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Court: Exec guilty over faulty French implants
Attorney News |
2013/12/12 13:27
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A disgraced French businessman was convicted of fraud and sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday for filling tens of thousands of breast implants with industrial grade silicone. But he left the courthouse freely after lodging an appeal, and thousands of women will have to wait longer to discover if they will receive damages.
The ruling in the criminal case by a court in Marseille, which all the trappings of a class-action lawsuit, ordered up to 40 million euros ($55 million) in damages paid to a fraction of the 125,000 women worldwide who received the implants.
However, that sum for Jean-Claude Mas' company, Poly Implant Prothese, was largely theoretical because it is bankrupt, and because the appeal froze any efforts to find alternate sources. It will be months, if not years, before any women see money many say they need to remove the faulty, leak-prone implants.
In addition to his prison sentence, the French businessman was fined 75,000 euros ($103,000).
His lawyer promised to appeal immediately, and Mas left the courthouse without comment. The appeal freezes the jail term, fine and any damages.
Four managers in the now-defunct Poly Implant Prothese received lesser sentences.
The decision established a complex system of damages for about two-thirds of the 7,100 women who joined the case, with a potential total of 40 million euros ($55 million) to be paid by those convicted. But, like Mas' fine, it was not clear where that money would come from. |
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Josef Cowan | Civil Litigation Construction Law Firm Los Angeles
Attorney News |
2013/10/25 15:20
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Josef Cowan founded our firm over 20 years ago. The following are some questions and answers that discuss his unique qualities and why so many individuals and businesses trust our firm with their legal and business needs.
Q. Why did you become a lawyer?A. I’m the youngest of 6 kids raised by a single mother. We didn’t have much money, so I started working in the construction industry at a very young age. In fact, I started a construction business when I was 17 years old, and that company is still in existence and has over 400 employees. The construction industry involves a huge number of legal issues in a wide variety of different areas. I always found the legal issues fascinating and believed that a solid understanding of the law and ability to resolve complex issues is a huge advantage in business.
Q. What inspired you to found the Cowan Law Group?A. When I originally went to law school, I intended to use my legal training to help me with the construction business I started. However, I found I have a real passion for helping individuals and small to medium-sized companies resolve their legal and business problems in ways that make good business sense.
Q. How is the Cowan Law group different from other law firms?A. There are far too many firms that provide little to no value to their clients, and many that create more problems than they resolve. In many instances, the attorneys are good, smart people, but they don’t have the background or business savvy necessary to provide truly strategic, cost-effective legal solutions to their clients. This is a real problem because a good attorney who understands not just the legal issues, but also his client’s business challenges and objectives, is a tremendous resource and strategic advantage. With that in mind, I created the Cowan Law Group, whose main mission is to provide legal services that are smart, creative, and practical.
Q. So what makes you a good lawyer and advisor?A. I have benefitted greatly from a first class college and legal education. What I believe is even more important, however, is my life experience. Starting at a very young age, I have had to overcome many challenges both personally and in business. As a lawyer and advisor, these experiences have been invaluable because, through them, I have developed an ability to look at problems and challenges and know how to navigate through them in ways that are smart and effective.
But what is most telling is what my clients say. Over the course of my legal career, I have successfully resolved over $700 million of legal disputes in many different areas, including general business, real estate, construction, employment, and trade secret litigation, and I have handled a large number of business transactions. My clients often tell me that I provide counseling that is practical and mindful of business priorities, and that I handle it all well.
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Once notable NJ lawyer given life sentence
Attorney News |
2013/09/25 11:41
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A defense attorney who once had a roster of celebrity clients and boasted of having tried hundreds of cases in federal court was sentenced there on Monday to life in prison without parole after his conviction on nearly two dozen counts including murder conspiracy and racketeering.
Paul Bergrin, in custody since his 2009 arrest, wore khaki prison scrubs and showed little reaction as a judge read what amounted to several life sentences Monday afternoon in a federal courtroom in Newark.
The 57-year-old former federal prosecutor once represented an Army reservist charged in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq and celebrities such as Queen Latifah, the rapper Lil' Kim and the group Naughty By Nature. He also represented reputed gang members and alleged drug kingpins from his offices in Newark.
Bergrin, formerly of Nutley, and several associates were arrested and charged in May 2009 with running his law business as a criminal enterprise. The U.S. attorney's office charged Bergrin with more than 30 counts including racketeering, setting up the murder of a witness, money laundering and drug offenses. His first trial, in which Bergrin represented himself, ended in a hung jury two years ago.
A second trial resulted in his conviction in March on 23 counts related to operating what prosecutors said was a racketeering enterprise that engaged in drug trafficking, prostitution, bribery, plotting to murder witnesses and money laundering. |
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San Diego, California - Personal Injury Law
Attorney News |
2013/06/22 13:22
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When you or a loved one has been injured and need professional help with your personal injury case, McDonnell Law is here for you. Getting injured due to negligence can have serious consequences and should not be determine your future. It is important to hire a skilled attorney on your behalf to fight for every right to get justice served.We will answer all your concerns and questions regarding your specific case in order to determine if you are qualified to file for a personal injury lawsuit. There is no case too big or too challenging for us, and we will give the attention you deserve. Our firm specializes in getting claims resolved and fighting for compensation rights is what we have been trained to do. Negligence should not be taken lightly and should not be the cause of someone else's suffering.McDonnell Law wants to advocate for your justice.
We handle all types of personal injury cases such as:
Car Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Truck Accidents
Defective Products
Medical Malpractice
Bicycle/Pedestrian Accidents
Wrongful Death
Slip & Fall Injuries
Premises Liability
Traumatic Brain Injury
Dog Bites
It doesn't need to be any more stressful during this difficult time. To help ease through the process, you need to know who to turn to for help. Many insurance companies may take advantage of the unstable state you may be in after a personal injury. Don't let this happen to you and be sure to contact an attorney to ensure that you maximize your financial reimbursement and get what you deserve. Personal injury matters can be complicated for you, but it doesn't have to be. We will worry about the technical components while you get sufficient time to deal with your physical and emotional trauma.
Located in beautiful San Diego, McDonnell Law practices in all areas of personal injury and is here to fight for your rights and to represent you in your case. No injury is too minor for us. McDonnell Law handles every case and every client with the attention they deserve and will work hard to get the results you want. Contact Attorney Xavier K. McDonnell today at 619 857 9020 for a free consultation and evaluation of your case.
Personal injury cases can impact you and your loved one's lives in a major way and cause emotional and financial burdens to your future. You can lessen some of these stresses or even completely avoid them by contacting McDonnell Law as soon as possible. We will aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve and take the crucial steps to get the best possible outcome.
We are here to assist you during a difficult time. Don't hesitate to call and speak with us today. We are serious and competent when dealing with insurance companies, knowing when to take your claim to court should the negligent party's insurance company be unable to satisfy your claim fairly and in a timely manner. |
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Appeals court allows capital retrial of Wolfe
Attorney News |
2013/05/22 11:00
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A federal appeals court will allow a capital murder case to proceed against an accused drug kingpin from northern Virginia.
In a 2-1 ruling, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond overturned a federal judge in Norfolk who had ordered a halt to the prosecution of Justin Wolfe and his immediate release.
That judge said misconduct by prosecutors in Prince William County made it impossible for Wolfe to get a fair trial.
But a majority on the appellate court disagreed. The judges ruled that a new trial can be done fairly. A dissenting judge said the misconduct was so bad that freeing Wolfe was the only proper outcome.
Wolfe was sent to death row in 2002 for a drug-related murder, but his original conviction and sentence were overturned.
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