Waitress Tests Restaurant’s Claim that Appearance is Part of the Job

Brain Surgery

Brain Surgery

A Hooters waitress in St. Peters Missouri is suing the chain for discrimination under the American’s with Disabilities Act. The nursing student, who had recently undergone brain surgery, was told she could return to her waitressing job by the manager.

When she started back she was told that she would have to wear a wig which would hide her short hair and scar. An article printed in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on April 6 about the case reported that the wig would hinder the healing process. The woman’s hours were continually cut after she refused to wear the wig until she ultimately felt that it was necessary to quit.

The chain has been involved in suits in the past about appearance issues but this time it is a discrimination case due to a disability so that could make it a precedent setting suit. Employers are required by the Equal Opportunity Employment Act to never discriminate and an incident like this can certainly be a rightful reason to take an employer to court.

The experienced attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman have successfully handled many discrimination cases and you should contact us if you have suffered discrimination on the job. Visit our website today to schedule an appointment with our well trained staff to discuss this offense and to plan for your next step in the legal process.

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Missouri Legislators Voting to Correct Language in the Right of Way Law

The Missouri Legislature has proposals before both the state senate and house designed to correct the language in the Missouri Failure to Yield the Right of Way law. This newly corrected law will increase penalties for those who have been involved in accidents where right of way was not yielded properly.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently published a letter to the editor by Katherine Fox, an advocate for the organization Freedom of Road Riders, that pointed out the stiffer penalties could make the road safer for motorcycle enthusiasts.  Many accidents involving motorcycle riders occur due to motor vehicle operators simply not paying enough attention to the other occupants of the road around them.

Someone on a motorcycle can be easily missed in mirror blind spots if a driver isn’t fully aware of their surroundings at all times.  The injuries in accidents involving a motorcycle can be much more severe and in some cases fatalities are more likely to occur.

If you or a family member have been injured in one of these devastating accidents you should contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman. Our experienced staff has successfully handled many serious injury and wrongful death cases due to driver negligence – allow us to do the same for you by visiting our website today.

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Manchester Dierbergs’ Soup Tampered With

soup

soup

The police are looking for a man that tampered with soup by the salad bar at the Dierbergs Market at 421 Lafayette Center March 28, 2013. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on April 2, 2013 that surveillance video has captured a picture of the man.

Local police are encouraging anyone with information on who this man is to contact them immediately. Luckily there were patrons who saw the man place a “foreign substance” in the soup and alerted store employees.

This incident does bring up the heightened security that is needed in markets, buffets and other open areas that leave food out easily accessible not only to patrons, but pranksters and people with more nefarious motives in mind. This is a public safety issue and part of a business owner’s responsibility is to provide adequate security so patrons are not harmed.

A person who has been injured while in a place of business does have a right to protection from circumstances such as this. Property owners must have proper security and make sure floors and parking lots are maintained so there are no trip and fall accidents experienced by customers.  Visit our website to set up a meeting with our St. Louis premises liability attorneys to talk about any injuries suffered while visiting any public establishment.

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One Killed and Two Seriously Injured by Fleeing Vehicle

The St. Louis Post Dispatch has reported that the driver of a vehicle that caused a fatal accident on March 14th was trying to get away from another accident he was involved in. The second accident took the life of the driver in the other vehicle and two other passengers were in critical condition after the accident. It was reported that the vehicle, a Ford Explorer, was leaving the scene of an earlier accident that involved a St. Louis license collector’s vehicle. The driver sped off from what is described in the initial report as a minor accident.

The escape went wrong when the Explorer struck a Pontiac after possibly running a stop sign. The driver was arrested for leaving the scene of the accident and will likely face a number of additional charges for the second, deadly, collision. Carelessness and reckless driving to avoid consequences like tickets or DUIs happen many times each year and often lead to serious injuries.

If a careless driver has injured you or one of your family members the St. Louis auto accident attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman can help. Visit our website and set up an appointment to get an experienced professional on your side and start the process to seek appropriate damages due to this person’s carelessness.

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Fire Chief Injured when Fire Truck Overturns

Firefighter Standing Next to Fire Engine

A Fire Chief was injured in a recent vehicular accident.

The Potosi Fire Chief was injured when the tanker truck he was driving to a fire overturned on March 24 2013.  According to the news report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Richard Knight was seriously injured when he was partially ejected from the vehicle.

It appears that he overcorrected a move the tanker made to the right side of the road and that sent him careening over to the left side where it overturned. Luckily no one else was injured by the out of control vehicle.

The fact no one else was injured may be a blessing but the chief is hurt and this type of injury on the job is all too common – many workers are injured in auto and truck accidents. Sometimes it is the employees’ own carelessness and other times the vehicles are not properly maintained. In any instance however the injured worker is due workmen’s compensation payments for their injuries and lost time.

Some employers may fight the award of benefits but any person denied workmen’s compensation by their employer or insurance carrier should seek legal counsel. If you have had any roadblocks placed in front of your collecting workmen’s compensation benefits you must retain the St. Louis Workmen’s compensation attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman. Visit our website today to set up an appointment with one of our attorneys for a thorough explanation of your rights as an injured worker.

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Driver in Home Fatality Gets Additional Charges

A Godfrey man who drove an SUV into a home, killing one of the people who lived there, has been charged with more crimes.  According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch article published March 19, 2013 the driver was under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, anxiety medication and alcohol when he crashed into the home. Originally the man was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident – the additional charges are due to the toxicology tests administered at the time of his arrest.

The SUV was driven through the front door and hit the homeowner while he was seated in his living room.  This accident is a shocking result of both reckless driving and driving while intoxicated. These additional charges could of course lead to more jail time for the accused but his actions have also caused the deceased’s family emotional hardship that should be compensated for.

Reckless endangerment by driving under the influence should be punishable by law in criminal and civil court. If you or a family member has suffered injuries stemming from an accident with an impaired or reckless driver visit our website to speak with one of our St. Louis auto accident attorneys today.  We have won millions of dollars in damages for auto accident victims in the past and will fight to get you compensation that you are entitled to.

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LED Lights Recalled due to Fire Hazard

LED Fire

LED Fire

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has recently listed an LED light bulb as a fire hazard.  These 120 volt LED light bulbs were imported by Lighting Science Group Corporation and are supposed to use less electricity than traditional incandescent and CFL bulbs.

The bulbs in question are marketed under the brand names Definity, Ecosmart, Sylvania, and Westinghouse and come in 6, 8 and 9 watt varieties. Model numbers A 19, G25, and R20 and PAR20 have been identified as the ones that could potentially be dangerous.

Hoffman & Gelfman encourages anyone who has purchased any LED lights to check the website for more information and to make sure they have not purchased any of these particular bulbs. These bulbs can overheat and have been known to cause smoke and fire conditions.

Poor workmanship or improper inspection are just a couple of the many possible causes for product failure that can lead to injuries and damage to your home. The defective product attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman have decades of experience in successfully representing clients that have been injured or suffered damage due to poorly performing products. If you have suffered damage due to a defective product visit our website and discuss your case with an experienced attorney who can offer advice on how to pursue your claim.

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Kirkwood Woman Gets Three Years for Fatal Accident

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that a driver of a car that struck and killed a bicyclist last year was sentenced to three years imprisonment. The sentence is the result of a plea bargain and the Kirkwood woman may be eligible for parole in one year. The incident was brought to trial because the driver of the vehicle was found to be impaired due to alcohol – her BAC was more than two times the legal limit.

What makes the tragedy even worse was the fact that the teenager on the bike was on his way home and only a block from his house when he was struck by the vehicle.  As the defense attorney mentioned there were no winners in this tragic case. The life taken cannot be replaced and the continued problem of people driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol does not seem to be going away.

Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one due to an intoxicated driver should seek damages for physical injury, emotional distress and any monetary consequences the negligent driver has created. If you have been involved in an accident similar to this please visit our website and speak with one of our St. Louis auto accident attorneys for advice on pursuing your claim.

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Fleeing Driver Causes Accident on Highway 67

Don't Flee Police When You Cause An Accident

Don’t Flee Police When You Cause An Accident

A man driving a Silverado pick-up truck turned onto highway 67 going the wrong way and hit another vehicle causing it to overturn about one mile past the Clark Bridge.  According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report on March 12 the driver of the pick up truck was a suspect in a home invasion in Illinois and he was fleeing police.

The driver of the other vehicle was not seriously injured but the wrong way driver suffered some injuries to his leg and hip and was taken to the hospital for treatment. It is believed the chase that led to the accident started in Illinois after the driver had allegedly forced his way into a home and attacked the woman who lived there.  After a confrontation with a neighbor the assailant got into the truck and crossed over into Missouri using the Clark Bridge.

Luckily no one was seriously harmed in this incident but things could most certainly have been worse.  If you have suffered an injury or emotional distress due to the reckless actions of another driver you may be entitled to compensation.  Visit our website and speak to a St. Louis car accident attorney to learn about your rights in this situation and to get advice on pursuing your claim.  Our auto accident attorneys have helped hundreds of victims in the St. Louis area and we can do the same for you.

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St. Louis Woman Charged with Several Offenses Due to DUI

A St. Louis woman who was found unresponsive behind the wheel of her car after causing a head on collision has been charged with many offenses, including DUI and two counts of felony assault. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that the accused was driving the wrong way on Route 40/61 and that when the police arrived they found an opened bottle of peach vodka on the passenger side floor.

The driver’s blood alcohol content was almost two times the legal limit according to the news story posted March 4, 2013. The two people in the other car were both injured and the driver of the second vehicle had multiple serious injuries. The car of the accused almost hit another vehicle as well but the driver of that car was able to avoid this carelessly driven auto.

The passenger and driver of the car hit and people in the other car, who were lucky to avoid this reckless driver, may all be eligible to receive damages for their injuries suffered and emotional distress. If you or anyone in your family has had similar experiences with reckless endangerment due to a careless driver you may be due compensation for your medical bills and time missed from work.  Visit our website to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced St. Louis auto accident attorneys immediately to discuss how to move forward with your case.

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