Randy Barnhart

Book - PTSD and Our National Responsibility

Yesterday, our country celebrated the Memorial Day Holiday.  And, three weeks ago the American people celebrated the U.S. military forces that apprehended and destroyed a symbol of terrorism linked to 911 – Osama Bin Ladin.  During our barbecues commemorating our fallen veterans and during our celebrations of our military victories, we should also be cognizant of the hidden costs to the deployment of U.S. troops to combat areas abroad.  In 2010, Mr. Dave Phillips was one of three finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for his series, Casualties of War which was published in the Colorado Gazette in 2009.  Phillips is a Colorado Springs native who completed a masters degree from Columbia University and joined the staff of the newspaper in 2003.  An impetus for Mr. Phillips’ work began with a sharp spike in the crime rate in Colorado Springs which appeared to be linked to soldiers at Fort Carson returning from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Phillips began to research the stories of 10 returning veterans who had been members of an army unit at Fort Carson, the “Band of Brothers,” that was made famous in World War II by their bravery on D-Day and by their implacable resistance to the Nazi offensive at the Battle of the Bulge.  

via www.toplitigationblog.com

An excellent post by a Denver law firm with some great lawyers...

The book, Lethal Warriors, can be found here and here. 

Memorial Day 2011 - The Firm Remembers

"John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II.  He was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the purple heart, Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. He served three years in the United States Army with duty in the Philippines before joining the Marine Corps in 1940.

After attending training, Basilone deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Solomon Islands and eventually to Guadalcanal where he held off 3,000 Japanese troops after his 15-member unit was reduced to two other men. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, after which he was posthumously honored with the Navy Cross. He has received many honors including being the namesake for streets, military locations and a United States Navy destroyer."

wikipedia

 

STIHL Recalls Yard Power Products Due to Burn and Fire Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Gas powered STIHL trimmers, brushcutters, KombiMotors, hedge trimmers, edgers, clearing saws, pole pruners, and backpack blowers that utilize a toolless fuel cap

Units: About 2.3 million

Manufacturer: STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.

Hazard: The level of ethanol and other fuel additives can distort the toolless fuel cap, allowing fuel to spill, posing a fire and burn hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: STIHL has received 81 reports of difficulty installing and/or removing the fuel caps and fuel spillage. No injuries have been reported.

via www.cpsc.gov

Important Frontline Episode - WikiSecrets

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Churches - Listen Up Here and Do the Right Thing

More than 10,000 churches continue to operate a vehicle that one major insurer of churches has declared "inherently unsafe."

GuideOne insures more than 50,000 churches nationwide. Of those, about 10,000 maintain policies on 15-passenger vans. Some of those churches own and insure more than one such van.
 
The insurer has strongly encouraged churches to stop using 15-passenger vans. "GuideOne believes 15-passenger vans to be inherently unsafe," the company said. "We encourage our policyholders to strongly consider other transportation options."
 
The company still covers 15-passenger vans it has already insured but has stopped writing new policies for the large vans.

via webmailimages.pastors.com

NHTSA Receives Ford Freestyle Acceleration Complaints

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received 238 complaints involving 2005 through 2007 Freestyles. Eighteen minor crashes were reported with one minor injury

via www.msnbc.msn.com

Defective Strollers Recalled - Risk of Amputation

From the CPSC website:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Maclaren Strollers
Units: About one million
Distributor: Maclaren USA, Inc., of South Norwalk, Conn.
Hazard: The stroller's hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller's hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.
Description: This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The word "Maclaren" is printed on the stroller.
Sold at: Babies "R" Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled strollers and contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the Maclaren firm's web site.

Clip-on Chairs - Defective!

Complete Website Overhaul - Coming Soon

The firm is rebooting its website, a complete redo with sharp design and a super-easy to use content management system, all from the great designer, developer, content team at legalbombers.com. Coming soon!

COLORADO TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION - 14th Annual Spring Dinner

Thursday, May 12, 2011
Denver Marriott City Center
1701 California Street

Cocktail reception begins at 5 p.m. Dinner, awards and keynote speaker start at 6 p.m.

T.R. Reid - KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Reid has become one of the nation’s best-known correspondents through his coverage of global affairs for The Washington Post, his books and documentary films, and his light-hearted commentaries on National Public Radio.  His most recent book, “The Healing of America,” became a national best-seller as it lays bare the moral question at the heart of our troubled system, dissecting the misleading rhetoric surrounding the health care debate.

More info here.

The firm is a Gold Sponsor of this year's Spring Dinner.

Missouri Jury Awards $48 Million in Crash of Defective Plane

A jury has awarded $48 million to relatives of five people killed when a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff from a rural Missouri airport in 2006..... [T]estimony indicated that Doncasters used a different alloy material than called for by the engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney Canada. Jurors heard testimony from crash investigators, metallurgists and aircraft design engineers. Evidence was presented suggesting that eight other airplane engine failures were believed to be due to the same faulty part made by Doncasters....

via www.insurancejournal.com

Half of the award was in the form of punitive damages.

Thanks - Navy SEALS

The firm gratefully acknowledges the courage and commitment of the NAVY SEALS. Their ethos is quoted below:

My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed upon me by the heroes that have gone before, it embodies the trust of those I have sworn to protect. By wearing the Trident I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a privilege that I must earn every day. My loyalty to Country and Team is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves. I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the welfare and security of others before my own. I serve with honor on and off the battlefield. The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men. Uncompromising integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond.

We expect to lead and be led. In the absence of orders I will take charge, lead my teammates and accomplish the mission. I lead by example in all situations. I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.

We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success of our mission depend on me - my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to detail. My training is never complete. We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat power to bear in order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required yet guided by the very principles that I serve to defend. Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail.