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The Treatment of Mentally Ill People in Washington Prisons

Posted by David Brown 
· December 27, 2022 

Washington state, like many other states in the US, has a serious mental health crisis. Prisoners who should be given an assessment of their competency are instead left to languish in prison for months on end. There are a variety of reasons why this is the case, though the most notable ones are the fact that mental health facilities are woefully underfunded, as well as mismanagement by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services over several years.

Despite this problem has been going on for a long time in Washington’s prisons, it is not something that’s only just now been discovered. In fact, back in 2014, a lawsuit was filed – Trueblood v. DSHS – where it was argued that the long wait times violated the constitutionally guaranteed due process rights. This case lasted until 2018 when a settlement agreement was reached.

The agreement required that the state get anyone who may be deemed as legally incompetent to stand trial an evaluation within 14 days. If deemed unfit by this evaluation, they would be given restorative services meant to help them get the services they need within seven days after the assessment is complete. If they fail, fines will be imposed, which can come in the form of money put into mental health services and compensatory damages. Despite this settlement, approximately only half of those eligible get assessed on time.

These wait times can create two common outcomes: people don’t get their necessary due process, or judges dismiss the case. While not everyone who is in need of evaluation is dangerous, enough of them that it becomes an issue that some serious cases may go unprosecuted. As far as wait times go, some people have been waiting so long that they spent more time waiting than they would if they pleaded guilty and served their sentence.

The state argued that COVID caused them issues. However, the problem existed before 2020, which makes it impossible for that to be the main reason. Ultimately, it begs the question whether the state will eventually fix these issues, or if they will simply kick the can down the road and continue incurring fines. What’s unfortunate is the fact that mental health is so poorly understood by so many, and thus, those who suffer from mental illness struggle to get the help they need.

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Washington Supreme Court Offers More Protection in Civil Court Against Racism

Posted by David Brown 
· December 22, 2022 

SEATTLE — The Washington Supreme Court has issued a unanimous opinion that a new trial is warranted in civil cases in which racial bias was present in court proceedings. The judges on the court found that there had been race-based misconduct that is not a harmless human error.

This opinion by the judges is the latest one they have issued with the goal of addressing racism and removing it from the state court system.

The case before the court involved personal injury that was sustained from a car crash. The court found that the trial court should have held a hearing in which allegations of racial bias and prejudice were raised by the defense in the case. It was ordered back to the King County Superior Court for a hearing on the allegations of racial bias and to get a new trial in the case.

The 33-page opinion from the justices found that the plaintiff in the personal injury case, who is black, and her Seattle-based attorney, who is also black, had to endure statements made by the defense that played into racist tropes and even suggested improprieties between Henderson and her black witnesses. The justices also found that Superior Court Judge Melinda Young had abused her own discretion by not punishing the defense when they withheld evidence from Henderson’s lawyers before the trial even took place.

The opinion of the judges also stresses that an evidentiary hearing about racial bias has to be held if the court is presented with evidence by an objective observer who is able to conclude there was a racial bias and that that was a factor in the verdict of a trial.

The case that is cited in the opinions of the justices was in court in 2019 for a jury trial in which the defense portrayed Henderson as very combative and confrontational. The justices found that this is a harmful stereotype of an angry black woman. The defense also suggested that there was some type of racial collusion between Henderson and her witnesses, three of whom happened to be black women who all use the same terminology when describing Henderson in their testimony as “life of the party.”

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The Top Benefits of Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer Following a Car Accident

Posted by David Brown 
· December 20, 2022 

Even though you probably put safety at the top of your priority list every time you get behind the wheel of a car, a car accident can happen at any time. Not everyone drives as safely as you do, and even a minor accident can result in serious injuries. You may feel like you can handle everything on your own, but it is important for you to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. There are several benefits of having legal support in your corner.

First, there is a chance that the insurance company may not pay out your claim. If the accident was not your fault, then the insurance policy held by the other driver should cover your expenses and medical bills. What happens if the limits of the policy are not enough to cover all of your expenses? You should not be responsible for the remaining bills, and a lawyer can pursue compensation on your behalf.

Furthermore, there might be some debate regarding whose fault the accident was. You need a lawyer who has experience handling motor vehicle accidents. That way, you can make sure that your voice is heard, and you can ensure that blame is properly assigned following the collision. You should not be blamed for an accident that is not your fault.

Following a motor vehicle accident, you deserve to focus all of your attention on your medical recovery. You do not want to be saddled with paperwork, but there will probably be a lot of people reaching out to you. For example, there might be a collision center that wants to provide you with information regarding the status of your vehicle. Your insurance company, as well as the insurance company of the other driver, may have some paperwork they want you to fill out. This can make it difficult for you to figure out what to do next, and you need a lawyer who can handle all of this for you.

If you work with a personal injury lawyer, you can ensure your rights are adequately protected while also pursuing compensation to which you are entitled. You should always see a doctor following a car accident, but don’t forget to reach out to a personal injury attorney as well.

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Tyson Foods Ordered To Pay Up Following Conclusion of Lawsuit Accusing the Company of Price Fixing

Posted by David Brown 
· December 13, 2022 

During the past few years, prices have increased almost universally across the board. There are some companies that are taking advantage of the situation, and it appears that Tyson Foods might be one of them. Tyson Foods is a name that is synonymous with chicken, but according to an announcement from the Attorney General’s office of the State of Washington, Tyson Foods is going to pay approximately $10.5 million to resolve a lawsuit brought against them with allegations of price-fixing. In addition to the lawsuit against Tyson Foods, there are approximately 16 remaining companies embroiled in price-fixing lawsuits.

According to information released by the Attorney General’s office, it is estimated that approximately 90 percent of people in the state of Washington have been impacted. That includes approximately seven million people, covering nearly everyone who consumes chicken products.

Tyson Foods is the largest manufacturer of chicken in the United States. It is responsible for approximately 20 percent of all broiler chickens in the country. In the lawsuit, the state of Washington alleged that Tyson Foods, along with 18 other chicken producers, has significantly increased the price of chicken since 2008. As a result, consumers have been forced to overpay by millions of dollars. A lawsuit further alleges that there has been a widespread conspiracy to rig contracts, manipulate prices, and coordinate to decrease supply to maximize profits on behalf of the companies.

As a result of the settlement, Tyson Foods will further cooperate with the attorney general to turn over information that could be relevant in other cases. Furthermore, the company is required to provide internal training and certify that it has policies in place to ensure it does not violate antitrust laws again. That way, it can never again fix prices to harm consumers in the state of Washington.

Thus far, the state of Washington has recovered more than $11.7 million from a total of three companies that have resolved claims. This number is likely to go higher, as there are sixteen other companies that continue to litigate claims of price fixing. It remains to be seen how the funds recovered in the lawsuit will be distributed to people across the state.

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Refunds Are Coming: Providence Hospital To Return Money To Patients Originally Entitled To Free Care

Posted by David Brown 
· December 8, 2022 

The medical system in the United States is incredibly complicated, and some people are very surprised when they receive a bill from a doctor or hospital system. Now, it appears that one of the largest nonprofit hospital systems in the United States, Providence, is going to issue refunds to more than 700 patients who were wrongly charged for medical care.

These individuals are originally qualified for Medicaid. This is a government health insurance program that is designed to provide insurance for individuals and families with low incomes. Unfortunately, the hospital system ignored this fact and billed these patients for their medical care. Then, when they did not pay, they referred the debt to a collection firm. It seems that the goal of this practice was to generate as much money as possible from patients. This includes individuals whose incomes were so low that they should not have received a bill at all.

The program responsible for this practice, called Rev-Up, was created by McKinsey. It has already been the subject of detailed investigations, as it appears to be a questionable program.

The hospital system has not disclosed the total amount of money that it is refunding, but it did say that refunds have been in the works for several months. Already, an attorney general for the state of Washington has filed a lawsuit against the hospital system, accusing it of violating state laws by inappropriately billing patient accounts. Even though Providence is fighting a lawsuit, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

According to state laws in Washington, which is where Providence is located, hospital systems are required to provide free care to patients if their income falls below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. This is approximately $83,250 for families of four people. This also encompasses people who generally qualify for Medicaid, which means they should not have been billed for their medical care.

In total, Providence operates more than 51 hospitals and 900 clinics throughout the United States. A spokesperson for the hospital system indicated that they recently changed their practices, which led to an unintended error. Regardless, it appears the hospital system should be responsible for this mistake, and it could be facing fines and sanctions even as they refund patients.

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The Timeline of a Divorce: What To Know

Posted by David Brown 
· December 6, 2022 

If you are in the process of dissolving a marriage, you might be wondering how long it will take. No matter how amicable a divorce might be, it will take some time. There are a lot of factors involved in how long it will take you to finalize your divorce, and it is not unusual for a divorce to take more than a year to become final. For this reason, it is always prudent to have solid legal representation that can not only help you navigate the court system but also make sure your rights are vigorously defended.

If you go through the process as quickly as possible, it will still take at least two months. Typically, this only happens if both parties can agree on everything and there are no children involved. If there are minor children involved in the divorce, the process could take six months or more.

There are a lot of factors involved in establishing a child custody arrangement. The legal system will try to figure out the safest place for the child to live, which parent took care of the children the most, and whether the children will have adequate emotional support. It is virtually unheard of for the court system to split up children between parents.

There are several other reasons why a divorce might take longer. For example, you may have a lot of shared property that you have to divide. Just as dividing your assets can be complicated, dividing your debt can be an issue as well. Some of the most common sources of debt include credit cards, cars, student loans, and mortgages. If you have to divide assets and debt through the legal system, it can drag out the process.

Even though you probably want your divorce to be finalized as quickly as possible, it is just as important for you to make sure your rights are represented. The divorce process is going to lead to adjustments, compromises, and possible changes in your lifestyle. If you have a divorce attorney in your corner, the process can proceed as smoothly as possible. That is why you must hire an experienced divorce lawyer if you are going through a divorce.

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Republican National Committee Files Lawsuit Against Google, Alleging Political Discrimination

Posted by David Brown 
· December 1, 2022 

For a long time, people have been looking for ways to get rid of spam on their computer. Most people know what this looks like. They include the banner ads that pop up at the top of the screen, the pop-up ads that block the entire window, certain emails we would (rather not) receive, and even the videos that play before we try to watch something on the internet. Spam filters have gotten better during the past few years, and not everyone is happy about it. One example is the Republican National Committee, which has filed a lawsuit against Google.

The lawsuit alleges that Google, one of the largest tech companies in the world, has been suppressing its email ads prior to the midterm elections, which are slated to take place in November. The lawsuit claims that Google has been discriminating against the RNC by placing its emails in spam folders. The lawsuit further claims that this has had a negative impact on its ability to raise money and connect with potential voters.

Google, in contrast, claims that spam filters are generally a result of its users’ actions and not based on political affiliation at all. Google further said that it offered training to teach organizations, regardless of political affiliation, how to send real emails to voters that do not get blocked by spam.

Independent organizations, including North Carolina State University, have found that spam filters and algorithms from Google are more likely to block messages from conservative causes rather than liberal ones. This means that Google’s spam filters could be more likely to place emails from the Republican National Committee in the spam folder. The RNC saw this and took advantage, calling upon the Federal Election Committee to investigate Google before filing a lawsuit.

It remains to be seen how the lawsuit will play out. Even though Google has released a program that is supposed to teach people how to get emails to their target markets, the RNC has decided not to participate in the program. Even though the lawsuit is unlikely to be resolved before the midterm elections play out, it does shine a spotlight on how spam filters may have an impact on politics moving forward.

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Court System Orders a Hold on the Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

Posted by David Brown 
· November 29, 2022 

Student loans have been a hotly debated topic during the past few years. Now, it appears that the Biden Administration is ready to forgive $10,000 or $20,000 per borrower across the board. Even though many people are excited to have a portion of their debt wiped out, it appears that the plan is not quite ready to move forward. Multiple lawsuits have been brought against the administration as a result of the student loan forgiveness plan. Most of the lawsuits allege that the President does not have the authority to cancel student loan debt, as that is a power given to Congress under the Constitution.

On the other hand, one challenge that these lawsuits are going to face is proving that they have the standing to challenge the plan. Recently, a federal court blocked the student loan forgiveness plan from going into effect as the process is litigated. According to the director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, this is largely a procedural matter. The court cannot make a ruling until it has been fully briefed.

The lawsuit claims that there are numerous student loan servicers and companies that manage many of the Federal loans that are going to be forgiven. The lawsuit alleges that these companies are going to be harmed, particularly since some federal student loans were originally funded by private companies.

Even though the lawsuit was originally dismissed because the court system believed that the plaintiffs did not have the standing to challenge the lawsuit, they immediately filed an emergency motion with the Circuit Court of Appeals. They were granted an administrative stay, but this does not mean that the plan has been canceled.

All it means is that the plaintiffs will have an opportunity to explain why they have the standing to challenge the lawsuit. If they do so, then the lawsuit will move forward, and the plaintiffs will have to explain why they feel like the forgiveness plan is unconstitutional. The administration will also have an opportunity to defend the plan. It remains to be seen how the Department of Education is going to orchestrate the student loan forgiveness plan while this lawsuit, along with multiple others, plays out.

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As Doctors Start Getting Sued for COVID-19, Which Professionals Are At Risk?

Posted by David Brown 
· November 24, 2022 

Lawsuits against doctors have been on the rise for many years. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, lawsuits are only going to become more common. Now, particularly since the nation is recovering from the pandemic, it appears that lawsuits stemming from COVID-19 are on the rise.

Recently, a lawsuit was filed by a patient who arrived at the hospital while pregnant. This patient had respiratory problems, meaning that she had a hard time breathing, caused by the virus. Ultimately, doctors decided it was appropriate to perform an emergency delivery of her baby, which was close to being full term.

Even though her child survived, the woman lost oxygen during the medical situation. As a result, she suffered brain damage. Now, she is suing a number of professionals at the hospital, including her OBGYN, a pulmonologist, and the ICU unit for medical malpractice.

In the lawsuit, the woman claims that there was a failure to adequately recognized her condition, which led to a delay in receiving appropriate treatment. As expected, the physicians disagree. They say that they treated her appropriately. They even go so far as to say that the physicians were heroes in this situation, saving the life of a woman and her unborn child.

Without a doubt, the vast majority of doctors are intelligent, compassionate professionals who would do just about anything for their patients. Unfortunately, not all cases will have a positive outcome, and just because the ideal outcome is not the reality doesn’t necessarily mean that the case was medical malpractice. So, was this case medical malpractice?

To prove medical malpractice, the lawsuit will have to show that the woman suffered damage that was the direct cause of her doctors deviating from the readily accepted standard of care. As lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus pandemic continue to go up, it will be interesting to see which specialties are at risk. It could vary from place to place, depending on the country’s statute of limitations, laws, and standards. It will be important for everyone to keep an eye on this case to see how it plays out, as it could set a precedent for the rest of the country.

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What You Need To Know About Filing a Lawsuit After a Car Accident

Posted by David Brown 
· November 22, 2022 

Every year, car accidents are among the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in the United States. Even though car accidents vary in terms of their scope and severity, the reality is that even a minor motor vehicle accident can result in significant injuries. If you have been hurt in a car accident, you might be looking at repair expenses, medical bills, and lost income. You should not be responsible for these expenses if the accident was not your fault, and that is where a car accident lawsuit can help you.

There are numerous moving parts involved in a lawsuit following a motor vehicle accident. Once an accident has been reported, the insurance company of the at-fault driver is going to start a detailed investigation process. It is important to be vigilant during this process, as insurance companies are always going to look for a way to avoid paying. That is another area where a car accident attorney can help you. They can make sure that you do not put yourself in jeopardy of being paid less than what you are owed.

You can help your attorney by collecting pictures of the accident, asking for a copy of the police report, and keeping a record of all of your expenses. You should also try to get the contact information of eyewitnesses who can support your version of events.

The insurance company will either approve or deny the claim. Regardless of how it plays out, you should get an explanation regarding their calculations. If the insurance company is not going to cover all of your expenses, you need to make sure you are entitled to fair compensation.

A car accident attorney can make sure you receive the best possible settlement from an insurance company. Then, if the settlement from your insurance company is not enough, your lawyer may be able to pursue compensation from the other driver. There may be a statute of limitations regarding your injury claim, which is why you need to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible following your accident. Always see a doctor first, but do not forget to contact a car accident lawyer who can help you.

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