Law Office of Lowell Steiger

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Austrian Man Confesses to 24 Years of Abuse of Daughter

The most shocking story I have heard in years, maybe in my entire life! A 73 year old Austrian man, Josef Fritzl, has confessed to holding his now 42 year old daughter captive in a cement, soundproof basement for the last 24 years. During that time he fathered 7 children with her, one of whom died at child birth. According to the BBC “The woman, Elisabeth (childhood picture to left), disappeared aged 18 on 28 August 1984 when, according to her testimony to police, her father lured her into the cellar, drugging and handcuffing her before locking her up. She is… Read More

Gas Saving Tips: Video, Links, More

It’s no secret that gas prices are climbing up, up and away! So I’ve done a little research and have found some links and a video with gas saving tips — the most common sense tip, of course, is slow down! Yahoo! published a report from Kiplinger which lists 5 gas saving tips: Find the Lowest Gas Prices by searching GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com by zip code or city and state to get the lowest prices in your area. Target the Best Time of Day to Buy Gas: The best time of day to fill up your tank is before dawn or late at night, when the sun… Read More

Work Injuries Resulting From Negligent Third Party (Someone Other Than Your Employer)

Through California’s Worker’s Compensation Laws injured employees are able to recover from the limited benefits of their employer’s insurance. But what happens in cases where an employee has sustained an on-the-job injury caused by someone other than the employer? Simply put, in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim, the injured employee may sue this third party (i.e., other person or entity) in tort law. Third party cases may fall into categories such as traffic accidents, slip & fall incidents, defective products, defective equipment or the exposure to toxic substances and any number of other situations. If a worker suffers a significant injury,… Read More

Foreclosure “Rescue” Scams

Yahoo! News published a fascinating article by Nick Carey entitled “Troubled Homeowners Fall Prey to ‘Rescue’ Scams.” Among the byproducts of the U.S. housing crisis is a surge in scams that cheat people out of their money, their homes, or both, under the guise of offering to rescue them from foreclosure. “There is a lot of money to be made if you are good at committing fraud,” said Debra Zimmerman, an attorney at Los Angeles-based Bet Tzedek Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to stricken home owners. “Foreclosure rescue scams are big business right now.” Groups like Zimmerman’s say that… Read More

Exploding Gas Can Injures Child: Wal-Mart May Be On The Hook

I read a fascinating story in the Torts Law Blog wherein Wal-Mart, based on their own training videos, knew or should have known of the potential danger of explosion in a particular gas can sold by them. Ultimately, that gas can exploded when a 12 year old boy “poured gasoline from the container onto a pile of wet wood he had been trying to light, and the can exploded.” From my perspective as a personal injury attorney who has handled many cases where injuries occur as a result of a faulty product (see, for example, The Case of the Exploding Wine Bottle), it… Read More

Roof Top Electrocutes Worker by Charles Samo, Safety Engineer

Thank you to safety engineer/expert Charles Samo for contributing this fascinating and informative article. Mr. Samo has been an expert witness in a multitude of litigation matters and can be reached at samoengr@sbcglobal.net. INTERESTING TIMES Have you ever wondered why birds resting on high and bare electric conductors do not get electrocuted? It is because the birds are not grounded or rather in contact with the ground. This is an interesting phenomenon. Whenever a person comes in contact with an overhead power line, if not in contact with ground, he or she is perfectly safe but as soon as a part of… Read More

Toyota, GM Recall 662,000 Cars: Power Window Defects

DETROIT (Reuters) April 10, 2008 – Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Corp are recalling more than 662,000 vehicles sold in the United States due to defects in power windows, the two companies said on Wednesday. Toyota will recall 539,500 Corolla and Matrix vehicles for the 2003 and 2004 model years, it said in a statement. GM said it would recall 122,598 Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks, which share the same platform with Toyota’s Matrix and are built by GM in a joint venture with the Japanese automaker. On vehicles equipped with power windows, the driver and front passenger glass bolts may… Read More

Old Lawyers Fight at Deposition: Video

Here’s what not to do at a deposition!!! I’ve been to some pretty contentious depositions but this is a doozy. Get your popcorn and enjoy the ride. Although this is fun to watch, I don’t recommend this type of behavior at a deposition or any legal proceeding — it does not foster good will and certainly impedes progress in one’s case.