New York jury awards $8.75M to Volvo accident victim.

In a press release (12/4), Kreindler & Kreindler LLP wrote, "A New York jury has directed the Volvo Car Corporation to pay $8.75 million to a Yonkers man whose leg was crushed when he was hit by a 1987 Volvo 740 wagon that was missing a clutch starter safety switch, the victim's law firm, Kreindler & Kreindler LLP, announced today. The May 2002 accident happened when the car lurched forward and pinned the victim, Manuel Reis, between a house and the vehicle."

New Mexico jury returns $54M verdict against ResCare.

The Louisville Courier-Journal (12/3, Howington) reported, "A jury in Albuquerque, N.M., has returned a damage award of about $54 million against ResCare Inc. over the rape of a disabled male resident in one of the company's group homes five years ago." Carl Bettinger, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said that "The award was the largest ever in a New Mexico personal-injury suit.

La Salle University settles football brain-injury case for $7.5M.

The AP (11/30) reported that La Salle University in Philadelphia "will pay $7.5 million to provide lifetime care to a former football player who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2005 game, allegedly after an earlier concussion went untreated."
The New York Times (12/1, B14, Schwarz) reports, "Preston Plevretes, now 23, claimed that he was improperly treated by La Salle medical staff after sustaining a concussion during a practice in October 2005. Despite having continuing symptoms, the lawsuit said, Plevretes was cleared to play in a subsequent game in which a tackle caused brain damage that has left him with speech impediments, memory loss and other issues that require 24-hour care."