The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Surgical medical malpractice or surgical errors are responsible for an unusually high number of deaths in the United States annually. Surgical medical malpractice occurs when a surgeon or other member of the surgical team or healthcare facility where the surgery took place failed to provide an accepted standard of care and treatment which resulted in injury or even death.

Studies reveal that 50% of all medical malpractice allegations involve surgical procedures either during pre-operative care, during surgery or post-operatively. Surgical procedures most frequently involved in surgical malpractice allegations involve cosmetic surgery, LASIK eye surgery, gastric bypass surgery and orthopedic or back surgeries.

Financial compensation for victims of surgical medical malpractice may include damages for medical expenses, loss of present and future income, pain and suffering and the loss of quality of life. In the tragic event the surgical error resulted in a death, the family members may also be eligible for financial compensation for their loss.

The surgical medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm strongly believe victims of surgical errors deserve to be fully compensated for the losses they suffer do to the negligence of others they have entrusted with their care. Our surgical medical malpractice attorneys will work diligently to ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve.

If you live in the Washington, D.C. area and you have been a victim of surgical medical malpractice, please contact the surgical medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to make certain your legal rights are protected and begin the process of making your life whole and well once again.

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Major accidents on railways, subways and light rail lines are uncommon, but if you are involved in such an accident you deserve an attorney with the knowledge, experience and resources to get you the best results in your personal injury or wrongful death claim possible.

In the past several years there have been more than a few accidents involving the D.C. Metro and MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) trains. The accidents with injuries were caused either by mechanical failure, driver error or failure to properly maintain equipment or railway tracks.

Train accidents often result in catastrophic injuries due to high speeds at which trains travel and may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, severe burns, broken bones and fatalities.

The laws governing train accidents in Washington D.C. and the surrounding area are complicated and it takes our experienced train accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm to bring about a successful conclusion to your claim. Our attorneys will investigate and evaluate every detail of your accident to determine where the fault lies and no aspect of your case will be overlooked.

If you were injured in a train accident in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with our experienced train accident attorneys who will help you get the compensation you deserve so you can move on with your life.

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When an injury to the spinal cord fractures or dislocates the vertebrae causing bone fragments to bruise and tear the spinal cord, the result is often a devastating, life-changing event.

Spinal cord injuries are classified as either incomplete or complete. An incomplete spinal cord injury suggests the spinal cord has some function remaining and the victim of this type of injury usually retains some motor or sensory function. However, a complete spinal cord injury typically means there is a total loss of motor or sensory function below the level of the injury.

Automobile accidents are a major cause of spinal cord injuries along with falls and sports-related injuries. The physical, psychological and financial costs of a spinal cord injury are catastrophic with the cost of continuing medical care and treatment totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

The Cochran Firm has spinal cord injury attorneys that have the knowledge and experience to handle all aspects of spinal cord injury cases along with a team of medical and legal experts to support them in successfully litigating for their clients seeking financial compensation for their devastating injuries.

If you or someone you care about has suffered a spinal cord injury in the Washington, D. C. area, please contact The Cochran Firm today and learn how our highly skilled team of attorneys can investigate, evaluate and litigate your claim to a successful conclusion.

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The Fairfax County, Virginia jury had initially awarded the family just under $3 million, but Virginia's cap on medical malpractice awards required that the amount be cut by more than half. Right before the case went to trial, the Fairfax anesthesiology group involved in the case offered to pay $600,000 to the victim's family; obviously, that amount was declined and the case went before a jury.

Hector Alvarez, a 52-year-old man from Springfield died after his esophagus tore while he was swallowing a piece of steak. The jury found an Alexandria radiologist liable for misdiagnosing the Mr. Alvarez' condition as a hiatal hernia. In July 2006, the Mr. Alvarez went to Inova HealthPlex at Franconia-Springfield complaining of chest pains and difficulty swallowing after eating steak and having a piece lodge in his throat. Mr. Alvarez explained the feeling as the steak "going down the wrong way."

While at the medical center, he was given a battery of tests including x-rays, an EKG and a CT scan of his chest. The tests were sent to radiologist, William J. Dunwoody III, who was working that night at Inova Alexandria Hospital. His notes indicated that Mr. Alvarez was suffering from a "large hiatal hernia." Alvarez was treated with oral medications, but his pain did not lessen.

Several hours later, around midnight, he was rushed by ambulance to Inova Fairfax Hospital and doctors continued to search for the cause of his severe chest pain. At 4:00 p.m. the next day, a surgeon noticed a perforated esophagus on the CT scan and ordered that Mr. Alvarez be taken into the OR immediately to repair his torn esophagus. The patient was to be given an epidural catheter to provide pain medication post-surgery. After the catheter was placed and anesthetic applied, Mr. Alvarez suffered cardiac arrest. The cardiac arrest was attributed to his extreme weakened state from having a perforated esophagus for nearly 24 hours. The surgery to repair the torn esophagus was never performed; he suffered irreparable brain damage following the cardiac arrest.

Mr. Alvarez was retired from the Air Force and was an information technology specialist for the Defense Information Systems Agency; he was married with two adult children. His family and friends described him as an "incredibly nice guy."

If you have lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Though no amount of money will bring your loved one back or ease your pain, the medical professionals responsible for the loss of your loved one must be held accountable. Please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

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Neglect or abuse of the elderly can take many forms and happens much more often than we would like to believe. Thousands of instances of nursing home neglect and abuse are documented in the Washington, D.C. area each year.

Signs of nursing home neglect and abuse can be bedsores, chronic infections, changes in behavior, unexplained bruises, the use of unnecessary physical restraints or heavy sedation, or missing financial assets. Do not ignore any feelings of suspicions of abuse you may have when visiting a loved one even if they do not give voice to instances of abuse. Many nursing home residents are fearful of exposing their abusers to avoid retaliation and an escalation in the abuse.

There are many complex legal issues involved in allegations of nursing home neglect and abuse which the experienced attorneys at The Cochran Firm are very familiar with and knowledgeable about. These issues may involve medical malpractice, premises liability, negligent security and even wrongful death claims.

If you know or even only suspect someone you care about has been the victim of nursing home neglect and abuse and you live in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to learn what you can do to protect the legal rights of a vulnerable older adult and get them the justice they deserve.

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On Tuesday morning, an Amtrak train traveling from New York to Washington struck and killed a teenage girl, one of many fatal train accidents that kill about 1000 Americans every year. The train accident led to stopped traffic on Amtrak's busiest route, connecting the political and cultural capitals of the United States, with delays being expected all day long.

The accident occurred when a southbound train struck the girl about 11 miles north of the Baltimore station, halting traffic on all four tracks leading into Washington from Maryland as authorities investigated the accident.

Authorities have said that the girl was struck while walking to school. She was walking along the tracks headed south. She was with another girl who jumped to safety and called 911 on a cell phone.

In this case, authorities say the girl was struck while trespassing on the tracks, although details about security designed to keep children off the tracks in this area is not available. In other cases, the cause of fatalities in train accidents is a poorly designed crossing for either pedestrians or vehicles. A lack of working signals and poor visibility at the crossing has led to many unnecessary and wrongful deaths, a fact that some railroads have worked hard to conceal.

If your loved one was struck and killed by a train due in part to the negligence of the railroad, the train accident attorneys at the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm can help. Please contact us today for a free evaluation of your wrongful death lawsuit.

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Every day it seems a new drug is recalled or a warning is issued to consumers from pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding defective drugs. Over 20 million people have been affected by drug recalls in the past. The effects of taking a defective pharmaceutical can cause long term medical complications, frightening symptoms and permanent disabilities and death.

Too often pharmaceutical companies put profits before people and their safety by rushing to release the latest "wonder drug" to consumers eager for a solution to a health problem. The result can have a disastrous impact on those who take the drugs and experience horrific side effects. Defective pharmaceuticals have been responsible for heart attacks, strokes, birth defects and liver and kidney failure at times resulting in death.

Laws are in place for individuals injured by a defective drug to seek justice and financial compensation for their injuries or wrongful death. Defective pharmaceutical lawsuits are very complicated and require the knowledge and expertise of a law firm experienced in taking on the giant pharmaceutical industry. The Cochran Firm has been fighting successfully for justice for their clients against this industry for decades and it is their firm belief a company that places profits before peoples’ lives must be held financially accountable for their actions.

Please contact The Cochran Firm today at their Washington, D.C. location if you have been injured by a defective drug and make it your first action toward getting the financial compensation you deserve.

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Tractor-trailer or semi-trucks are an all too common site on the roadways in and around Washington, D.C. and all across the country. Unfortunately, many of these massive trucks are involved in accidents with other motor vehicles.

Truck accidents number in the tens of thousands each year. The enormous size and weight of these trucks create massive amounts of energy when traveling at high rates of speed. The result in a collision with a truck is catastrophic injuries and deaths to the people in smaller passenger vehicles.

Truck accident causes include driver fatigue, speeding to meet unrealistic deadlines, aggressive driving behaviors, poor maintenance of equipment, overloaded cargoes, faulty brakes and tires, defective roadways and hazardous weather conditions.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck accidents are responsible for over twenty billion dollars in damages every year in the United States. That is the reason trucking companies and their insurance company personnel arrive on the scene of a truck accident so rapidly, to protect the legal and financial interests of the trucking company and the insurance carriers.

Who will protect your interests? The attorneys at The Cochran Firm will work together as a team to provide you with the highest level of knowledge and investigatory skills available to protect your legal rights and ensure those responsible for your injuries are held legally and financially accountable.

Please contact the Washington, D.C. area office of The Cochran Firm today if you have been involved in an accident with a truck.

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Although last summer's Red Line Metro crash near the Fort Totten Station was the worst accident in the transit service's history, it may only be a hint of what may be to come. Inspectors have concluded that the crash was caused by a failed sensor, causing a moving train to crash into a stationary one. This crash has been replayed twice in recent months, although fortunately with far less serious consequences. However, these crashes and other events seem to point to a culture of neglect at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that may culminate in more train accidents, potentially even one as serious as the Fort Totten accident.

There have been three Metro train accidents since the June 22. In early September, a Metro worker was struck by a train and died of his injuries. The other two accidents occurred in the same rail yard, where moving trains struck stationary ones, injuring Metro employees. In August, two mechanics were injured when the train they were working on was struck by another train. This accident was described as "a very minor thing," but was followed by a much more serious accident on Sunday. Sunday's accident was another case of stationary trains being hit by moving ones. This crash occurred with sufficient force to derail two train cars. Overall, at least three cars were seriously damaged and investigators believe the cost of the crash to be at least $9 million. Although only three people were injured in Sunday's crash, many are pointing to these rail yard crashes as signs of serious problems at the agency.

In November, the Washington Post reported that the Metro had barred independent investigators from inspecting live tracks to see safety procedures in action, then deceived the board of directors about the ban. Metro train operators, talking under condition of anonymity, have reported power surges--long known, but unaddressed--that cause trains in the rail yard to lurch forward. Representatives of the driver's union have begun an independent investigation into these incidents and say that Metro has failed to implement a promised safety retraining for employees.

With nearly a million passengers from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. using the system every day, the utmost care must be taken to ensure that the system is fully safe. If you or a loved one were injured in the Fort Totten Station accident or another transit accident, the personal injury lawyers of The Cochran Firm's Washington, D.C. office stand ready to help you. We can pursue the case both for you and to highlight lapses in safety to prevent a future accident. Please contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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An automobile accident caused by driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) is the reason someone is killed every thirty minutes or injured every two minutes in the United States. If you drive while taking certain prescription medications that can affect your ability to safely operate a vehicle you are considered to be driving under the influence also.

The list of intoxicants that impair your ability to drive and can cause an automobile accident include alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and prescription medications such as Vicodin, Percocet, Valium and Xanax.

Alcohol and drug impaired drivers destroy millions of lives every year. Alcohol and drugs kill young people under the age of fourteen at a rate of one in five. The choice to drive under the influence has far reaching effects for years to come.

If you have been victimized by a person driving under the influence The Cochran Firm can help. An experienced DUI automobile accident attorney will assist you in obtaining the financial compensation you are entitled to for the losses you have suffered due to the actions of another. You are entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, loss of present income, and future income potential and your pain and suffering.

Please contact the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation to protect your legal rights and the legal rights of your loved ones today.

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The January 2005 Metrolink train derailment accident that killed 11 and injured 150 has been settled for $30 million. The lead attorney for the plaintiffs says this will settle around 90 percent of the suits, including 15 serious personal injury cases and nine wrongful death cases.

The train accident occurred when a man intending to commit suicide parked his SUV on the train tracks. The man changed his mind at the last minute and jumped out of the SUV, but the speeding train hit the vehicle. The Metrolink then derailed, hit a parked locomotive and then collided with another Metrolink traveling in the opposite direction. The man who parked the SUV was convicted of murder and sentenced to 11 consecutive life terms.

If there is a civil trial, attorneys for the plaintiffs plan to argue the collision could have been avoided had the train engineer applied the emergency brake immediately. Instead, data shows he hit the service brake for approximately six seconds. The engineer contends he hit the emergency brake as soon as he realized the SUV was parked on the tracks.

This was the deadliest train accident in California history until last year's Metrolink accident killed 25 people when the commuter train hit a freight train in Chatsworth.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a train accident, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.

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The business editor of the Baltimore Sun Times was killed and his daughter seriously injured in a car accident Monday morning. He was performing a left turn when his vehicle was struck in the driver's side by a UPS truck. The editor was killed and his daughter suffered serious head injuries. Although it is typically assumed that the left-turning motorist is at fault for most accidents, it is too early to determine whether this is the case or not.

Local residents say that defective roadways may partly be to blame, since a traffic light installed at the intersection where the accident occurred has been observed to cause dangerous behavior. At most times, the light is a flashing caution light, but during morning and evening commute times, the light turns solid red one direction and solid green the other, which local residents say encourages drivers to recklessly speed through the intersection.

The accident may also be due to dangerous driving on the part of the UPS truck driver. Delivery truck drivers sometimes feel pressure to complete their rounds rapidly, which can make them less cautious of other drivers and increase the likelihood of deadly truck accidents. At the time of the accident, the car would have had a flashing red light and the UPS truck a flashing yellow.

If you have lost a family member in an accident that you believe is the result of the other driver's negligence, The Cochran Firm can help. Please call or email the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today for a free case evaluation.

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Thousands of Americans become victims of medical malpractice and negligence every day in this country. It is estimated that over 250,000 people die every year across the country from the consequences of medical malpractice such as botched surgeries, misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, medication errors and infections contracted in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Although not all errors committed in a medical setting rise to the level of medical malpractice and negligence, it is vitally important to know that the laws pertaining to medical malpractice are there to protect you in case you do become a victim.

The five diseases or medical conditions most connected to allegations of medical malpractice are breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and appendicitis. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of these diseases or conditions may result in a delay in the appropriate treatment or no treatment at all which of course can result in death.

Financial compensation in the case of medical malpractice or negligence may include payment for pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of income and future earning potential and in the event of a death, the survivors are also entitled to compensation.

If you live in Washington, D.C. and you or someone you care about has been the victim of medical malpractice and negligence, please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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The leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are motor vehicle accidents, falls and sports injuries. Trauma to the brain can occur when the head hits the floor in a fall or the windshield in a motor vehicle accident or from the impact of a tackle on the football field.

The skull does not have to be penetrated to sustain a serious brain injury. Bruising and bleeding of the brain can occur when the brain strikes the interior of the skull and there appears to be no visible sign of injury. The area of the brain that is injured determines the type and severity of the injury suffered.

A mild traumatic brain injury usually results in a headache, slight confusion for a short period of time, loss of balance and dizziness, some blurred vision and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms of a severe traumatic brain injury include a persistent headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, weakness of the extremities, loss of coordination and profound confusion and possible amnesia for the event. Victims of a severe traumatic brain injury will need physical, emotional and financial support for a very long time.

People suffering from a traumatic brain injury need specialized legal representation also. TBI litigation is complex and requires an attorney experienced in the medical and legal issues involved.

If you live in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area, and you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer at the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to determine the course of action to take to protect your legal rights and get you the compensation you are entitled to.

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Carolyn B. Jenkins, the mother of Veronica DuBose, who died when two Metro trains collided on June 22, 2009, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in District of Columbia Superior Court against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), as well as Alstom Signaling, Inc., which provides computerized train traffic control.

Veronica DuBose, who was crushed to death in the collision, was a 29-year-old mother of two young children. She was a certified nursing assistant and was riding Metro to attend classes in the District to earn a higher level of certification. She leaves behind her daughter Ava Sarai Katurah DuBose, 20 months old, and son Raja Otis Lee Williams, seven years old. She is also survived by her father, Erwin DuBose, as well as siblings and extended family.

The lawsuit against WMATA and its train traffic control provider, Alstom Signaling Inc., alleges that Veronica’s death was caused by the negligent operation of the rail system, failure to discontinue usage of the old and unsafe 1000 series rail cars, negligent maintenance and inspection of the braking systems, and a dysfunctional train traffic control system, the failure of which led to Veronica’s train colliding with a stationary train.

The car on which Veronica was riding, part of the 1000 series, was one of the oldest in the transit network, dating to the founding of the system and purchased between 1974 and 1978. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had warned WMATA in 1996 and 2006 that the unsafe 1000 series train cars should be replaced or retrofitted to improve “survivability” in the event of a crash. WMATA elected not to follow the NTSB’s recommendations. Also, when the train control computer system was tested on June 24, 2009, at the same location as the crash, it failed to detect stationary trains on the track.

Veronica’s mother, Carolyn B. Jenkins, stated, “It is hard to understand why Metro would ignore safety recommendations to protect its passengers. Our family is holding Metro accountable for my grandchildren growing up without their mother. We are devastated.”

According to Stephen D. Annand, managing attorney of The Cochran Firm’s D.C. office, which filed the case on June 29, 2009 in D.C. Superior Court, “Veronica DuBose’s family has suffered a terrible tragedy and loss for which they can never be fully compensated, but we will make every effort to see that justice is done.” David E. Haynes, also of The Cochran Firm, pointed out that “knowing that this tragedy was preventable makes it particularly egregious.”

William H. Kennedy III, of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida firm of DiStefano, Bossola & Kennedy, co-counsel with The Cochran Firm in the case, concluded by saying that “WMATA has to be held accountable for its failure to heed the repeated NTSB recommendations to replace unsafe rail cars after previous rail collisions, placing cost above safety. WMATA, along with other entities such as Asltom Signaling, Inc., must accept full responsibility for the failure of the computer system to prevent the collision.”

The Cochran Firm nationally, founded by the late Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., and Mr. Kennedy and his partners, have represented clients in transportation disasters in the past and will be prosecuting this case jointly on behalf of the family of Veronica DuBose.

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Have you or someone you care about been a victim of a defective consumer product? Every year thousands of American consumers are injured by defective consumer products. These unsafe or defective consumer products include cars, tires, electronics, appliances, household goods, toys, pet foods, baby car seats and strollers, vehicle parts, cosmetics, medical devices, the list is endless.

When an injury results from simply using a consumer product, it is possible to file a product liability lawsuit. When a consumer product is defective and causes an injury or death, the manufacturer, designer or distributor can be held legally responsible for that injury or death. In recent years serious injuries have resulted from the use of defective tires, faulty medical devices and cars.

Product liability laws are complicated and there are time limits involved in filing a claim. It is important to consult an experienced product liability lawyer if you or someone you care about has been injured by a defective consumer product to ensure your claim is filed quickly and efficiently.

If you live in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area, and you or someone you love has been injured or killed because of a defective consumer product, please contact an experienced product liability attorney at the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.

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A wrongful death claim states someone has died as a result of the negligence or actions of someone else, and that the victim's survivors are entitled to monetary compensation for that death.

If the person responsible for your support has died due to the negligence or actions of someone else you are entitled to be compensated for the loss of support, inheritance and other losses.

A wrongful death can be the result of, but not limited to, an automobile accident, an airplane crash, a drunk driving accident, a criminal assault, medical malpractice, the use of a defective product, a slip and fall resulting in death, or a work-related injury.

An experienced wrongful death attorney can obtain the information necessary to help your case progress such as medical evidence, expert testimony and police reports. There are time limits for filing a wrongful death claim that can vary from one to three years.

If you live in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area and someone you love has been the victim of a wrongful death, please contact the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced wrongful death attorney at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

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Premises liability refers to a legal term that describes the holding of property owners legally responsible for accidents that occur on their property. Premises liability claims can include slip and fall accidents to injuries suffered on an amusement park ride.

Premises liability accident claims can arise out of being struck by a falling object, a fall caused by a broken sidewalk, a fall on a poorly lit stairway, an assault in an unsecured parking garage or any number of other scenarios.

Liability is determined by whether the owner of the property knew the dangerous condition existed and failed to correct it, or at least should have known the dangerous condition existed and failed to correct it. An experienced premises liability attorney should be consulted to protect your legal rights in determining who is at fault.

A claim for premises liability will allow you to be compensated for pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of potential future earning capacity, medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses and any other expenses you may have incurred due to your injury. A premises liability claim may also compensate survivors in the event of a death caused by an accidental injury.

Residents of Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area who have suffered an injury on someone else's property should contact the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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John Parkhurst filed suit in Washington, D.C. Superior Court on February 17th, alleging that high levels of lead in the city's water caused his twin sons' chronic health problems. The suit seeks $200 million in damages, and could become a class action suit on behalf of other residents.

According to Parkhurst, his sons were given formula and food prepared with tap water when they were infants, and showed elevated levels of lead in their systems at their two-year checkup. Now eight years old, the twins suffer from learning and behavioral problems.

A 2007 research paper stated that heightened levels of lead in the water from 2001-2004 had not caused any health problems. However, evidence surfaced recently that the paper was written by a paid consultant for Washington Water and Sewer Authority. In addition, WASA had final say over the contents of the paper, making the results suspect. The lawsuit accuses WASA of hiding the seriousness of lead issues, and seeks various forms of monitoring and medical care for children affected by the lead contamination.

We take the safety of our drinking water for granted, and the failure of a large utility company to keep water safe represents a betrayal of the public trust. If you feel you have been affected by contaminated water, food, or other substances due to the negligence of a company or corporation, please contact The Cochran Firm. The experienced product liability and municipal liability attorneys at our Washington, D.C. office will discuss your case with you and do what we can to help.

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In January, Osman Abdullahi was shot by a police officer at his residence near H Street NE, in Washington, DC, where he had lived since the previous November. Police were called to the house when Abdullahi attacked a fellow resident. Abdullahi then turned his attacks upon the police officers, one of whom shot and killed him.

The house where Abdullahi had taken up residence was purportedly a group home for the mentally ill, but subsequent investigation has uncovered a complete lack of medical care or even supervision in this residence. Other similar residences, all owned by Mark Spence, showed similar signs of medical negligence and lack of care. In this unregulated environment, Abdullahi had stopped taking his prescribed medications, allowing his paranoid condition to intensify. Representatives from the Department of Mental Health, who arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, found a house without heat, with blood still coating the floor.

City records show that Mark Spence runs a nonprofit organization called Hopefinders, Inc. Its purpose is to provide housing for the mentally ill, but the condition of his various group homes shows a profound lack of care. In fact, in 2003, the Department of Mental Health removed his facilities from their list of acceptable placements for patients.

As demonstrated by the case of Osman Abdullahi, this kind of negligence can have serious consequences. Owners of group homes, nursing homes, and other similar facilities have a responsibility toward their patients. The decision to put a loved one into a group home or assisted care facility is difficult enough without having to worry about neglect or abuse.

If you feel a loved one has suffered neglect at a group home, nursing home, or other care facility, please contact The Cochran Firm. The experienced nursing home negligence and medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm's Washington, D.C. office can help you assemble your case.

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We are happy to announce today that the Cochran Firm Website now has individual blog pages for each of our offices. As we add offices, we will add new blog postings.

Our offices include:

• Atlanta, Georgia


• Birmingham, Alabama


• Chicago, Illinois


• Dallas, Texas


• Detroit, Michigan


• Dothan, Alabama


• Houston, Texas


• Huntsville, Alabama


• Jackson, Mississippi


• Las Vegas, Nevada


• Los Angeles, California


• Memphis, Tennessee


• Metairie, Louisiana


• Miami, Florida


• Minneapolis, Minnesota


• Mobile, Alabama


• New Orleans, Louisiana


• New York City, New York


• Norfolk / Portsmouth, Virginia


• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


• Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina


• Sacramento, California


• San Francisco/Oakland, California


• San Jose, California


• St. Louis, Missouri


• Tuskegee, Alabama


• Washington D.C.


• The Cochran Firm Latino Section

We plan to post blogs regularly that relate to each individual office. Please check back soon for more information.

Labels: Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Dallas, DC, Detroit, Dothan, Houston, Huntsville, Jackson, Las Vegas, Latino, Los Angeles, Memphis, Metairie, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia