As founder of the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., Yao focuses on serious injury cases and has secured million-dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of families affected by medical malpractice, corporate malfeasance and nursing home abuse and neglect.
CHICAGO, IL – The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of plaintiff Elizabeth Nazario on April 19, 2017. The lawsuit is filed against Loyola University Medical Center and five doctors for negligence in caring for Mom’s infant daughter.
According to the filed complaint, Loyola University Medical Center failed to implement sufficient policies and procedures and or train its attending and resident physicians to properly diagnose an infant with medical common medical emergencies. According to Yao Dinizulu the attorney representing the family, “This baby received all her treatment at Loyola University Medical Center since birth on March 3, 2014, and over a 30-day period beginning on September 18th was seen six times where she was repeatedly diagnosed with and Upper Respiratory viral infection. Widely used medical guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatricians provide that after 10 days of cough and colds symptoms, medical providers should consider the probability of a likely bacterial infection which can be tested and treated with antibiotics. Instead, the Hospital and their medical providers failed to perform a simple blood test that would have identified proper diagnosis and the infant’s catastrophic outcome”. Attorney Dinizulu goes on to say, “All patients have the right to expect that doctors provide good safe care to protect all patients from catastrophic injuries or death.”
As a result, the infant’s several bacterial infections of sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia & HUS resulted in permanent injuries. These lifelong injuries include severe brain damage, chronic renal failure, blindness, cerebral palsy and seizure disorder.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2017L003937.
It may not be a surprise to hear that the business structure of many corporations is getting bigger and more convoluted. Nursing homes are no exception to this trend. But what does it mean for you or a loved one who may need around-the-clock care?
Owners of nursing homes sometimes have competing interests in other industries that may provide products or services, such as medical supplies, linens, etc., that are needed at a nursing home. In such cases, nursing homes often outsource services to a vendor that they have a financial stake in and that they can control operationally. Such business contracts are often non-competitive and charge astronomically higher fees than what another vendor in that industry typically would.
In such a corporate structure, nursing homes are forced by their management to have extremely tight budgets when it comes to staffing needs and training protocols. In the end, it’s the residents who suffer. Kaiser Health News conducted an investigation of American nursing homes and found nearly three-quarters—more than 11,000 nursing homes—have such business dealings, known as “related party transactions.”Some homes even contract out basic functions like management or rent their own building from a sister corporation, saying it is an efficient way of running their businesses and can help minimize taxes.
But nursing home care is worse in facilities with such business ties. Kaiser Health News’ investigation showed:
■ As a group, these homes were 9 percent more likely to have hurt residents or put them in immediate jeopardy of harm, and amassed 53 substantiated complaints for every 1,000 beds, compared with 32 per 1,000 beds at independent homes.
■ Homes with related companies were fined 22 percent more often for serious health violations than independent homes, and penalties averaged $24,441—7 percent higher.
Kaiser Health News’ thorough investigation showed these facilities have fewer nurses and aides per patient, they have higher rates of patient injuries and unsafe practices, and they are the subject of complaints almost twice as often as independent homes. Yet, these types of nursing homes are becoming increasingly common.
As they cut staff and cause their residents injury, when such nursing home facilities are held liable for these injuries, many of them try to avoid responsibility by hiding behind the interconnected corporate structure they have created.
At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., our nursing home neglect attorneys are familiar with such tactics. When these nursing homes cause their residents injury, often times it’s a deliberate choice to cut corners and not hire adequate staff to provide care for all residents.
If your loved one was harmed in a nursing home, know that there are options for you. With over 50 years of combined experience and millions of dollars recovered in verdicts and settlements, our nursing home neglect lawyers are here for you. Call us at 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW, or reach us by email.
CHICAGO, IL – The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of Chicago Plaintiff on August 29, 2014 against truck company Performance Food Group Inc a Colorado Corporation and their wholly owned subsidiary motor carrier PFG Transco, Inc, a Tennessee Corporation. The lawsuit alleges the plaintiff was hit and injured by a truck driver employed by PFG Transco Inc.
The attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. investigated the accident/crash and found serious gaps in the PFG Transco, Inc. training and safety records. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the federal organization that monitors truck carriers for roadway safety, PFG Transco, Inc. had been cited 369 times with 132 violations involving unsafe driving from November 2015 through November 2017. PFG Transco, Inc. was placed on safety alerts for unsafe driving and crash indicators from February 2013 through December 2015, a period of approximately 3 years.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2016L6671.
Truck accidents often occur because the parts in the truck are not in proper working order. Laws and regulations in place require trucking companies to maintain their vehicles, conduct thorough inspections, and ensure that vehicles are safe before they get on the road. Sadly, this is not the case. Often times, truck companies make a deliberate choice to skip inspections and perform fix ups in order to finish deliveries on time or they may take on more deliveries than they can safely handle. When these companies choose to bypass safety regulations for personal gain, it the safety of everyone who shares the road with these large vehicles that’s threatened. Imagine losing a loved one because a defective truck that should have been pulled off the road simply wasn’t.
There are several factors that make a truck defective and lead to crashes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) studies truck safety and the causes of truck accidents. They found among the most common causes of vehicle-related accidents are:
Federal regulations allow trucks carrying cargo to weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When trucks are required to brakes, trucks can take over 20-times the stopping distance as a car. When required to brake suddenly, this weight may be too much and overpower the ability to stop when needed.
Add to these risks brakes that are not inspected thoroughly, even after long stretches of driving, and truck crashes become likely. FMCSA’s study on truck crashes revealed brake failures account for 29% of truck accidents. Imagine 29% of truck accident injuries and fatalities as avoidable if truck companies routinely maintain the brakes on their vehicles.
FMSCA has specific regulations in place to help avoid truck accidents caused by tire problems. These standards require trucks’ tire treads to have a certain depth and quality, which vary based on the tire’s location on the truck. For example, while rear tires may be slightly worn – or even re-capped or re-treaded to save money – front steering tires must be new and in good quality.
Therefore, many trucking companies re-cap or re-tread tires rather than purchase new, expensive ones. This factor, along with improper or uneven tire wear or tire pressure, can cause the tires to heat up and shed layers. When layers break off a truck at highway speeds, they can cause the trucker or other drivers to swerve in reaction. If tires burst altogether, truckers can lose control. The accidents that results from these causes are oftentimes deadly.
Cargo is required to be secured and evenly load as per FMCSA’s rules. As the truck travels down a road, internal shifting of the cargo can seriously effect the truck’s overall stability. For example, if cargo is loaded too far back in trailer, or too high up, the trailer might not move as per the driver’s expectations. The results can be disastrous, especially during tight turns or emergency maneuvers. As a result, the truck driver could lose control of the entire vehicle, causing injury to himself and to many other drivers around him.
At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., our truck accident attorneys in Chicago are familiar with the tactics truck and insurance companies use to avoid responsibility. If your loved one was harmed in a truck accident caused by vehicle failure, know that there are options for you. With over 50 years of combined experience and millions recovered in verdicts and settlements, our truck accident lawyers in Chicago are here for you. Call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW or reach us by email.
There were close to 4,000 fatal truck accidents in 2016, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This number has been on the rise since 2009, and is expected to continue rising unless safety rules and other preventive measure are put in place.
Most truck crash fatalities result in the death of a passenger car driver, a motorcyclist, a bicyclist or a pedestrian. Many times, these fatalities are due to a car or a smaller vehicle underriding the truck from the side. While rear guards are mandated on trailers, this law hasn’t been update since 1998.
It was in April 2014 that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a recommendation to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that all new trailers have side protection systems. Nothing has changed since then until now.
Last December, Congress members introduced The Stop Underrides Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill requiring all large trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers to have side guard protectors. The bill would further update rear guard protection requirements to also apply to all large trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers. The bill was introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). Along with the Senate, an identical bill was also introduced in the House, by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA). Since then the bill has been sitting in committees who have so far refused to take any further action on this safety issue.
The American Trucking Association (ATA), the lobbying arm of the trucking industry is expected to obstruct this bill as it would require the trucking industry to spend money on updating safety equipment. The ATA’s agenda is to have as few safety rules and regulations in place as possible to grow the trucking industry’s profits. They seem least concerned about fatalities they can help prevent. As a result, it’s our community members and their loved ones who must suffer from the consequences from tragic accidents again and again.
The ATA will look for reasons to block this bill. Their efforts include large donations to members of Congress who will support their agenda. Average families and our community members who lose the most from these tragedies often don’t have the funds to promote their own safety. Therefore, it is important that we raise our voices and remain engaged in these issues. Not only should we vote, but we should know our politicians’ position on safety rules. What does their voting record say about safety rules? Would this candidate help ensure my loved one can be safer? Awareness and engagement is what offers solutions and improves our communities.
Raise your voice if you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. is here to help injured victims and their families at their time of need. Our truck accident lawyers have helped thousands of families arrive at a place of financial security and stability after a devastating injury. We can be reached at 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW, or by email.
When we think of nursing home neglect we commonly think of elderly residents not being provided the needed physical care such as:
These are all serious concerns that a knowledgeable and experienced nursing home neglect attorney will be able to help you with. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. has successfully represented over hundreds of clients facing nursing home neglect. The verdicts and settlements we have reached have helped families move forward after a very difficult time in their lives.
But you should also know about another form of neglect that we don’t typically think of. Elderly residents may be kept in isolation at a nursing home even if their meals are properly provided, they appear clean, and all their health needs are attended to. Limiting residents from participating in social activities, preventing interaction, or offering little to no mental stimulation also constitutes as nursing home neglect. Nursing homes are liable if they keep a resident confined to their room, or bed.
The same also applies if the nursing home takes retaliatory action when a resident participates in certain social activities. Examples include verbal abuse, refusing to serve food on time, or if at all, after a resident participates in certain activities.
To watch out for this form of nursing home neglect, here’s what you can be mindful of when you visit mom or dad:
If you notice these signs among other symptoms, contact our Chicago nursing home neglect attorneys. Conveniently located in downtown Chicago, the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. has recovered over millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of wronged clients. Contact us by phone at 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW or reach us by email to schedule a free initial consultation.
The latest innovations in technology have helped ensure our elderly loved ones can be safer in a nursing home facility today than what was the case a decade ago. But are all the nursing homes taking advantage of today’s technology? To distinguish a good nursing home facility from bad one, there are many things you can review before selecting a place.
Background Checks
The emergence of electronic records that can be shared between law enforcement across various states have made background checks more reliable and easier to complete. But it’s the hiring practices of the nursing home that can reveal whether it does background checks in a thorough manner, or if at all.
Safety Alert Systems
While only 5% of the elderly population lives in nursing homes, 20% of elderly falls and accidents occur in them. Almost 2,000 nursing home residents die each year from these falls, and many suffer from other injuries. Good quality nursing homes have extensive training and safety systems in place to minimize the risk of injury among their residents. This includes alerting systems that can buzz and communicate to the nursing home staff when a fall-risk resident gets up unassisted. Top quality nursing homes have these systems so that the onus is not simply on the elderly resident to press a call button to get assistance. Always ask a nursing facility to demonstrate their safety alert system.
Caring For Residents Suffering From Alzheimer’s Disease
Good nursing homes invest in training staff to properly care for residents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers who have extensive training in how to cope with behavior linked to Alzheimer’s are less likely to verbally abuse a resident. These caregivers often understand how to best handle situations that may arise, and are more likely to respond appropriately.
Administering Medicine
Often times, one caregiver is responsible for administering medicine to many residents, and there is a risk that pills can get mixed. These dangers increase if caregivers are overwhelmed, or working in a nursing home that doesn’t hire adequate staff. Good quality facilities will have a highly organized method for administering medications.
Such nursing homes will put daily medication doses in sealed packets and cross-reference them to a medication list before administering them to residents. Don’t be afraid to ask a facility about its procedures for administering medications before placing your loved one there.
Infection Prevention & Control
Infections can have deadly results, especially for our elderly loved ones. Be sure that your loved one’s nursing home facility takes the threat of infections seriously. Are patients kept separately when they are contagious? Does the nursing home offer infection prevention & control training to its staff? Do you see such training enforced? For example, do you see the staff washing hands regularly, wearing gloves, and using clean medical devices?
Renovations & Floor Plans to Prevent Falls
Good nursing homes often get renovations when they are needed and the layout of such nursing homes is designed to make it easier for the elderly to navigate. This includes slip-resistant flooring, light beams that guide along hallways and exits, unobstructed walkways, supportive furniture, (such as chairs with padding support and armrests), low-pile carpet that’s properly secured to the floor as opposed to loose rugs, shag or high-pile carpets, which are all considered a fall risk for the elderly.
While we hope these tips help you select the right facility for your elderly loved one, it’s not uncommon to see some nursing homes go back on their promises after admitting your loved one. If you notice that the care of your mom or dad is not what was promised, you may need a dedicated and experienced nursing home neglect or abuse lawyer. Our nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers in Chicago have over 50 years of combined experience with verdicts and settlements reaching millions of dollars. Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. to fight for you and your loved one. We offer free initial consultations and can be reached by email or phone at 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW.
It is estimated that more than half of all American workers are subject to forced arbitration clauses. When this happens, employees can either choose to keep their jobs or sign a contract in which they forfeit their right to sue the company should a dispute arise. Signing an arbitration clause may also mean waiving the right to an appeal and, oftentimes, waiving the right to participate in a class action lawsuit.
The arbitration process means that rather than having employee disputes heard by a trial by jury, an arbitrator—or a neutral third party—will hear both sides and make the decision behind closed doors. This process typically favors the employer and keeps the issue out of the public eye.
When it comes to issues of sexual harassment or gender discrimination in the work place, these mandatory arbitration clauses become even more burdensome for employees. Meanwhile, a predatory culture of discrimination, intimidation and harassment is allowed to prevail at American workplaces.
Illinois Congresswoman Rep. Cheri Bustos introduced a bill at the end of last year that would end forced arbitration in sexual harassment cases. The bill, named the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017, has drawn bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. While other Congress members from Illinois, such as Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Luis Gutierrez have endorsed the bill, there still needs to be more widespread support for this bill.
At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., our civil rights and personal injury lawyers firmly believe that the right to a trial by jury is vital to our justice system. Forced arbitration not only prevents victims from getting the justice they deserve but silences them through intimidation while allowing the abuse to continue.
If you believe you are being discriminated against at work or were demoted or fired for reporting inappropriate behavior, know that there are options for you. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. has over 50 years of combined experience and expertise to help you get the justice you deserve. Contact us at 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW, or by email.
Turns out, his vehicle was 3,000 lbs. over his vehicle’s weight limitation.
The majority of commercial trucks that travel on our roadways today are essential to our economy. They transport goods to and from locations allowing businesses and other entities to operate successfully. While we need our commercial trucks to continue operating, it is important that the drivers along with the companies responsible for operating them comply with federal regulations to ensure the safety of both the driver and others on the roadway are never compromised. This means that truckers must stop driving when they reach their 11-hour mark and must only transport loads that won’t put their vehicle over the weight limit stipulated for their size vehicle. Read more
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The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd, is a distinguished personal injury law firm in Chicago providing outstanding legal representation to its clients. They specialize in personal injury litigation, dedicating themselves to fighting for justice on behalf of individuals who have suffered serious and permanent injuries or wrongful death. With an unwavering commitment to personalized service, combined with exceptional knowledge, they deliver stellar results while providing steadfast support throughout every step of the legal process. Contact us today to schedule a Free consultation.
