New York City hospitals are the least reliable in the state at reporting preventable mistakes and adverse incidents for patients like heart attacks, blood clots, hospital infections and medication errors, according to a new report by the office of City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr.  This inadequacy prevents our hospitals from identifying their systematic issues and improving their individual medical practices.  Our state must be far more diligent in enforcing penalties such as fines against hospitals which have failed to report accurately.  My hope is that these hospitals properly report preventable mistakes and adverse incidents so that they can improve their services to prevent medical malpractice from occurring.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

This case is another example of the dangerous practices landlords participate in all across our state, especially here in New York City.  The landlord and former landlord of this Bronx apartment building illegally subdivided apartments in order to achieve more rent.  This illegal partitioning creates a serious threat to the residents occupying the building as well as firefighters.  In this incident, the two firefighters had to jump from a window to escape the blaze.  The partitions left the firefighters disoriented forcing them to jump - ultimately to their deaths.  Firefighters risk their lives everyday to protect the lives of others - when illegal actions such as this cause unnecessary risks it is time we take action.  The verdict found both the landlord and former landlord guilty of criminally negligent homicide.  Though the verdict won’t bring back the lives of the two firemen it will serve those who caused the deaths significant punishment for their actions.  Once again, this case is an example of how our antiquated New York Wrongful Death law prevents full measure of damages.  The law does not allow compensation for the emotional loss and grief of loved ones left.  Albany must act.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

This tragedy took the lives of a mother and her three children after they were trapped inside their second floor apartment by a fire which broke out on a nearby stairway.  The fire prevented their escape since the Landlord failed to have a required fire escape.  This is yet another example of when a landlord violated building code and as a result innocent lives are taken.  In this incident a summons was issued to the landlord after the tragedy happened.  Once again it was too late.  The City must take immediate action and properly inspect all buildings for violations such as this one in order to prevent these types of accidents from ever happening.  It is my hope that the City strictly enforces building violations and demands landlords to bring their properties up to code immediately.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

This is another tragic medical malpractice case that has been prolonged by our court system.  An already paralyzed man was put through tremendous torture because doctors took the law in their hands.  This paraplegic was pulled from his wheelchair, handcuffed to a hospital bed, and then forced to consume dangerous levels of laxatives for 27 hours.  He was then probed by doctors while police watched.  The hospital, Our Lady Of Mercy Medical Center in the Bronx, thought the man was a drug mule when he came in with stomach pain based on X-rays showing several spherical shapes they mistakenly identified as condoms stuffed with drugs.  They were gall bladder stones identified by a second radiologist later on.  After years of physical therapy the paralyzed man has still not gained full control over his own bodily functions.  After more than a decade this man will finally see his day in court.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

This is an unfortunate accident that took the life of a 26 - year old teacher in Brooklyn, which may result in a claim.  We don’t know the details of this case but New York’s antiquated Wrongful Death Law will limit family members recourse.  As a result of our Wrongful Death law family members of Hwi Wu will have limited recourse in the court system for emotional loss and grief.  Albany must take action now.  The law needs to change so family members get some form of compensation when tragedies such as this take place.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

This is another example of how our legal system attempts to address critical safety issues. The Buildings Department is now focused on new rules and regulations aimed at preventing another devastating crane collapse in New York City. The crane parts are finally going to be better tracked so that crane operators can be more confident that they are working a structurally sound machine. Last May, a crane collapse took the lives of Donald Leo (30) and Ramadan Kurtaj (28). The age and mechanical condition of the crane are the focus of a federal probe and lawsuit. It is my hope that the lawsuit and probe are successful in creating strict crane-oversight programs preventing these types of events from ever occurring.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

This is becoming a serious problem that our state needs to address with strict rules and penalties.  In this incident, the driver of the ambulance that ran into a snowbank had been previously cautioned by an Albany firefighter about text messaging while driving.  The driver of this ambulance is supposed to be out saving lives and instead is dangerously putting the public in harm’s way.

Tom Nardacci, spokesman for Mohawk Ambulance, said the driver, Joanna McKinley, is no longer employed by the company. He further pointed out that, State law exempts emergency vehicles from cell phone laws but that Mohawk ambulance has a stringent written policy against the use of cell phones which would include texting except in the use of an emergency or when they have to call a physician at the hospital. 

Albany must address the state’s cell phone laws.  We must hold our public safety officials accountable.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

This is an unfortunate tragedy which took the lives of two pre-school students from their families.  The driver of the van had double-parked and entered a store in Chinatown, leaving the van running and in reverse gear, thinking it was in park.  The van subsequently hopped the curb killing two pre-school students and injuring 11 others.  Unfortunately, the family members will have limited recourse in the court system due to New York’s antiquated Wrongful Death law.  It is time for Albany to act.  The law must be changed.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t settle for less!

I have seen a growing number of accidents involving crane collapses throughout the city.  In this particular case, William Rapetti, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and second-degree assault.  This case exposes the missteps by city agencies as well as the Buildings Department’s lack of attention to public safety.  A series of these fatal collapses has led to the resignation of the city’s building commissioner and the arrests of its chief crane inspector.  Unfortunately, these accidents are a result of the workload brought on by the city’s last real estate boom.  My hope is that the scrutiny following this case sets stricter adherence to public safety and develops strong guidelines for crane operators, in turn, preventing accidents like this from occurring.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman - Don’t settle for less!

I have seen countless accidents where safety regulations are violated taking the life of an innocent worker.  What is most troubling to me is that these accidents could be prevented.  In this particular incident, Mr. Montello was killed when a conveyor belt collapsed on him at the Brooklyn Sewage Treatment Plant where he works.  This case is still under investigation and we will follow it in order to determine what happened.  My hope is that the sewage plant didn’t ignore safety violations which in turn took this 45 year old father’s life.

Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman: Don’t Settle For Less