Everyone knows the story of Jeffrey Wigand, "the insider" who blew open the truth about the tobacco industry "conspiracy" of silence relating to cancer and diseases caused by tobacco. But have you ever heard of David Nelson, the railroad industry "insider" who blew the whistle on CSXT's rail crossing billing "over-charges" to the federal government? Nelson also unloads the truth about little...
Norfolk Southern Railway Company and other major Railroads are always patting themselves on the back about their safety records. The railroad industry has historically been one of the most dangerous occupations in America. As a result of the dangers, a separate federal law covers railroad workers who get hurt on the job called the Federal Employers' Liability Act (F.E.L.A.). When a railroad...
As current chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America's "Railroad Law Section" I have closely followed the argument by the nation's railroads that adding simple stop signs to highway grade crossings makes them safer, reducing the risk of injuries or deaths. The railroad arguments seemed logical to me--at least initially. Why wouldn't making all drivers stop at...
It is whispered that the nurses that really "care" about their patients will only go so far to protect a negligent doctor or hospital from "whistleblowing" --when they know malpractice has occurred. Will a nurse "whistleblow" even when they worry that they could be fired or disciplined for notifying someone of the truth?Here's a true story that you won't believe: a 73 year old Reverend was in...
Virginia continues to have a lower rate of serious disciplinary actions against its doctors than most states. According to the non-profit research group, Public Citizen, the rate of serious disciplinary actions against doctors in Virginia has fallen consistently over the last four years. The organization ranked Virginia 34th in the nation for 2005, down from 33rd in 2004, 27th...