Worker Wins Verdict based on West Nile Virus

This summer, Texas has experienced unprecedented levels of West Nile virus. Disconcertingly, instances of the potentially deadly disease have been found in North Texas counties where West Nile had never previously been recorded. In fact, the situation has grown so severe that Dallas County officials engaged in aerial spraying for mosquitos for the first time since the Johnson Administration.

Is an employer responsible if a worker is exposed to West Nile virus-carrying mosquitos and contracts the disease? To the surprise of some, a Texas jury concluded earlier this week that the answer was yes. In fact, the DeWitt County jury found that Union Pacific was 80 percent responsible for the damages suffered by a worker who was exposed to the virus during the course of his duties and was not offered protection such as repellant. Ultimately, the worker was awarded a verdict that reached nearly $1,000,000.

Are you concerned that you or a loved one contracted West Nile virus while working at your job? While the road to medical recovery may be difficult, the road to legal recovery may be easier than you might have first assumed. Worker safety is important. If you were injured as a result of your employer’s carelessness, you may have a viable claim. To find out what steps you should consider, talk to the dedicated professionals at Fears | Nachawati. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm.

Craigslist Moving Contractors Send Clear Message: Read Your Contract!

A couple in Rockwall, Amy Van Vleck and her husband, needed to move out of their old home and into their new one immediately. To help make the move, they hired a moving company, Metro Movers, they found on Craigslist. However, as the Vlecks learned the hard way, they had actually hired scam artists who promised one thing – two loaders, a driver and a truck for $34.95 an hour – but delivered something else entirely. While the Vlecks weren’t paying attention (but before they signed the contract), the men from Metro Movers changed the terms of the agreement, dropping in a $3,700 charge for the plastic wrapping used to protect the Vlecks’ property. The Vlecks signed and, as a result, were bound by the terms of the deal, including the $3,700 charge.

Could the Vlecks have voided the contract on the basis that they were fraudulent induced to sign? Perhaps. Practically, however, they probably wouldn’t have gotten a verdict for several months and in the meanwhile would have been living without their possessions.

So, what’s the solution? Before you sign a contract, read the agreement from the first page to the last. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask them. If you need help understanding the agreement, talk to the experts at Fears | Nachawati. Both tort and contract injuries can emerge out of broken agreements. To avoid them, call us at 1.866.705.7584 or send an email to info@fnlawfirm.com. We can help!