Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorneys Say Environmental Protection Advocates Have Filed a Lawsuit Demanding EPA Update Outdated Oil Spill Response Plan

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a plan for responding to offshore spills. Unfortunately, according to environmental protection advocates, the plan involves the use of chemical dispersants that have been proven to do more damage than good to both humans and the environment. Two environmental advocacy groups have joined forces to file a lawsuit in California. The lawsuit is aimed at requiring the EPA to make new rules regarding oil spill cleanup, rules that would restrict the use of chemical dispersants like Corexit, that have been used to clean up past spills like Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez.

The two environmental groups that filed the lawsuit did so on behalf of other advocacy groups as well as individual plaintiffs whose lives have been impacted by past oil spill cleanup activities. The groups and individuals represented in the lawsuit have all experienced harm from the use of dispersants that were used to clean up oil spills. One plaintiff is a member of a commercial fishing family in Louisiana. She says that she and her family lost their health and their once-thriving fishing business to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The chemicals used to clean up the spill made her, her husband, and their two children severely ill. They have suffered lesions, rashes, and migraines for years, and they have not yet fully recovered. Other plaintiffs represent native Alaskans. An oil spill would threaten native Alaskans’ food security, and if chemical dispersants are used to clean up a spill, illness would add to a lack of food and cause severe problems for tribal communities.

The Clean Water Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to revise our nation’s chemical and oil spill response plans periodically, so that research results and technological advances can be incorporated into them. The last time the oil spill response plan was updated was 1994, and much information about the impacts of oil spills and oil spill cleanup activities has been learned since that time. For example, the results of long-term impact studies following the effects of the Exxon Valdez spill were not available in 1994. All of the studies and information regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the cleanup activities that followed it are also not included in the EPA’s current plan. The reason that a revision for the oil spill response plan is desperately needed is that the plan relies heavily on chemical dispersants to clean up oil spills. A growing body of evidence shows that chemical dispersants are neither safe nor effective for cleaning up oil spills, and their use has resulted in grave harm to both individuals and ecosystems.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the resulting cleanup efforts caused damage to many individuals in the Gulf Coast area. To learn more about BP oil spill litigation, call the Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577, to arrange an initial consultation.

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Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys Present Your Guide to Three Common Types of Personal Injuries

The phrase “personal injury” can be confusing. If you’re wondering what, exactly, a personal injury is, it is helpful to consider the types of cases that personal injury attorneys handle on behalf of their clients. Soe people who have experienced a personal injury are unaware that the harm they have suffered is a type of personal injury. If you recognize any of the following three situations as something that has happened to you, consult a personal injury attorney to determine whether you can file a claim in connection with the injury you suffered.

When a person has an accident at work, they may be able to file a workplace injury claim in connection with that injury. If you are at work when you get hurt, get help right away. After you receive any needed treatment, speak with your supervisor, and ask them how to report the injury. Each workplace has a slightly different procedure for reporting injuries, and all workplace injuries must be reported as soon as possible. After you have reported your injury, make some notes for yourself about people who may have witnessed your injury and what happened. Also, take some pictures of the area where your injury occurred if you can. After you have done those things, speak with a personal injury attorney to determine whether you have an injury for which you may be able to receive compensation.

When a defective or dangerous product harms a person, they may be able to pursue a product liability claim. There are many products available to American consumers. Despite the research, development, and testing that goes into developing and manufacturing products, some unsafe products make it onto the market and into the hands of consumers. Some of the types of injuries that have been caused by defective products include suffocation, poisoning, drowning, loss of limbs, and broken bones. If you get hurt while you are using a product, seek medical attention immediately. After a doctor has treated your injuries, locate a personal injury attorney and speak with them a possible product liability claim.

Medical malpractice claims are a third type of personal injury claim. Sometimes, the doctors who treat our injuries and illnesses do not do their work correctly. The types of harm that patients can  experience as the result of medical malpractice are numerous. One example of harm that may have been caused by medical malpractice is a misdiagnosis or a missed diagnosis. Surgical errors, medication errors, and errors involving anesthesia are other types of medical malpractice. All of these forms of medical malpractice result in patients being harmed by not receiving necessary medical care or receiving medical care that injures them in some way. If you have questions about whether the medical care you received resulted in medical malpractice, a personal injury attorney can help you find the answers you need.

Workplace injuries, defective products, and medical malpractice are not the only types of injuries that give rise to personal injury claims. If you have been injured and you would like to know whether your injury could give rise to a personal injury claim, ask a personal injury attorney. A Mississippi personal injury attorney can help you determine whether you have a viable claim. To learn more, call our office now at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule a free initial consultation with our seasoned Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys.

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Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys Discuss Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can change lives in an instant. If you are in a workplace accident and you suffer a bump or blow to the head or any other type of head injury, it is critical that you seek medical attention immediately. Head injuries of all kinds are incredibly dangerous, and prompt treatment increases the chance of survival and the chance of recovery. If you suffer a head injury or if you witness an accident where someone receives a head injury, do not delay in seeking medical care or in calling for help for the accident victim. Head injuries do not always produce immediate pain or other symptoms, and dangerous, potentially deadly injuries like bleeding of the brain may not be visible to the eye.

Traumatic brain injuries disrupt the normal function of the brain. The impact of TBIs ranges from mild to severe, and they affect the way the injured person thinks, feels, acts, and moves. Traumatic brain injuries are a frequent cause sof disability and death in America. While automobile accidents are the most frequent cause of traumatic brain injuries, they can happen on the job, whether you are riding in a vehicle or not. For example, in any workplace where there is a fall hazard or the danger of being struck by an object, there is the risk of traumatic brain injury should you fall and hit your head or be struck int eh head by an object.

There are many types of head injuries, including skull fractures, concussions, contusions, and intracranial hematomas. Prompt medical attention after a head injury is the best way to obtain an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for traumatic brain injuries often starts at a hospital or trauma center and then progresses to a rehabilitation facility that specializes in helping patients recover from TBIs. As rehabilitation progresses, TBI patients may be able to work with their treatment providers and employers to make a plan to return for work. In some cases, a job change may be necessary, and additional training and support may become part of the patient’s rehabilitation plan.

Traumatic brain injuries can vary significantly in the amount of recovery time required to resume many activities, including work. The highly complex nature of the brain and the ways that brain injuries affect the victim’s entire being can make it difficult for care providers to assess a patient’s progress through recovery. It also makes it difficult for care providers to develop reliable timelines for when a patient might be able to resume things like walking, talking, writing, driving, and so on.

Traumatic brain injury workplace accident cases can lead to complicated worker’s compensation claims. You and your family do not need to face the challenge of filing a workplace injury claim alone. A workplace accident attorney can help you and your family navigate your workplace accident claim while you focus on your recovery. Call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577 to learn more.

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Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys Want You to Know What to Do if Your Vehicle Catches Fire

Automobile accidents are one cause of vehicle fires, but they are not the only cause. Did you know that collisions cause only about five percent of vehicle fires? Many vehicle fires are caused by the failure or malfunction of one or more of the vehicle’s mechanical or electrical components. Over one hundred and seventy thousand vehicle fires are reported in the United States each year, which makes vehicle fires a safety concern that every driver and passenger should know about.

Vehicle fires can start quickly and without warning. If you notice smoke coming through the air vents of your vehicle or flames or smoke coming out of the hood, find a safe place to pull over right away. Turn your car off, to stop the flow of fuel within the vehicle. Exit your vehicle quickly, and ask anyone else who is in the car with you to do the same. Do not open the hood or the trunk if you suspect that the fire is in one of those areas – increased access to air can cause a fire to burn even more intensely. Do not try to put the fire out – people are often injured when they try to put out vehicle fires, and some people have died trying to extinguish vehicle fires. Make sure that you and anyone who is with you move to an area that is at least one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet away from your vehicle and call for help. If you or the others with you do not have a cell phone, or if all of you left your phones in the vehicle, flag down someone driving by and ask them to call for help. Do not return to your car to retrieve items that are inside of it.

Some vehicle fires are preventable. Keeping your car, truck, or SUV maintained properly could prevent a vehicle fire. Check fluid levels regularly, and get any leaks repaired promptly. Many problems that lead to vehicle fires, such as frayed electrical wires or shorts in a vehicle’s electrical system may cause fuses to blow repeatedly or make a smell of burning plastic. As you are driving, be sure to look at your gauges occasionally. If your vehicle experiences sudden changes in the fuel or oil level or a sudden rise in engine temperature, that could be a sign of a problem.

When multiple fires are reported by people who own similar vehicles, the manufacturer of those vehicles must determine if a faulty component involved in the production and assembly of the cars is the reason that they are catching fire. If a vehicle manufacturer discovers that a component used in the manufacture of some of its vehicles is causing fires, the automaker must recall any cars manufactured using that part. They must then repair the affected vehicles with a part that does not create the risk of fire, at no cost to the vehicle owners. If you receive a recall notice for a car that you own, it is essential that you make time to have the recall work done as soon as possible, whether the recall is because of a fire risk or some other safety concern.

If a vehicle fire hurt you, we’re here to help. Call the Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys of Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577 to arrange an initial consultation.

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Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys Discuss Fires Resulting From Car Accidents

Fire resulting from an automobile wreck can cause severe injury or death. An off-duty Mississippi police officer recently rescued a woman from a burning vehicle after her car collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer. The early morning accident happened on the westbound side of I-20, near the I-220 exit.

Automobile accidents can cause injury or death in many ways. One dangerous and potentially deadly aspect of many motor vehicle wrecks is fire. When vehicles collide, gasoline, diesel fuel, and other flammable substances are often released from the parts of the vehicles that usually contain them, and they may come in contact with heat sources, creating the risk of fire or explosion. The risk of fire is one reason why it is critical that anyone who is involved in a car crash exit their vehicle if they can do so safely and move to a location that is away from the road and the wrecked cars.

Vehicle fires caused by collisions can start at any time, even as soon as the moment of impact, and they can get out of control quickly. Automobiles contain many flammable and combustible materials, and a vehicle that begins to burn may be destroyed by fire before rescue workers can arrive at the crash site and extinguish the blaze. Vehicle occupants who are unable to exit their vehicles because of injury or unconsciousness, or because they are trapped inside by crushed doors or other things are at risk of being hurt or killed by flames, smoke, or an explosion. Severe burns and smoke inhalation are common injuries in automobile accidents where one or more of the wrecked vehicles catch fire. Additionally, all people who are involved in a crash that leads to a fire may suffer psychological trauma in connection with the horrific event in addition to any physical injuries caused by the wreck.

While not every automobile accident results in a fire, drivers and passengers should be aware that a fire can start at an accident scene at any time. If you have already exited your vehicle and you are waiting in a safe place for help to arrive, it may be tempting to return to your car to retrieve things that are inside of it. Do not return to your vehicle. Doing so creates a risk of being hurt or killed by a fire or an explosion. Wait for help to arrive, and allow the emergency workers to assess the accident scene and take any necessary action. Only return to your vehicle after a rescue worker tells you that it is safe to do so.

Automobile accidents and fires that can sometimes result from them can cause severe injury or death. If you were hurt or if a family member died in a Mississippi automobile accident, call the Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC, at 1 (800) 707-9577.

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Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys Talk About Caught-In-Machinery Accidents

A California woman recently lost her life in a workplace accident when her clothing became stuck in a machine. The woman was working at the Del Ray packing plant when the fatal accident occurred. She was employed as a contract employee for the plant for two years before her death.

The woman was working near a machine that breaks apart bunches of raisins, when a piece of her clothing became entangled in the machinery. Two employees who were working nearby shut down the machine, but she hit her head before it came to a stop. The woman died at the accident scene from the blow to her head.

Manufacturing and processing jobs are not the most dangerous jobs out there, but they are not without risk. One of the biggest dangers to employees working in manufacturing and processing facilities is the equipment they use to manufacture or process the goods that their employer produces. One of the most common types of workplace accidents at manufacturing and processing facilities is the caught-in-machinery accident. This type of accident can severely injure or kill workers, even if other employees working nearby see the accident happen and rush to turn off the machine. Many caught-in-machinery accidents happen when workers are not actively using a machine. Workers who service machinery are at work of being caught in it if the machine turns on while they are working on it.

Unfortunately, manufacturing and processing facilities are not the only workplaces where caught-in-machinery accidents happen. Landscape and logging companies, as well as utility companies, use tree chipping and debarking machines that can quickly amputate limbs or otherwise severely injure or kill people who accidentally become entangled in them. Agricultural workers also face the risk of being caught in many types of farm machinery at work. From balers and combines to the power take-off (PTO) units and driveshafts used to transfer power from tractors to farming implements, many moving parts can entangle workers, causing severe injury or death. The mining, construction, scrap metal, and recycling industries also involve machinery that workers can become caught in.

The ways that caught-in-machinery accidents can occur are varied. Some accidents happen when clothing or hair becomes entangled in the machinery, as happened to the woman who recently died at the raisin processing facility. Others become caught in a machine when they try to service it while it is running. Sometimes, a worker turns a machine off to repair it and then is injured or killed when another worker turns the machine on while they are servicing it. Other workers become entangled in machinery when they try to reach over or across it. Some caught-in-machinery accidents happen when workers fall into machines.

Prevention of caught-in-machinery accidents involves active participation by employers and employees to make safe operation procedures known and ensure that they are followed. Machines should be operated with safety guards in place. Workers who service machinery must be trained in the safe and proper procedures for doing so. These procedures may involve lockout/tag-out procedures and other safeguards against accidental activation of the machinery during service, and they must follow them to ensure their safety and the safety of others.

If you were injured in a caught-in-machinery accident, call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (800) 707-9577.

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Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney Discusses How Whistleblowers Help Their Employers

It’s time to do away with the idea that whistleblowers are trouble for their employers. Recent research indicates that whistleblowers provide the management of the firms where they work with information that enables managers to act quickly to address potential issues before they become significant problems. Contrary to what you might think about what happens when an employee uses a whistleblower hotline to report a concern, many managers not only take whistleblower reports seriously, they use the information provided in the reports to address issues that require attention. In many cases, a whistleblower report is the first information a manager receives regarding a potential problem. Whistleblowers help managers to be proactive in identifying and remedying issues that have the potential to turn into bigger problems if left unaddressed.

Firms that have more whistleblower reports report having fewer lawsuits and fewer fines than companies who receive fewer reports. There are a couple of potential reasons behind this outcome. The first is that as was mentioned earlier in this article, whistleblower reports give management valuable opportunities to address potential problems. The second possible reason firms with more whistleblower reports encounter fewer lawsuits than firms with fewer reports is that the number of whistleblower reports received by a company speaks to the corporate culture of the firm. Firms with more reports encourage employees to provide feedback to management and demonstrate that management values the feedback they receive. Conversely, firms who receive fewer reports may have a whistleblower hotline available to employees, but that does not mean that the employees feel comfortable using it or that they feel as though the information they share will be taken seriously.

Managers can move towards creating a corporate culture where employees feel comfortable making whistleblower reports by seeking to use the reports that are received proactively and by refraining from retaliating against employees who make reports. As the number of reports increases, management must ensure that enough staff is available to investigate and respond to the reports ina timely manner. Doing so helps managers receive information in a timely way, and demonstrates that employee feedback is welcome, valued, and taken seriously.

When reports come in, individuals who work to investigate them must not be quick to dismiss reports that contain little information or that provide secondhand rather than first-hand knowledge. Individuals who make whistleblower reports do not always include a great deal of detail in the report. However, when statements are not made anonymously and investigating staff follows up on reports with the people who made them, those individuals often provide much more information than they did in their initial report. Interestingly enough, secondhand information supplied in a whistleblower report is often the only way that employees who are engaging in misconduct like stealing are identified and caught. That is another reason why it is necessary to have staff available to investigate whistleblower reports is adequate to ensure the prompt and thorough review of all complaints received.

Whistleblowers help management run their firms effectively. Unfortunately, not every company has taken a proactive approach to internal whistleblowing. If you have experienced retaliation at work after reporting a concern, a whistleblower protection attorney may be able to help you. To learn more, call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to set up an initial consultation.

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Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney Talks About SEC Whistleblowers

Keeping the securities industry fair is not easy, which means that the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States (the SEC) has a big job to do. The SEC is an independent federal agency charged with regulating the securities industry and enforcing federal securities laws. It’s no secret that fraud and corruption occur within the securities industry. Investigating instances of possible fraud and corruption within the securities industry and pursuing legal action against individuals and business entities that violate securities laws are the means by which the SEC fulfills its duty to enforce federal securities laws.

Before individuals and companies that violate securities laws can be punished, their wrongdoing must be identified and proven. The SEC depends on whistleblowers from within the securities industry to direct the agency’s attention to potential violations of securities law so that the agency can investigate them. While not every investigation leads to the discovery of an actual breach of securities law, many of them do. Violators of federal securities laws face financial penalties, as well as other penalties, including but not limited to jail time.

In 2010, the SEC instituted its whistleblower incentive program. The program encourages people who work in the securities industry to report possible violations of federal securities laws. Workers who witness securities law violations can submit tips to the SEC anonymously. People who come forward and report potential violations of the law are rewarded for doing so with significant support in protecting their employment and, in cases where violations are found and financial penalties assessed, compensated.

It’s only January, and the SEC has already made two financial awards to whistleblowers this year. The SEC awarded forty-five thousand dollars to an investor who provided information that helped the SEC shut down a fraudulent investment scheme that had harmed them as well as other investors. The SEC was able to recover assets that had been lost by the injured investors and return them. In another action, the SEC awarded over two hundred and seventy thousand dollars to a whistleblower who alerted the agency to an ongoing fraudulent scheme. Upon receiving the information from the whistleblower, the agency was able to shut down the fraudulent scheme that targeted retail investors.

While the total amount of whistleblower claims investigated by the SEC in financial year 2019 was lower than it was in previous years, the agency hopes to regain its momentum this year and continue to increase the number of whistleblower claims it investigates each year. The SEC is grateful to the individuals who provide tips to the agency because time and time again, the whistleblowers save the agency time and money in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting securities law violations. Whistleblowers who make reports to the SEC help the agency enforce the securities laws that protect American investors and sometimes even lead to the recovery and return of lost assets to investors who were harmed by securities law violations.

SEC whistleblowers and whistleblowers in other agencies and industries are protected from retaliation. If you have experienced retaliation as the result of reporting fraud, waste, safety violations, or other concerns, call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney of Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 for an initial consultation.

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Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Say Trump’s Response to Whistleblower Has Already Done Major Damage

President Trump’s barrage of attacks on the whistleblower who expressed concern over Trump’s telephone conversation with the president of the Ukraine has already had severe consequences for other whistleblowers and would-be whistleblowers. Not only do potential whistleblowers see the president treating a whistleblower with disrespect and disregard, but there is also evidence that other government officials are following suit. Reports from the Pentagon’s office of the Inspector General indicate that managers in government agencies are retaliating against whistleblowers without concern that they will be disciplined for doing so. Would-be whistleblowers report feeling more afraid than ever to speak up. People who work for government agencies also report feeling little confidence that they would be protected if they did speak up.

For example, within the defense department, there has been a trend of the department either disagreeing with the results of investigations conducted by the Inspector General or failing to take action in whistleblower retaliation cases. This trend both suppresses would-be whistleblowers and gives management the notion that retaliation against whistleblowers might be overlooked if it were to happen. This problem is especially frustrating for whistleblower protection advocates because the Pentagon’s office of the inspector general can do little about cases where the department disagrees with the results of their investigation or fails to act on their recommendations.

The severity of the retaliation that has occurred in the Trump whistleblower situation has caused whistleblower protection advocates to urge Congress to enforce and strengthen the laws that are intended to protect whistleblowers. Among the suggestions that have been offered for improvement of whistleblower protection laws are a statutorily enforceable right to anonymity and provisions for filing a lawsuit in court (instead of a board or agency) if privacy is violated.

The high profile nature of the Trump whistleblower situation is affecting all kinds of whistleblowers, and it’s not a good one. Where some whistleblower cases, even high profile ones, have illustrated the value of coming forward to expose corruption, fraud, or waste and the protections offered to the people who do so, that is not what Americans are seeing in the Trump whistleblower situation. They are seeing a whistleblower who exposed a serious issue being poorly treated by a powerful public official who has not yet been held accountable for their words and actions toward the whistleblower.

  Presently, American confidence in federal whistleblower protection laws is declining thanks to the Trump whistleblower situation and a troubling trend within government agencies of letting retaliation against whistleblowers slide by unpunished. Would-be whistleblowers mustn’t cower in the face of the current events in Washington. As long as there are waste, corruption, and fraud, your voice is needed to expose it. The Mississippi Whistleblower Protection Attorneys of Barrett Law PLLC affirm whistleblowers in their efforts to expose fraud,  waste, and corruption. To learn more about whistleblower protection, call us at 1 (800) 707-9577 to arrange an initial consultation with the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys of Barrett Law PLLC.

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Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorneys Say Nearly Ten Years After the Spill, Lawsuits Are Still Being Filed

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened almost ten years ago. The environmental, health, and economic impacts of the spill continue, ling after the disaster first occurred. Recently, a new batch of lawsuits was filed following a court ruling that excludes thousands of people from a medical settlement that was negotiated after the oil spill.

The court ruling, if allowed to stand, could create clogged court dockets and extra-long wait times for plaintiffs who say they have suffered long enough. Some Gulf area residents and oil spill cleanup and rescue workers who breathed in large amounts of toxic fumes from the oil spill suffered respiratory illnesses, and some even developed lung damage. The people whose health was damaged by the BP oil spill are becoming increasingly frustrated that they are not yet able to recover financially for the injuries they have experienced.

The medical claims were consolidated with economic and environmental lawsuits in federal court. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans has been presiding over the oil spill lawsuit. He recently issued a ruling that limits access to a medical claims compensation fund created during the oil spill litigation to plaintiffs who had been diagnosed by a doctor with an oil-spill-related injury or illness before April 16, 2012. That ruling could prevent anyone diagnosed after that time from receiving for their illness or injury. Some of the individuals with later diagnoses say that the ruling is not fair because cancer and other severe health conditions caused by bp oil spill take longer to diagnose than more acute injuries and illnesses.

Illnesses like bronchitis and sinusitis have both acute and chronic forms and plaintiffs who were diagnosed after the cutoff date claim that the court’s ruling fails to account for the varied nature of illnesses and injuries caused by the spill. Some of the injured individuals are people who worked in the cleanup programs after the spill. They say they did not realize that they could get so sick from the work they were doing. The cases of plaintiffs shut out of the settlement are being transferred to federal courts according to where the plaintiffs reside. BP is defending itself against those claims, stating that it did not cause the plaintiffs’ injuries. Fortunately, long-term health research projects have been following the effects of the oil spill on Gulf residents. The results of that research from the National Institute of Environmental Health and other organizations may be helpful to plaintiffs who are trying to prove that the oil spill caused their illnesses.

The road to recovery had been fraught with roadblocks for many injured by the BP oil spill. Whether the damage was economic, health-related, or environmental, those harmed by the BP oil spill have had to fight for their recovery every step of the way. To learn more about BP oil spill litigation, call the Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577, to arrange an initial consultation.

 

 

 

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