Archive for January 31st, 2011

Republic Waste loses appeal of $1.4M wrongful death jury award

A Harris County jury awarded the family of 21-year old Oscar Alfredo Gomez $1,400,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Republic Waste Services. Republic Waste filed an appeal of that award based on an unusual legal argument: that Gomez was an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and that the jury should have heard evidence of his immigration status during the trial. Republic‘s appeal claims that Gomez’ immigration status should have been a factor in the calculation of Gomez’ family’s loss of his future lost income. Attorneys handling the appeal for Republic Waste claim that Gomez probably would have been detected and deported during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid of Republic‘s Houston office that took place two weeks after Gomez died.  As such, argued Republic Waste‘s lawyers, Gomez’ future lost income should have been calculated based on his likely annual wages in El Salvador ($1,000/year) versus his wages working in Houston ($33,000/year).

The First Court of Appeals disagreed with Republic‘s argument and in a January 20th opinion said that the trial court correctly exercised its discretion in not allowing the jury to hear evidence of Gomez’ immigration status.  The appeals court said that Republic‘s claim that Gomez would have been deported in the raid was “speculative” on Republic‘s part.

Gomez was killed January 15, 2007 when he was run over by a garbage truck driven by another Republic Waste employee. After his death Republic discovered Gomez had falsified his immigration paperwork and used another person’s social security number to get the job. The lawsuit against Republic was filed by Gomez’ common law wife who lives in Houston with their daughter and by his father who lives in El Salvador.  The driver of the trash truck that killed Gomez and Republic Waste were sued. The jury found in favor of the Gomez family and awarded $1,400,000 which included $1,275,000 for future lost wages.

Texans grappling with hip implant defects: Find out what you can do

People living in and around Houston are hardy and active folks, but Texans, along with the rest of America, are getting older. It’s not uncommon for a healthy older person to need a joint replacement. Hip replacements and other common procedures can allow a Texan to maintain a good quality of life.

Hip replacement, no doubt, is a big business. Unfortunately, companies sometimes rush an untested product into the marketplace. The consequences of such negligence can be devastating. Hip implant defects have caused significant injuries in patients, or prompted the need for a second, revision surgery that puts the patient at risk.

Recently, DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. announced a recall of two hip implant devices, which has given rise to product liability lawsuits. The devices, recalled in August 2010, caused some patients to experience problems, including:

  • Loosening of the implant
  • Bone fractures around the device
  • Dislocation of the implant’s ball and socket in some cases

Some patients had to under another hip replacement surgery. The defective hip implant device also can produce metal shavings that can irritate the area around the implant or get into the blood stream. It’s possible that the metal shavings may lead to heart failure or dementia in some patients.

If you received a hip implant since 2003, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your doctor for an evaluation. DePuy’s products were introduced in 2003 and 2004. The company’s defective hip implant products are the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System.

Another hip replacement device that was subject to a recent recall is the Zimmer Durom Cup, a hip component that is inserted into people undergoing total hip replacement surgery. The Zimmer Cup (technically the Zimmer Durom Acetabular Component) was recalled in 2008 because some patients required additional surgery after the unit failed to properly bond.

If you have experienced any pain or side effects related to a hip implant defect, we recommend contacting an experienced attorney. You may be entitled to compensation.

Some patients who have been implanted with DePuy may be contacted by a company representative. It’s crucial that you discuss your specific case with an attorney before accepting any compensation. You may be entitled to additional compensation for your losses.

The Houston lawyers at Smith & Hassler know how to fight for the rights of hip implant defect victims. Our lawyers have years of experience and many resources to help you pursue a successful claim. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-877-777-1529. We are committed to helping clients get the results they need – and deserve.