philadelphia priests who had been credibly accused of sexual abuse in Philadelphia had moved to Orlando and may...

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Today, I filed a class action lawsuit against United Healthcare for misrepresentation and fraudulent marketing in violation of The Florida Medicare Supplement Act. The lawsuit states that the defendants, United Health Group, Inc. and United Healthcare of Florida Inc. enrolled Medicare recipients into their Medical Advantage HMO and PPO plans without obtaining their signatures and consent to...

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I appeared on Fox 13's Your Turn with Kathy Fountain this week to discuss the recent abuse settlement in Los Angeles. As I stated on the program, the institutional secrecy that is so much a part of the fabric of the Catholic Church has contributed to the sex abuse scandal. This is quite evident in the case of Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles who fought the survivors in court until it was obvious...

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The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay 508 plaintiffs $660 million for abuse they suffered at the hands of Catholic clergy dating back decades. The settlement is the largest priest abuse settlement since the sexual abuse scandal broke in Boston in 2002. However, this by no means bankrupts the church in Los Angelese. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Archdiocese of Los...

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For Thomas Roberts, the abuse remained in the shadows. As a successful CNN news anchor, Roberts had buried the hurt, anger, and shame of the abuse-even from himself. Finally, after suffering in silence and fear for 20 years, Roberts came forth and told his tale of horror. Many sexual abuse survivors tell similar tales. They are fearful of recrimination, rejection, and most of all, once again...

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A Fort Myers Youth pastor has been charged with sexually assaulting two children for nearly a year. Elantonio Gomez is charged with two counts of Custodial Sexual Battery. The alarming part of the story is that this behavior is still happening in our churches, synagogues, and places of worship. The victims are often unwitting children who are forced to submit to the abuse. They are scared...

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Within a week, the Catholic Church in Florida has been rocked by the revelations of two more sexually abusive priests and two other priests who stole millions from the collection plate. Rev. Anthony Mercieca, now 69 and living on the Maltese island of Gozo, recalls touching former Congressman Mark Foley but not abusing him sexually. Mercieca seems incredibly unmoved by the damage inflicted by...

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If Rep. Mark Foley was the victim of a crime, he needs to identify the perpetrator in order to protect other minors. It's not enough that he's disclosed that he's a victim of sexual abuse, he needs to prevent future abuse by naming his accuser.In all the political uproar, this message concerning the safety of our children has been lost. Just as the Catholic bishops thought first about...

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