Ford Wins, Toyota Loses in New Safety Survey
A national survey conducted by Consumer Reports and the National Research Center found that Americans' faith in the quality and safety of Toyota vehicles has evaporated, while confidence in... Read More
Congress Slams Toyota on Transparency, Safety Progress
Congress has made clear that it intends to launch a safety overhaul for the country's fledgling auto industry. And despite years of heightened safety complaints and automobile recalls, Detroit,... Read More
Share the Road for National Bike to Work Day
Tomorrow is National Bike to Work Day, which is exciting because the weather report indicates that tomorrow will be a beautiful Bay Area day. But if you're planning to... Read More
Share-The-Road Courtesy on National Bike to Work Day
GJEL Accident Attorneys Urges Share-The-Road Courtesy on National Bike to Work Day National Bike to Work Day is May 21, 2010 and GJEL Accident Attorneys is encouraging caution, courtesy... Read More
Judge Announces California-Centric Toyota Plaintiff’s Attorneys
Ever since it became clear that Toyota lawsuits would be consolidated in federal court, personal injury plaintiff’s lawyers have been vying for the opportunity to take on the embattled... Read More
Even After BP Oil Spill, Louisiana Challenges Tulane Environmental Law Clinics
On Wednesday, Louisiana's Senate Commerce Committee became ground zero for the battle against environmental law clinics. The committee hosted a hearing for a bill proposed by state Sen. Robert... Read More
Wisconsin Joins Battle Against Distracted Driving
Last week, Wisconsin joined the 23 states in the battle to ban texting, typing, and talking while driving a car. "It is a situation in which technology moves... Read More
Avvo Guest Post: Lawyers Don’t Sweat the Online Stuff
The fine folks over at the Avvo Blog are running a guest post I wrote recently about the thin line separating acceptable use of social media and the tendency... Read More
Birth Control Pill Turns 50: Yasmin & Yaz Lawsuits Continue
This mother's day, was the 50th anniversary of the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the birth control pill. The pill has had an enormous impact on reproductive freedoms,... Read More
This Week in Automobile Industry Recalls (With Rap Video)
The country's top auto safety regulator put his rubber stamp on legislation introduced in congress this week that would increase the power of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration... Read More
Congress Pushes for Auto Safety Overhaul: Will Detroit Fight Back?
Until recently, Toyota has done everything it can to minimize the impact of its embarrassing string of safety violations and product recalls by admitting fault and forking over government... Read More
Left-Turn Accidents ‘Alarmingly Common’ for Portland’s TriMet Busses
For pedestrians, getting hit by a bus is one of the worst thoughts imaginable. We’ve written before about Muni accidents here in San Francisco. But right now, due to... Read More
Louisiana Considers Cutting Funding for Tulane University Law Clinics
Last month, we wrote on the GJEL blog about the growing challenge to university law clinics in Maryland and Louisiana. While some claim that the state-funded clinics provide a... Read More
Oprah’s ‘No Phone Zone’ Day Targets Distracted Driving Epidemic
On Friday April 30, television superstar Oprah Winfrey lent her powerful voice to the fight against distracted driving in celebration of "No Phone Zone Day." Oprah has been chronicling... Read More
The Importance of Social Media vs. Marketing
I just sat in on Avvo's webinar on "Ethical Issues in Online Advertising and Social Media" and wanted to share some thoughts. I've recently been fascinated by the intersection... Read More
Toyota Sequoia Added to Recall Blitz
Toyota's in damage control mode. Feeling the backlash from their delayed recall of on vehicles with faulty brakes, the company now seems to be pulling any model with... Read More
GJEL Accident Attorneys Donates Bicycles to Cycles of Change
Here on the GJEL blog, we keep track of many issues related to bike safety, including new proposed texting laws for cyclists, the environmental benefits of cycling, and a... Read More
California Considers Ignition-Interlocks for Fight Against Drunk Driving
This Saturday night 17-year-old Oakland driver caused an fatal accident while under the influence of alcohol. The driver, whose name has not been released because he is a minor,... Read More
San Francisco Man Trapped, Killed in Muni Accident
This is nightmare material. While supposedly trying to hail a cab Wednesday, 49 year old Scott Whitsett was sandwiched between a Muni train and a bus. When the vehicles... Read More
Earth Day Environmental Law Shout-Out
In honor of Earth Day (today!), we wanted to bring you some big picture developments from the world of environmental law. At any moment, there are dozens of legal... Read More
Plaintiff Magazine on Andy Gillin: Like ‘Talking With an Old Friend’
In it's April 2010 issue, Plaintiff Magazine, one of the leading sources of legal news in northern California, profiled GJEL managing partner Andy Gillin about his four decades of... Read More
Christian Legal Society: UC Hastings Law Violates Freedom of Religion
There's Supreme Court trouble brewing here in the Bay Area, where a Christian students' group has sued UC Hastings College of Law for withholding public funding from the group... Read More
New Avvo Blog ‘NakedLaw’ Targets Non-Lawyers
Our friends over at Avvo, the social networking site for lawyers and non-lawyers in need of advice, launched a new blog today with the purpose of "exposing the law... Read More
California Senator Joe Simitian: Distracted Driving Laws “Will Take Time, Education, & Enforcement”
For the past few weeks at GJEL blog, we've been focusing on distracted driving bans limping through state legislatures across the country. The movement is also picking up steam... Read More
Toyota Will Recall Unsafe Lexus SUV, But Remains Rich
After a year of devastating PR stories that included unintended acceleration due to faulty car mats, delayed corporate reaction to potential recalls, and an additional forthcoming Lexus GX 460... Read More
Federal Distracted Driving Law Stalled by “States’ Rights”
Toyota recalls aside, the debate on distracted driving has been the month's most compelling consumer issue. Over the past few years, eight states have banned the use of cell... Read More
Lawmakers Challenge University Law Clinics
This Tuesday, a New Jersey state appeals panel heart arguments on whether the Rutgers University's state-funded environmental law clinic must disclose client names and finances. Developer Sussex Commons claims... Read More
Avvo Legal Directory Upgrades Look, Adds Features
Last week, Avvo, the social media directory of attorney profiles that prospective clients can use to find the right fit, bought itself "a new suit." Avvo CEO Mark Britton... Read More
Department of Transportation Jump Starts Anti-Distracted Driving Program
We wrote yesterday about the proposed hands free phone law currently languishing in congress. A set of key democrats think the law would drastically reduce vehicular deaths, but the... Read More
State of California to Boost Texting Fines for Drivers, Bikers
We've written before about the dangers of turning your car into a mobile work station. A driver's risk of collision quadruples when speaking on the phone, and skyrockets if... Read More
Interview with Matt McGee
This post is the third in a series of interviews with the professionals who live at the intersection of law, the internet, and social media. Today I’m switching gears... Read More
Interview with John Day
This post is the third in a series of interviews with the professionals who live at the intersection of law, the internet, and social media This week brings with... Read More
Interview with Mark Britton of Avvo
This post is the second in a series of interviews with the professionals who live at the intersection of law, the internet, and social media. Today I’m happy to... Read More
Google Faces Lawsuit over Buzz
I’ve written quite a bit about how the practice of law has changed and is continuing to change because of the growth of the internet, and specifically the growth... Read More
Toyota’s Troubles Multiply
We’ve been following the Toyota recalls here at GJEL for the past several months. We’ve reported on the recalls that were in response to runaway vehicles, and about the... Read More
More Toyota Problems: This Time, Prius Brakes
Toyota Motor Corp. has been all over the news lately. With all the news about Toyota recalling dozens of models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles for design flaws in... Read More
A Helping Hand for Haiti
Last Monday morning when I walked into the office, I saw Amy and Kimberly, two of the assistants to our attorneys, counting out large amounts of cash into piles.... Read More
Toyota Issues Yet Another Recall on Runaway Cars
According to the New York Times, Toyota Motor Corp announced a recall today of eight models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe. That recall affects 1.8 million cars,... Read More
Driving a Bus or a Truck? Then Stop Texting!
The Transportation Department announced on Tuesday, January 26th, that it is prohibiting bus and truck drivers from texting while driving commercial vehicles, according to National Public Radio. The ban... Read More
Avvocating Conference Recap: “The Future of Law Online”
I was fortunate enough to spend January 21st and 22nd at the Avvocating Conference in Seattle, where I learned more than I ever thought possible about online legal marketing.... Read More
Do Drivers Need Another Distraction?
There’s no doubt that drivers are constantly bombarded by distractions. At any given time on the highway, you can see someone eating, applying make-up, fiddling with an iPod or... Read More
Oregon Bans Hand Held Cell Phones While Driving—But Will it Matter?
Teen Driver on Cell Phone by photo240779 According to Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys’ website, “ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation) reports that in the year 2000 there were over 46,000 motor... Read More
Confused About Hiring an Attorney? Avvo Can Help.
This post is the fifth in a series in which I’ll be taking a look at how technology is impacting the law and the way legal professionals practice. A... Read More
Attorneys Really Should Blog–Ask Kevin O’Keefe!
This post is the fourth in a series in which I’ll be taking a look at how technology is impacting the law and the way legal professionals practice. I... Read More
GJEL’s Bay Area Events for December 11-17, 2009
December 11 Bedtime with the Beasts Bedtime with the Beasts is a special overnight program for youth groups (ages 6-18) and their chaperones. An Oakland Zoo education specialist will... Read More
Lawyers & Technology: Sometimes it Backfires
This post is the third in a series that will continue over the next couple weeks in which I’ll be taking a look at how technology is impacting the... Read More
GJEL Accident Attorneys Quiz 3: Auto Insurance Quirks
GJEL Accident Attorneys is encouraging everyone to begin 2010 with an annual auto insurance check-up about coverage and liability. As drivers begin these check-ups, this third in a series... Read More
GJEL’s Bay Area Events for December 4-10, 2009
December 4 Benicia Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting First Street merchants along with Benicia Main Street host this ever-popular open house at the beginning of the Christmas Season.... Read More
Virtual CLE from Virtual LegalTech
This post is the second in a series that will continue over the next couple weeks in which I’ll be taking a look at how technology is impacting the... Read More
Google Scholar takes on Legal Research
This post is the first in a series that will continue over the next couple weeks in which I’ll be taking a look at how technology is impacting the... Read More
Keep the Kids Distracted so the Driver Won’t Be
This post is the third in a series of Thanksgiving posts. Stay tuned from now until Thanksgiving to read about how you can keep yourself and your loved ones... Read More
Expect More Traffic this Thanksgiving
This post is the second in a series of Thanksgiving posts. Stay tuned from now until Thanksgiving to read about how you can keep yourself and your loved ones... Read More
Quiz: Does Your Insurance Cover Your Teen Driver?
It’s no secret that teen drivers aren’t always the safest. Automobile accidents involving 16-year-olds occur nine times more than those involving 20-year-olds, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway... Read More
Bay Bridge Accident Prompts Call for Speed Limit Reduction
It’s been all over the Bay Area news: A man in a big rig drove right off the side of the new S-curve in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge... Read More
Will the US Soon Take Texting While Driving as Seriously as Britain?
When texting kills, Britain takes it seriously. A recent poll by the New York Times suggests that Americans would like to do the same. Britain has a nationwide ban... Read More
How Much Do You Know About Your Car Insurance?
Over the years, GJEL has seen its cases involving uninsured motorists increase by roughly 20 percent. Add to that underinsured motorists, unlicensed motorists, aging drivers, and teens with their... Read More
Motorcycle Fatalities Finally Decreasing
It’s commonly said that there are two types of motorcyclists: those who have been in an accident and those who will be. For the past eleven years, motorcycle fatalities... Read More
GJEL Accident Attorneys Quiz 1: Auto Insurance Basics
GJEL Accident Attorneys Quiz 1: Auto Insurance Basics Gillin Jacobson Ellis & Larsen (GJEL Accident Attorneys) has seen an increase in auto accident cases relating to uninsured motorists. Drivers... Read More
When Stopping at a Red Light, Protect your Back–and Your Front
Next time you go for a drive and hit a red light, pay attention to where you stop your car. If you find yourself stopped behind another car, take... Read More
Commercial Truck Backs Into Woman’s Car
$100,000 for a woman struck by a commercial vehicle. Read More
Elderly Pedestrian Struck by Delivery Van
$250,000 for an elderly pedestrian struck in a crosswalk by a delivery van. Read More
Car vs. Motorcycle Accident in Livermore
$1.75 million for man injured in a motorcycle accident in Livermore. Read More
Man Injured in Car vs. Motorcycle Accident
$400,000 settlement for a man injured in a Bay Area motorcycle accident. Read More
Rear-End Accident & Injury Case Involving Classic Car Settlement
$200,000 for a couple rear-ended in a classic car in Pittsburg, CA. Read More
Victim of Contra Costa County Rear-End Accident
$205,000 for the victim of a rear-end accident involving a commercial truck in Contra Costa County. Read More
Berkeley Pedestrian Injured by Delivery Truck
$140,000 for a Berkeley pedestrian injured by a delivery truck. Read More
Wrongful Death of a Child in a Car Accident
$500,000 for the wrongful death of a child in a Santa Clara County car accident. Read More
Confidential Wrongful Death Settlement
$4.5 million for the family of a woman in a highly confidential wrongful death settlement. Read More
Passenger Injured in Head-On Collision in El Dorado County
$350,000 for a woman who suffered significant injuries in an El Dorado County car accident. Read More
Wrongful Death Car Accident Settlement
$816,000 for the wrongful death of an elderly woman and injuries sustained by her husband in a car accident. Read More
Bay Area Man Suffering from CRPS after Work Injury
$3.2 million for a man suffering from CRPS after a hanging display disabled him. Read More
Woman Injured in Big Rig Truck Accident
$992,000 for a woman injured when a big rig truck ran a red light and slammed into her car. Read More
Hospital Error Causes 206 to be Given Radiation Overdoses
At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, 206 patients were given CT scans that delivered a dose of radiation many times higher than they were supposed to. The excess... Read More
Ignition-Interlock Devices Approved for Trial
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two bills Sunday that will require or encourage convicted drunk drivers to install ignition-interlock devices in their vehicles. The devices allow a car to be... Read More
Common Sense Safety Measure Could Become Law for Truck and Bus Drivers
I’ve written many times about the dangers of driving while texting or talking on a cell phone. There have, of course, been bans on these activities put in place... Read More
Law Students: Scalia Encourages You to Try Science
You’ve probably heard by now that Supreme Court Justice Scalia thinks that some of our greatest minds are being wasted in the legal profession. I was planning on not... Read More
You Can’t Handle the Truth: Off-Label Marketing of Pharmaceuticals
I’ve been acutely aware of the pharmaceutical industry lately. I’ve been following the first of the test trials in the Foasamax cases, and the ensuing jury tension, and here at GJEL we’re investigating... Read More
There’s an App for That
I don’t have an iPhone, but if I did, I’m not sure if I’d be too crazy about all the applications available for them (applications are “apps,” for short).... Read More
Election or Appointment of Judges?
Being a Wisconsin native, I’ve been following the case surrounding State Supreme Court Justice Michale Gableman for the past several months. Of course, it wasn’t a case, exactly, when... Read More
Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Push Back Against Iqbal Ruling
In May of this year, the Supreme Court ruled that Iqbal, a Pakistani Muslim arrested after the September 11th attacks, could not sue former Attorney General John Ashcroft or current... Read More
Judges and Attorneys Protest Court Furloughs
It’s no secret that the state’s budget is a mess. And though a deal was reached between the governor and the legislature to try and make the best of... Read More
Legal Ethics and the Internet
There’s been some uproar on the internet this weekend after the New York Times published an article about what legal professionals can and can’t say on the internet. The story... Read More
Fosamax Update
You might remember me writing about the case against Merck because of the horrendous side effects of their drug, Fosamax. If you’ll remember, the first “test” case to go... Read More
Alameda County Might Get its First Female DA
Tom Orloff, Alameda County’s current District Attorney has decided to retire after serving fifteen years as DA. He’s looking forward to spending more time with his family. But who,... Read More
ABA’s Legal Rebels are Just What We Need
A couple weeks ago, the ABA launched its new website, Legal Rebels. The idea behind the site was to encourage people, especially those practicing law, to realize that the... Read More
First Fosamax Case Submitted to Jury Today
Pharmaceutical cases are all the rage these days, so it seems… The first Fosamax case has been submitted to a jury today in New York. Fosamax is an osteoporosis... Read More
Some Refreshing Legal Humor
Things have been all together too serious on this blog for a while. There’s been way too many reports of texting while driving, accidents, and other generally serious topics.... Read More
BART Finally Settles Contract
I’ve been bringing you news of the possibility of a BART strike for a while now, and am now bringing you what is (hopefully) the final update– it looks... Read More
Zero Tolerance for Cell Phone Users Today
I encourage my readers to never talk or text while driving because the behavior is inherently dangerous and has been shown in studies to increase the risk of an... Read More
Getting Doored is Not Your Fault, at Least Legally
Cyclists may need to be careful to avoid getting doored, but at least they can rest assured that if they do happen to slam into the door of a... Read More
MUNI Safety Hearing Today
After two serious MUNI accidents in the last month, the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee will hold a hearing examining MUNI safety standards for bus and train operators... Read More
Do New Lawyers Need Mentors? Utah Thinks So
Attorney Stephen Owens, who was named new president of the Utah State Bar Association. (Paul Fraughton/The Salt Lake Tribune) A new program in Utah requires newly admitted lawyers to... Read More
Can Teens be Cautious Drivers?
The days of the careless, immortal teenage driver are over. Meet the new, cautious teen driver! Read More
Second Muni Crash in Less than a Month Leaves Six Hurt, Two Hospitalized
The Fog City Journal is reporting that an accident involving two Muni F-Line streetcars and an SUV has left six people hurt, two of whom were hospitalized. According to... Read More
Law Students: No Job? Try Suing Your School
One college grad is suing her school to get her tuition back because she claims they didn't do enough to help her find a job. What about all those... Read More
The Senate takes on Texting While Driving
The U.S. Senate introduced legislation Wednesday that pressures states to ban texting while driving. If they don't comply, they stand to lose millions in federal highway money. Read More
Will Furloughs Save the State Money? Sure, Unless They’re for the Franchise Tax Board
Furloughs are intended to save the state money, but if you furlough employees of a Board whose sole product is the creation of revenue, the furloughs don't work quite... Read More
Don’t Text and Drive
One more reason to leave your cell phone out of reach while driving. Read More
Law Students: Some Zen for the Bar Exam
I know all those recent grads are taking the bar exam this week and are probably a teensy bit panic-attack-inducingly stressed. And for those students who aren’t taking the... Read More
Safe Driving Sometimes Means Not Driving At All
The New York Times just reported on a fatal car crash that happened when one driver drove the wrong way on a road for nearly two miles. The accident... Read More