Emerald Law Group
Food Poisoning Issues at King County Schools
During the 2022-23 school year, mostly due to pandemic relief programs, 95 percent of King County public school students qualified for free school lunches. Economically, this high number was very good for families. Too many times, school lunches, even at heavily-subsidized prices, simply aren’t in a family’s budget. This high number was bad news… Read More »
Proving Foreseeability in a Premises Liability Claim
There’s a lot of Legalese in that title, so let’s break it down. “Proving” means establishing a fact by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). Victims don’t need to conclusively prove anything in civil court. “Foreseeability” of injury is the possibility of injury. An explosion aboard a spaceship bound for the… Read More »
Top Five School Injuries
For safety and health purposes, schools are basically surrogate parents. They have a legal duty to provide a safe and secure environment. Schoolchildren are invitees in Washington. Since the landowner (the school district) benefits financially when children come to school, the duty of reasonable care applies. Furthermore, children are vulnerable to injury in many… Read More »
Breaking Down a Minor Settlement in Seattle
Children who are injured have the same right to compensation as adults, but they cannot sign a binding settlement on their own. In Washington, a court must approve any settlement of a minor’s claim (SPR 98.16W), and the money is usually placed in a blocked account or structured settlement until the child turns 18…. Read More »
The Three Worst Swimming Pool Accident Injuries
A backyard swimming pool is one of the most popular forms of recreation in the country. Over ten million Americans have a backyard pool. This fun activity, like all fun activities, has a dark side. If owners properly maintain their swimming pools and prioritize safety above everything else, the dark side is more of… Read More »
What You Should Know About Nursing Home Slip-and-Fall Injuries
Falls, and their serious injuries, are very common in nursing homes. Over 60 percent of long-term care residents fall at least once. Most nursing home residents are physically frail. That’s why they’re in nursing homes. Some physical frailties include arthritis and mobility issues that contribute to the severity of, or risk of, a fall…. Read More »
Do Building Code Violations Cause Injuries?
Both in a technical sense and in a legal sense, building code violations can cause injuries. Code violations, such as unsafe floors and bad plumbing, often directly cause injuries. These violations could indirectly cause injuries as well. Code violations, even such things as unmowed grass, often create a criminal-friendly environment, a theory known as… Read More »
Owner Negligence in Swimming Pool Drowning Claims
Many people enjoy swimming and frolicking in Puget Sound or one of the many rivers and lakes in the Seattle area. Others prefer what they believe to be the safety of a swimming pool. But most drowning and other injuries occur in swimming pools. So, we should say that swimming pools are safe, if… Read More »
Possible Drug-Related Shooting at Seattle Apartment Complex
Investigators arrived at a senior living apartment complex shortly after midnight one morning to find a man who had been shot dead lying in one of the units. The incident occurred at a Third Avenue apartment complex, near the Blanchard Street intersection. Residents were surprised, but not completely shocked. “Police come here a lot… Read More »
A Closer Look at School Bus Stop Arm Violations
99 percent of motorists agreed that passing a school bus on the left when children are getting on or off is the most dangerous traffic violation. Actions speak louder than words, and in this case, the actions broadcast the opposite message. At least one stop arm violation per day happens somewhere in King County…. Read More »