New York –One year after they were stranded on an A train during a blizzard, a group of 25 people is suing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.  The train was stuck for about eight hours in several feet of snow and the passengers were without heat, food and water.  New York City Transit President Thomas Prendergast said that MTA officials forgot about the train.  This was a train that was above ground.  Some of the passengers suffered illnesses as a result of being stranded.  The MTA said it has upgraded its …

Los Angeles, CA — Unhappy with a class-action settlement against Honda Motor Co. Heather Peters has filed a suit in Small Claims Court.  Peters is one of many consumers angry that her 2006 Honda Civic hybrid does not get the miles per gallon claimed by Honda Motor Co.  The class-action settlement gives the lawyers $8.5 million and the owners of the Civics $100 each plus rebate coupons for the purchase of a new car. Peters decided to take her case to Small Claims Court in Torrance where under California law, …

Daytona Beach, CA — A lawsuit was filed Monday against the Volusia County school district.  The suit claims that the district did not protect a student, Dondre Jones, from being bullied at school. The boys mom says that her son now suffers from depression as a result of the bullying.  Dondre Jones attended Campbell and Holly Hill middle schools.  He was kicked, punched, and his pants were pulled down by other boys.  A teacher allegedly saw the incidents and did nothing.  The boys took pictures of Dondre being bullied and …

Dallas, TX –A 17-year-old boy from Lubock died Saturday, Nov. 19 when he fell from the Hilton Anatole to the parking lot below.  Quinton Smith was part of a chess club from Estacado High School who were participating in a national chess tournament.  A few hours after Smith lost his fourth round at the tournament he fell to his death.  Witnesses tried to perform CPR but it was too late.  Smith, a junior in high school, was involved in several school teams including chess, tennis, and mock trial.  Police are …

Philadelphia, PN –The mother of a 13-year-old Pennsylvania boy who has HIV, is suing a private residential school for refusing to admit him.  The lawsuit was filed in federal court against Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania claiming that the school discriminated against the boy because he has HIV.  The boy is an honor roll student and an athlete.  He takes five pills per day for his medical condition.  Milton Hershey School is a free coeducational home for children from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade from low-income families.  The suit, which …

Hendersonville, Tenn. — There was a pile up on Vietnam Veterans Parkway near Nashville because of low visibility due to fog early Thursday morning.  A small car struck the back of a mail truck that was stopped in traffic during the morning commute, killing one person.  This was one of several chain-reaction collisions of more than 50 cars.  When the fog lifted there were 179 vehicles stopped along the highway, 50 of which were involved in accidents.  Paul Warren, 28, of Hendersonville was killed and 17 people were taken …

Los Angeles, CA — Those of us who either were a part of or watched the demonstrations in the 70’s and the efforts by the police to disperse demonstrators, might be asking if the police and government officials have learned anything from the past. Just in the past few weeks the police have tried to disperse encampments in Oakland and UC Davis and both have attempts have made matters worse.  Not only do these types of confrontations cause both police and protestors to act violently, but the fact that the …

New Jersey –Police arrested and charged a school bus driver with 25 counts of driving under the influence with a minor.  Some middle school students who were on the bus called their parents from their cell phones saying that the bus driver was swerving and falling asleep behind the wheel.  The parents called police and Westampton Middle School officials.  The driver, Carole Crockett, 46, was found picking up kids at another South Jersey middle school.  Crockett’s blood alcohol level was .25, more than three times the legal limit.  She was …

Denver, CO — The Colorado Supreme Court upheld a jury verdict Monday granting a truck driver nearly $10 million in her slip and fall accident claim against Wal-Mart.  Holly Averyt, 41, of Cheyenne, Wyo., slipped and fell on ice and grease while making a delivery to a Wal-Mart store in northern Colorado.  Averyt had to undergo three surgeries on her spine and was unable to go back to work.  Her attorneys presented evidence that some grease from the deli in the store didn’t get trapped in a device designed to …

New York, NY—A fraud suit has been filed by a New York lawyer against the Setai Club, a high-end health club in New York city, stating that his membership which included a “full complimentary breakfast’” was not as promised.  Richard Katz bought a $5,000-a-year membership in December 2009 and in August of 2010 the breakfasts were stopped.  The club would not return his money, so he is suing them for $230,000 for the missing meals.  He is also demanding $500,000 for a libelous comment allegedly made by a Setai worker.  …