State Farm pays $250 million to avoid civil racketeering trial

With today’s news cycles, it’s sometimes hard to believe that anything still happens outside of Washington DC. You probably didn’t hear about it, but something pretty remarkable happened in early September in Illinois: State Farm, the “good neighbor” insurance company, agreed to pay $250 million to settle a civil racketeering case which was about to… read more

Death of Man in Dallas Might Be First Fatal Electric Scooter Accident

Electric scooter accidents are known to be dangerous, but after a mysterious death in Dallas during the early morning hours of September 1st, 2018, they might also be potentially fatal. According to police reports, a young man, Jacoby Stoneking, passed away after he told his friend he had been in an electric scooter accident. However,… read more

Recent events further support ditching secret settlements

We’ve criticized confidentiality agreements (otherwise known as secret settlements or “hush money” deals) for years. Several months ago, this blog discussed how confidentiality agreements allowed Harvey Weinstein to continue his abusive behavior for years. Now a Pennsylvania grand jury has come out with a deeply troubling report about abuse in the Catholic Church. The report… read more

Judges shouldn’t be the star of the show during trial

The trial of Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chair, is chugging along in federal court near Washington, D.C. Manafort is accused of various financial crimes such as bank and tax fraud. Financial crime cases make for some pretty dry testimony. In trials of this type, witnesses may pore over financial statements and loan papers… read more

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Proudly Supports The Backpack Lady Project

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we are always looking for ways to get involved with our local community. From participating in charity events to volunteering in nonprofit organizations, our firm constantly strives to support those in need. We are excited to partner with Rob Ditro and The Backpack Lady Project. About The Backpack Lady… read more

Phones Aren’t the Only Electronics Responsible for Distracted Driving

We are suffering a gravely unfortunate epidemic of distracted driving in the United States. The rate of fatal accidents has increased in the last few years, reversing a trend of decline which had been going on for decades. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 3,450 people were killed in distracted… read more

Depression and suicidal thoughts are real concerns for injured clients

We recently suffered two celebrity suicides within one week. Anthony Bourdain, the chef and TV host, recently took his own life in Paris, while Kate Spade, the fashion designer, ended hers in New York. These two high profile cases are part of an unfortunate trend: a dramatic increase in suicide rates. The numbers in America… read more

Research Shows Concussion Symptoms Don’t Always Go Away

Most people think of concussions as scary, but temporary, injuries to the brain. Unfortunately, that’s not the experience of everyone who suffers from them. Many clients of ours have been frustrated by concussion symptoms which hang on for months or even years. Doctors even have a name for this: post-concussive syndrome, or PCS. Nevertheless, one… read more

Parkland Shooting Survivors Get A Nasty Surprise When They Fight City Hall

After the horrifying shooting at the South Florida high school in Parkland, families of victims understandably began asking questions. One of the first questions was about why a police officer assigned to the school (“school resource officer”) failed to intervene and stop the bloodshed. While there is still considerable dispute about the events, many families… read more

Florida Court’s Ruling Points Out Flaws In Buying Online Auto Insurance

Many insurance companies now offer you the chance to buy auto insurance over the phone or through a website. Companies like Geico and Progressive have aggressively marketed these online buying systems. Geico claims one can buy insurance and save money in 15 minutes, while Progressive touts a name-your-price online buying tool. When you use these… read more