Stark & Stark Shareholder Rob Bratman, Esq. received the 2023-2024 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award* from the Mercer County Bar Association’s New Jersey Commission of Professionalism in the Law. The “Professional Lawyer of the Year” award recognizes attorneys who are respected by their colleagues for their character, competence, and exemplary professional behavior. On June 12, 2024, the New Jersey State Bar Association held their awards luncheon to recognize the award winners from each of the State’s counties. Rob was presented with the award by the former New Jersey Supreme Court Ass ..read more

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has some promising news: US traffic fatalities decreased again in 2023. This marks the second consecutive year of decline following a worrying rise in 2020 and 2021. Fewer Deaths, More Miles Driven The NHTSA estimates that 40,990 people died in car crashes in 2023, a 3.6% drop compared to 2022’s 42,514 fatalities. This positive trend continued throughout the year, with the fourth quarter marking the seventh consecutive quarter with fewer fatalities. Here’s the surprising part: even though there were fewer deaths, Americans actually dr ..read more

The sound of a car horn is a familiar part of the daily commute, used to signal danger, alert other drivers, and express frustration (though the latter isn’t necessarily legal!). However, proper horn usage varies from state to state, and Texas is no exception. Buckle up as we explore the intricacies of vehicle horn laws in the Lone Star State. Equipping Your Ride: Ensuring Functionality and Minimum Standards Texas law mandates all motor vehicles to be equipped with a properly functioning horn. This horn must be audible under normal conditions from at least 200 feet away [Texas Transportation ..read more

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The Food and Drug Administration’s Inspection and Recall Process Should Be Improved To Ensure the Safety of the Infant Formula Supply What OIG Found FDA had inadequate policies and procedures or lacked policies and procedures to identify risks to infant formula and respond effectively through its complaint, inspection, and recall processes. For example, FDA had not developed an organizational structure or assigned responsibilities to handle whistleblower complaints in an efficient and effective manner and took more than 15 months to address a February 2021 Abbott facility whistleblower complai ..read more

According to a recent FDA Report: In 2019, the FDA, in collaboration with the University of Arizona, the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, local growers, industry groups, and others, began a multi-year study in Yuma County, Arizona – which grows many of the leafy greens sold in the United States. The study was designed to improve understanding of the environmental factors that may impact the presence of foodborne pathogens in the Southwest agricultural region. The research team was particularly interested in identifying new information about factors that significantly contribut ..read more

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting data investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Africana infections. Epidemiologic data show that cucumbers may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick. As of June 12, a total of 196 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Africana have been reported from 28 states and the District of Columbia. Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 11, 2024, to May 23, 2024. Of 164 people with informati ..read more

Federal officials say 381 people are now confirmed as patients in two Salmonella outbreaks linked to fresh cucumbers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 75 percent of patients interviewed reported eating fresh cucumbers in the days before becoming ill.  “Epidemiologic data show that cucumbers may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick,” according to an outbreak update from the CDC. In an outbreak of Salmonella Africana infection, the patient count stands at 196, up from 162 a week ago. In an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup, 185 patients h ..read more

By Eden E. Anderson, Rebecca S. Bjork, and Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. Duane Morris Takeaways:  On June 10, 2024, the Ninth Circuit issued its en banc opinion in Olson, et al. v. State of California, et al., Case No. 21-55757, 2024 WL 2887392 (9th Cir. June 10, 2024).  The en banc panel affirmed the dismissal of the Plaintiffs’ lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of A.B. 5, which mandates application of the “ABC test” for independent contractor classification to workers in certain industries.  The Ninth Circuit found no equal protection violation in applying the “ABC test” to c ..read more

A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is a professional license required to operate large commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses on public roads in Texas and across the United States. It demonstrates that the holder has received specialized training and has passed the necessary tests to safely operate these types of large vehicles. What are [...] The post What is a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)? appeared first on Houston Personal Injury Lawyers – Simmons and Fletcher, P.C ..read more