Medical Malpractice

Grieving Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Charlotte Police Officer

January 16, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

Jonathan Ferrell’s surviving family members have filed a wrongful death suit against the officer who shot him as well as the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in an attempt to ensure that those responsible for the grisly encounter that left Ferrell dead are held accountable for their actions.

The terrible incident began back in September when Ferrell, who used to play football for Florida A&M and recently moved to Charlotte to be with his fiancé, was driving a co-worker home. After dropping his colleague off, Ferrell was involved in a serious accident that left his car trapped in a ravine. Ferrell had to kick his way out of the badly damaged vehicle and went in search of help for his own serious injuries.

Ferrell walked more than a half-mile uphill until he found the home of a young mother whose husband was away at work. The woman, startled by Ferrell’s appearance, mistakenly believed he was there to break into the house and called 911, asking for police help. Officers arrived and this is when things went terribly wrong.

According to statements made by Officer Kerrick, Ferrell charged the officers, forcing them to open fire. However, a police investigation determined that Kerrick acted hastily and used excessive force. The wrongful death suit claims that Ferrell, who was disoriented, was in the process of lying down when Kerrick opened fire, shooting 12 bullets, eight of which struck Ferrell in the chest. The trajectory of the wounds show that Ferrell was either laying down or kneeling when he was shot, further calling into question the actions of the officers.

North Carolina Children Taken To Hospital After Mistakenly Drinking Bleach At Local Daycare

January 14, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”

Parents across North Carolina place their children into the hands of others everyday. Whether it’s with babysitters, nannies or larger daycare centers, tens of thousands of young girls and boys are entrusted into the care of strangers. The worst nightmare of most parents is that something happens while they are not around to do anything about it. Sadly, such an episode recently took place in Charlotte when a group of nearly a dozen young kids were rushed to local hospitals after an accident at their daycare.

Authorities say that the children, who were all between three and four years old, were injured after drinking bleach at the daycare. The problems began when the kids gathered for a morning snack at the Bolin Day Care Center on Monday and were each given cups of water poured from a common pitcher. Soon after the children received their drinks, staff members noticed that several had become ill. As more and more children began vomiting, staff members decided that something was awry and called local police and medical personnel for help.

The children were all rushed to hospitals in the Kings Mountain area for treatment and are thankfully expected to be okay. Investigators retraced the steps of the employees and discovered that the pitcher that served the water contained an ounce of bleach. A staff member mistakenly placed that pitcher with the bleach into the refrigerator, which was then grabbed by a different person who was serving the water, somehow failing to notice the distinct scent of the cleaning agent.

North Carolina Woman Sues After Dead Son Placed In Taxi By Hospital Security Guards

January 9, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

A distraught mother from North Carolina has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a security company after she claims they put her son in a cab and sent him home despite him already being dead. The horrible incident took place in November 2011 at the Cumberland County Hospital.

The woman says that her son, A’Darrin Washington, had been going to the Cumberland County Hospital for 10 years for treatment of his recurrent pneumonia. Washington suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was used to dealing with a variety of health complications.

A week before the fatal cab ride, Washington checked himself into the hospital complaining of severe illness. Doctors initially misdiagnosed Washington as suffering from bacterial pneumonia. Days later, the doctors realized their mistake and began treating Washington for fungal pneumonia, finally giving him the proper medication. Then, only a few days later, the doctors decided he was better and ready to be discharged.

The lawsuit claims that Washington felt weak and was complaining of poor health prior to the discharge. Despite his asking to remain in the hospital, security officers working for AlliedBarton called a cab to take him home. Other hospital staff complained at the time that Washington was “uncooperative” and had refused to talk or to move. Evidently his lack of cooperation was due to the fact that he was, tragically, already dead.

Two North Carolina Families Recovering After Deadly Christmas Accident

January 7, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “If I am injured in a car accident or at work what should I do?”

Police in Wadesboro, North Carolina have admitted to making a mistake during their investigation of a Christmas Day accident that left a 13-month old girl dead. Initially, law enforcement authorities said that they believed the girl’s father, Alexander Hooper, was texting before the accident.

Earlier this week, Hooper was charged with texting while driving and driving left of center. Police say they found Hooper’s phone after the tragic accident and found a message on the phone that said “Merry Christmas.” They believed that the text was sent moments before the wreck and say that they think Hooper sent it to a friend.
However, after the accident was revealed publicly and police in Wadesboro said that they would charge Hooper with texting and driving, family members came forward to explain that Hooper was innocent. Family members said that Hooper was sent a message by a friend prior to the accident but never responded. Police officials say they reopened the investigation and reexamined the phone, admitting that mistakes were made prior to filing the initial charges.

Young Boy Killed After Being Run Over By Tractor-Trailer

January 2, 2014 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

In a tragic accident out of South Carolina, officials say that a seven-year-old boy died while riding a dirt bike his parents gave him for Christmas. The young boy, Tristan Gabriel Mericle, was hit and killed by a tractor-trailer while riding his new bike at his parents’ house.

Neighbors say that they heard a loud noise and by the time they came outside they saw debris spread across the road and saw the critically injured little boy following the wreck. The neighbors say the accident scene was truly horrific and that no one should have to witness such a terrible tragedy.

Witnesses say the boy was riding his dirt bike in his front yard and drove out onto Highway 97 in Chester County, South Carolina to turn his bike around. Sadly the young boy drove his bike into the lane of traffic right as an 18-wheeler was approaching.