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More GM Recalls Issued in May 2014: Why Now?

General Motors has been in the news a lot during the first part of 2014. From January 1, 2014 to May 20, 2014, GM issued 29 safety-related recalls. According to the Washington Post, that brings the current number of GM-recalled vehicles to approximately 13.6 million so far this year—a number that breaks previous recall records.

What’s the Problem This Time?

The May 2014 recall involved approximately 2.4 million vehicles. According to GM, there have been at least 18 crashes and one injury because of problems with seat belts in crossover models and issues with gearshift, air bags, and retention clips in other vehicles. The effected vehicles include:

More than one million Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia full-size crossovers from model years 2009 to 2014, and some 2009–2010 Saturn Outlooks.
More than one million four-speed automatic transmission Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 from model years 2005 to 2008.
More than one thousand Cadillac Escalades and Escalade ESVs from model year 2015.
About 58 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD full-size pickups from model year 2015.

If you have questions about the safety of your vehicle, please talk to your local GM dealer as soon as possible.

And Know What to Do If You’re Hurt

If you are hurt in a traffic crash on Stevenson Expressway, Lake Shore Drive, or anywhere else in the Chicago area because of a defect in your GM vehicle, then please contact us directly to discuss your options. We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on important recall news.

Why Serious Truck Accidents Happen on Local Chicago Streets and in the Suburbs

The impact of the truck crash may be the same whether it happens in the Kennedy Express Lanes or on Davis Street in Evanston. A trucker’s negligence or a defective truck could leave you seriously injured, whether the accident takes place on a major highway or a local city road. For example, a distracted trucker, a drowsy trucker, or a truck’s mechanical problem could cause an accident on any kind of road.

Some Common Causes of Accidents May Differ Depending on Where You Are

Some of the following reasons for truck crashes may be more likely to occur on local, residential roads. Two important things to keep in mind are that tractor trailers, garbage trucks, box trucks, or other kinds of trucks may have:

Difficulty stopping quickly on city streets. There is a greater chance that a trucker is going to have to stop quickly and unexpectedly on a city street than on a highway. For example, a red light, an unexpected pedestrian in the road, or the proverbial child who follows his ball into the road can cause the trucker to slam on the brakes. Yet trucks often take longer to stop than passenger vehicles because of their size.
Difficulty seeing passenger vehicles on city streets. Traffic is closer together and moving more slowly on many city streets than on the expressways. It can be hard for a trucker to keep track of all the vehicles in his blind spots and he may change lanes without seeing the vehicle he is about to hit.

This list is not exhaustive and it is important to talk to a lawyer about your legal rights any time you’ve been seriously hurt in a Chicago or Evanston truck wreck. For more information, please request information via this website and learn how our team approach to truck accident cases can help with your recovery.

On Wednesday April 30, 2014, five lawsuits were reportedly filed against the Diocese of Joliet. Each of the lawsuits alleges that a priest in the Diocese of Joliet sexually abused children and that the diocese did not take appropriate actions to protect them.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, all of the abuse alleged in these lawsuits occurred decades ago and was committed by one of four priests. The paper identifies the four priests as Rev. Leonardo Mateo (deceased), Rev. Lee Ryan, Rev. Lowell Fischer (deceased), and Rev. Frederick Lenczycki.

Why the Diocese of Joliet Is Named in These Lawsuits

While the specific priests named above allegedly committed the abuse, the victims are suing the Joliet Diocese because they say that:

The church knew of credible allegations of child sex abuse by priests and failed to notify the police and parishioners.
The church protected priests who were violating the law.
The church failed to protect children from abuse.

The plaintiffs are asking the church to release all documents concerning the abuse of children by priests in the Diocese of Joliet. So far, the diocese has released 16 of 34 known files relating to the sexual abuse of children.

The diocese did not immediately comment on the lawsuits other than to say that it had not yet been formally served and that once diocesan officials had a chance to review the documents, they would respond in an appropriate forum.

Have You, or a Loved One, Been Abused by a Priest?

If you were sexually abused by a priest or anyone else, in any diocese in Illinois, it may not be too late for you to come forward, to seek justice, and to take steps to protect children. Please contact us today for a free and confidential consultation and please share this post with any of your friends or relatives who may have suffered this kind of inexcusable and intolerable abuse.

Significant Eye Injuries Possible in Illinois Car Crash

You couldn’t have anticipated that your car accident would happen as you traveled the Chicago Skyway. You couldn’t have known that an unsecured object in your vehicle would strike your eye, that the airbag would harm your eye, or that you would suffer a brain injury that impacted your vision. Yet, something happened to impair your eyesight and change your life.

What Happened?

A doctor will need to diagnose your specific eye injury. However, if you’ve been injured in a car crash, then you should be aware that you could suffer one of these serious effects:

Orbital Fracture. This occurs when the bone of the eye socket breaks. Any change in vision, swelling, or pain should be immediately reported to a doctor for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Serious changes in vision may occur.
Retinal Detachment. Retinal detachment is an emergency medical situation that occurs when the retina separates from the blood vessels providing it with oxygen. If you see floaters in front of your eye, flashes of light, or a shadow in your field of vision then you should get emergency care to prevent permanent vision loss.
Hyphema. Hyphema means that there is blood in the front of the eye. Without emergency medical care it could result in vision loss.
Traumatic Maculopathy. This is an injury to the macula located at the center of the retina. An injury to this area of the eye can also result in vision loss.
Traumatic Optic Neuropathy. Diagnosis and treatment of this type of accidental eye injury is often difficult. However, this injury can result in vision loss or the loss of color vision.

Other, more minor eye injuries, such as black eyes or corneal abrasions may also occur.

Think About Legal Help After You Visit a Doctor

If you have suffered a significant eye injury in a car accident on I-90, US-41, or any other Illinois road then we encourage you to find out more about your rights and your possible recovery. You can get started right now by using the live chat option on this website or by calling us directly for a free consultation.

Police Officer, Rabbi, Boy Scout Leader and at Least 68 Others Charged in NYC Child Porn Case

The alleged victims range in age from newborn to seventeen.

That’s the first detail that struck us when we heard early news reports about a shocking wave of arrests in New York for child pornography charges. It is because these children were reportedly victimized that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) announced pornography related charges against more than 70 people on May 21, 2014.

The Arrests Shatter Child Porn Stereotypes

Among the 70 men and one woman who were charged were:

A police officer.
A rabbi.
A Boy Scout leader who was also a youth baseball coach.
A nurse.
A paramedic.

Law enforcement officials have not yet disclosed the occupations of all 71 people who were charged. However, the information already released indicates that at least some of those who were allegedly involved in this child porn case held respectable jobs.

A representative from New York’s ICE office has reportedly told CBS New York that child porn, “is not something that is just done by unemployed drifters who live in their parent’s basement….If this operation does anything, it puts the lie to the belief that the people who do this are not productive members of society.”

Can This Case Make a Difference to the Children of NYC, Chicago, and the Nation?

If there is any good to come from this disturbing news, it is that:

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will be attempting to identify the children in these pornographic pictures and videos so that they can get the help they need.
A large case like this may have a deterrent effect locally in New York City and around the nation. Boy Scout leaders, baseball coaches, nurses, paramedics, rabbis, police officers and others in Chicago, for example, may take this case as a warning and not participate in making, viewing, sharing, or possessing child porn.

We will continue to monitor this case and other cases of child pornography around the country. Please check back often for updates.

Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend Safely With These Easy Tips and Some Great Recipes!

While Memorial Day Weekend is greatly anticipated in Chicago as the beginning of barbecue season, a number of individuals and families each year end up spending the holiday weekend in the emergency room because of grill accidents and unsafe food handling. Whether you’re participating in one of the local barbecue competitions or just getting together with family in your backyard, make sure you kick off the summer right. Here are some fast and simple tips for safe barbecuing— and we’ve also included some delicious recipes from our team at Lane Brown, LLC to help you get started!

Grill Safety Should Be a Priority on Memorial Day Weekend

Burns and grilling mishaps can put a serious damper on summer fun, so the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association urges everyone to pay attention to safety when they barbecue. Here are some of their tips for grilling safely:

Read the owner’s manual for your grill.
Remember that grills are for outside use only and should be used in well-ventilated areas.
Make sure the grill is stable and won’t be accidentally tipped or knocked over—and never, ever move a grill while it is hot.
If using electrical accessories, make sure to follow codes and keep cords taped down or out of the way.
Use long-handled forks, tongs, and other utensils to help avoid hot grease and burns.
Use flame-resistant mitts and towels, and make sure your clothing doesn’t have loose fabric or ties that could accidentally catch fire.
Keep the flames under control, and keep an extinguisher nearby. If you won’t have access to a fire extinguisher, make sure you have water, baking soda, sand, or other materials that can help you put out an unexpected fire.
Never leave your grill unattended while in use.

Paying Attention to Basic Food Safety While You Picnic or Barbecue

Burns aren’t the only danger at the family picnic. Foodborne illness is also a major concern in warm weather, so you need to take steps to make sure no one gets sick. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers the following tips on keeping food safe before, during, and after your celebration:

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling any food items.
Keep raw food and cooked food separate, and don’t reuse dishes or utensils that have come into contact with raw foods.
Marinate food in the fridge, not on the counter.
Cook food thoroughly, and use a meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked through.
Keep hot food hot and cold foods cold. Don’t just leave food sitting out for hours, especially on hot days.
Refrigerate or freeze leftover food as soon as possible.

Bonus Recipes for Our Readers: Try Some Marinated Flank Steak or BBQ Ribs on the Grill!

Once you’ve gotten safety in order, it’s time to start grilling! Are you looking for some recipes to try out this Memorial Day Weekend? Partner Mark Brown’s wife Traci has given up this awesome recipe for marinated flank steak:

Traci’s Mustard Marinated Flank Steak

Ingredients:

1 flank steak, 2–2½ pounds
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
½ tsp ground pepper
2 shallots, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh herbs (Traci recommends parsley and basil!)

Directions:

Whisk together all the ingredients except steak. Place the steak in a container and pour the marinade over and under the meat until it’s completely submerged. Allow the meat to marinate overnight for best flavor. Also, to let the marinade really soak into the meat. you can lightly score the meat in a diagonal crisscross prior to marinating, if desired.

When ready to grill, take the meat out of the refrigerator and let sit for a half hour prior to grilling. Turn the grill to medium high and cook for five minutes per side for medium rare. Immediately following, place the steak on a clean plate and tightly seal it with aluminum foil for 10 minutes. Cut the steak on a diagonal with the grain. Enjoy!!

Are you excited about firing up the grill yet? Here’s another wonderful recipe—this time, for ribs—from our receptionist Carolyn Torres:

Tinsey Rose (a.k.a Carolyn Torres) BBQ Ribs

Cut your slab of ribs in half.

Clean the meat and lay it out on the counter. With a sharp knife, slice multiple cuts across all of the bones, on both the top and bottom. Season your slabs top and bottom with seasoning salt, onion powder, and black pepper.

In a large pot, add enough cooking oil to just cover the bottom of the pot. Add the meat and just enough water to cover the slabs.

Cut up an entire onion and add to water. Boil for 30 to 45 minutes. Remove ribs and put on grill.

Add a half bottle of regular barbecue sauce to the broth to thicken up the sauce a little. Add a tad of vinegar and brown sugar to broth.

Use the broth along with your favorite beer to “baby” the ribs on both sides as they cook. As ribs are just about done, cut slab into servings of two rib bones each.

Add more barbecue sauce to your broth mix until thickened and douse the ribs on both sides. Watch carefully so the ribs won’t burn! Remove ribs and ENJOY!

Let us know if you decide try out some of our favorite recipes!

Do you have your own tips for safe barbecuing? Do you have a favorite picnic recipe you can’t wait to share with us and our readers? Leave us a comment below, or get the conversation started by connecting with Lane Brown, LLC on Facebook.