Nursing Home Residents And The Danger Of Burns

When people think about personal injury or wrongful death claims regarding nursing homes, falls, malnutrition, medication errors, choking, and abuse by staff and other residents come to mind. But burns are also a significant issue for nursing home residents. A nursing home facility's duty to protect its residents includes an obligation to prevent injuries or death caused by burning.

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Harley Erbe
Medication Errors In Nursing Homes

A major and very common issue in nursing home facilities is medication errors. Medication errors are mistakes that occur while nursing home staff is preparing or administering medicine. Medication errors can occur because staff violates doctor’s orders, accepted professional standards, or manufacturer’s instructions.

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Harley Erbe
Examinations Under Oath In Insurance Cases

Most insurance policies give your insurer the right to demand that you submit to an "examination under oath" as part of the claims process. Your insurance policy likely obligates you to cooperate with your insurer and give an examination under oath if you want the claim covered. An examination under oath allows your insurance company to question you about your insurance claim while you are under oath and subject to penalties for perjury.

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Harley Erbe
Nursing Home Liability For Dropped Residents

Nursing home residents are often unable to move around the facility on their own. Instead, they need help from the facility's staff. While that can usually be accomplished by use of a wheelchair, the resident may need assistance transitioning from a bed or chair into the wheelchair. Nursing home falls or drops frequently occur during that crucial transition period.

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Harley Erbe
Schools Are Not Immune From Liability For Injuries To Students On Field Trips

With school starting, parents will again be sending their children off on field trips. Part of that process involves the parents signing permission slips that often include language immunizing the school for any injuries to the child that occur during the field trip. Luckily for the parents and the children who might be hurt, field trip liability waivers are invalid and unenforceable under Iowa law. 

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Harley Erbe
General Requirements For Reasonable Disability Accommodations

When an individual decides to request accommodation, the individual must let the employer know that an adjustment or change at work is necessary for a reason related to a medical condition. A request for reasonable accommodation is the first step in an informal, interactive process between the individual and the employer. I'll discuss that "interactive process" in more detail in a later blog post.

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Harley Erbe
The Legal Protections For Pregnant Employees

We sometimes encounter employers who either don't know or don't care that a pregnancy, although temporary, leads to significant employee rights. On the one hand, many employers treat pregnant employees quite well, often as a result of traditional decency and practices, rather than because of any legal obligations. But employers who choose not to do that can run afoul of special laws that apply to pregnant employees, such as those governing maternity and pregnancy leave.

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Harley Erbe
Possible Liability Issues Regarding Trees

Many people like having large, mature trees on their property. Trees look nice, they create shade, and they add a little nature to urban communities. But have you ever thought about the potential liability that the trees on your property could cause?

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Harley Erbe