Media

Ferro Bronrott PATT CRASH Members May 2010

From left to right: Steve Izer (P.A.T.T), Jeff Burns (Counsel for Truck Safety Coalition), Daphne Izer (P.A.T.T.), Anne Ferro (Administrator FMCSA), Jane Mathis (FMCSA Advisory Board), Jennifer Tierney (C.R.A.S.H.), John Lannen (Truck Safety Coalition, Executive Director), Bill Bronrott (Deputy Administrator FMCSA).

Dollar, Burns & Becker attorney Jeff Burns recently attended the installation of a montage dedicated to truck crash victims at the FMCSA offices in the U.S. Department of Transportation Building located in Washington, D.C. The montage of photos was presented by the Truck Safety Coalition to the FMCSA in recognition of the importance of truck safety and victims' rights. Mr. Burns said of the event, "It is our hope that this montage will serve as a constant reminder that, every day, more victims are dying in truck crashes. Hopefully, this symbolizes a renewed focus on the urgent need to take affirmative steps to save lives and on the constant need for vigilance in the promotion of truck safety by the FMCSA." Mr. Burns serves as the National Transportation Counsel for the Truck Safety Coalition, and has fought for the rights of truck crash victims throughout his career.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety - 01

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety - 02

Dollar, Burns & Becker attorney Jeff Burns presents an award to U.S. Senator Kit Bond at a recent event celebrating 20 years of safety advocacy by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Senator Bond was honored for his consistent support of limitations on truck size and weight, and his support of the concept that "Too Big is Just Too Dangerous." Several other key lawmakers were also honored at the event. Jeff Burns has championed the rights of victims and their families, and fought for more stringent safety standards in the trucking industry for nearly 20 years. Mr. Burns is a partner at Dollar, Burns & Becker, LC, where he continues to focus on providing legal representation to victims and families of individuals injured or killed in truck crashes.

SATC 2010 Osterberg Award
Sleep Apnea & Trucking Conference

Victim's family settles for $1 million

Trucking company must shut down as part of recovery

The family of a man who was killed after a traffic accident that involved a semitrailer settled their jackson Country case. The recovery included an agreement that the trucking company shut down its operation.

Fatal semitrailer collision case nets $3M recovery

Parties disputed venue, jurisdiction, whether Kan. damage cap applied

The family of a man killed in a head-on collision with a semitrailer has reached a $3 million recovery with the trucking company and its driver.

Man settles for $7 million in wrongful death case

His wife, son died in wreck on South Carolina interstate

Two Kanas City Lawyers came to a $7 million recovery in a man's case alleging the wrongful death of his wife and son, who died in an automobile accident in South Carolina.

Tanker driver's family settles wrongful death lawsuit for $2.6 million

Wheelbarrow fell from truck, leading to crash

When a wheelbarrow fell off the back of a Symmetry Landscaping truck onto interstate 270, it wasn't the first time one of the company's trucks had dropped part of a load.

Trucker Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter Following Civil Investigation and Lawsuit By Dollar, Burns & Becker, LC.

Driver Clark Montogmery was sentenced to 50 months in prison for killing Rita Huscher in a hit and run collision. The attorneys at DB&B investigated the collision and aggressively pursued civil claims against the driver on behalf of Ms. Huscher's family before the guilty plea.

View the full article here.

As Trucking Rules Are Eased, A Debate on Safety Intensifies, Stephen Labaton, New York Times, December 3, 2006

This article recently published on the front page of The New York Times relies on a lawsuit handled by attorneys Tim Dollar and Jeff Burns to urge greater federal regulation of the trucking industry. Evidence indicated that driver fatigue and long hours behind the wheel caused an 18-wheeler to slam into a vehicle driven by Doris Edwards on Interstate 70 in Missouri, causing her death. The case became part of a national debate over the dangers of federal deregulation of the trucking industry and the safety of our nation's roadways.

TIM ABC News Program 20/20 Interviews Tim Dollar

Tim Dollar was interviewed by Catherine Crier for ABC News' 20/20 for a special program aimed at exposing the abuse and neglect that threatens our elderly population in nursing homes all over the country. Tim Dollar discussed his role at length in a case in which he represented the family of an 82 year old woman who was brutally raped in a nursing home by a nursing home employee. During the course of his investigation of the case he discovered the employee had a criminal record and had previously worked at another nursing home owned and operated by the same company. In both instances the company failed to perform a criminal background check on the employee.

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers 2007

Lawyers with Dollar, Burns & Becker selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers 2007 based on the law firm's national reputation as a leading authority on truck accident cases. The firm has successfully represented trucking accident victims in jurisdictions throughout the country.

Tim Dollar Tapped by Prosecutor to Handle "Precious Doe" Case.

Attorney Tim Dollar has agreed to handle two high profile murder cases for the Jackson County Prosecutors Office. The cases involve the death of a three year old girl known across the country as Precious Doe. For the past twenty years, Tim Dollar has devoted a portion of his time in the courtroom to the prosecution of dangerous criminal offenders in Jackson County, Missouri.

Crash Sparks Crusade to get Truckers to Rest, Rick Montgomery, The Kansas City Star, November 12, 1993

Attorney Jeff Burns talks about the case that started his personal crusade to reform the trucking industry and take tired truckers off of our nation's roadways. In 1993, Mr. Burns represented the family of a mother and her two children who were killed when a tractor-trailer smashed into the rear of their parked car on Interstate 70. The case resulted in a 4 million dollar recovery and required the trucking company involved to create a training program to warn drivers about fatigue.

Highway Tragedies Prompt campaign to Alter Trucking Law, Rick Montgomery, The Kansas City Star, March 13, 1995

Attorney Jeff Burns continues to speak out nationally as part of the movement to get tired truckers off the road. Burns dedicated 2000 hours of his time researching and speaking out on trucker fatigue. A safety summit called by the U.S. Transportation Secretary was attended by federal regulators, trucking representatives, safety experts, and activists.

Attacking the Tired Trucker Problem, Kenneth C. Jones, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, December 24, 2001

Attorney Jeff Burns discusses his dedication to the handling tired trucker cases, as well as his involvement sitting on the boards of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (C.R.A.S.H.) and Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.).

18-Year Old Killed in Truck Accident, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, October 27, 2003

Man Killed By Tractor Trailer Truck, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, July 23, 2001

Trucker Severely Burned in Head-on Crash, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, December 6, 1999

Siblings Killed in Construction Zone Accident, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly. September 13, 2004

Rear-Ended Motorist Recovers $3.375 Million, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, August 8, 2005

Tracking the Tractor Trailers, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, August 8, 2005

Fatal Semitrailer Collision Case with "Clear Liability" Settles, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, April 2, 2007

Capacity Crunch - Too Much Freight, Too Few Trucks, Patricia Smith, Roadstar, February, 2005

Surviving the Good Times: Too Much Freight, Too Few Trucks, Patricia Smith, Newport's Heavy Duty Trucking, December 30, 2004

Appeals Court Again Rejects Bush Rules to Increase Work Hours For Tired Truckers, Press release from Public Citizen; Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Court rejects HOS restart, additional hour of driving, Commercial Carrier Journal; Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Court sets aside trucker driving regulation, Reuters News Service; Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Court Stops Longer Drives for Truckers, Byline: Jesse J. Holland, AP Labor Writer, Associated Press (Washington, DC); Tuesday, July 24, 2007, 5:44 p.m.

Court Strikes Down Longer Hours for Truckers, New York Times; Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Court Strikes Down Truckers' Hours Rule, Byline: Christopher S. Rugaber, Associated Press (Washington, DC); Tuesday, July 24, 2007, 4:58 PM ET

Inadequate Medicaid Payments Squeeze Homes' Level of Care; Some Tie Low Staffing to Drive for Profits; Reimbursements Fall Short, Industry Counters, Andrew Schneider, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 14, 2002

Lautenberg: Bush Administration Failing to Protect Motorists From Fatigued Truck Drivers, Lautenberg Press Office, July 24, 2007

Small Overworked Staffs Are Trigger For Patient Neglect, Phillip O'Connor, St. Louis Post –Dispatch, October 14, 2002

Elderly Care Industry Hurt by Staffing Shortages, Joe Lambe, The Kansas City Star

Woman Died After Fall at Nursing Home, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, September 10, 2001

Woman Settles Wrongful Death Suit Against Nursing Home, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, July 4, 2005

78-Year-Old Died From Infection in Nursing Home, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, July 30, 2001

Arbitrator Ordered Nursing Home to Pay Wrongful Death Claim, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, March 27, 2006

Nursing Home Negligence Case Brings $785K Verdict, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, March 1, 1999

Radiator Burned Elderly Man's Feet, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, April 4, 2005

Cerebral Palsy Patient Scalded in Bathtub, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, August 9, 1999

Man With Leukemia Died of Hemorrhage, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, July 28, 2003

Bad Faith Case Settles for $7 Million, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, February 12, 2007

Snack Food Company Sues Distributor, Missouri Lawyer's Weekly, September 27, 2004

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$40.8 Million Dollar Recovery
47 year old Susan Slattery, wife of Ed Slattery, and mother of two minor children, Matthew, age 12, and Peter, age 15, died after an Estes Express Lines tractor pulling triple trailers collided with the Slattery vehicle in a construction zone on the Ohio Turnpike.
$24,242,813.65 Settlement
In 2009, our client was operating his vehicle in a construction zone in Missouri when he was struck by a tractor-trailer. The claims were against the trucking company, its driver, and the road construction company that set up the construction zone.
$10,000,000 Judgment
On August 21, 2005, at approximately 4:55 p.m. on westbound Interstate 80/90, Stainislaw Gil drove a 70,000 pound semi-tractor trailer owned by NET Trucking, Inc. into a construction zone on the Indiana Toll Road in Elkhart County, Indiana.
$9.5 Million Recovery
Kim Amano brought an action against ABC Trucking Company and its driver after losing her only children in a violent rear-end collision. Laura Amano and her brother, Jeff, were stopped in a construction zone.
$7.1 Million Recovery
18 year old Noah Leake, was killed when a truck driver for Gainey Transportation Services, Inc. drove too fast while traveling around a curve on an interstate highway.
$7 Million Recovery
42 year old Peter Cuezze was standing on the shoulder of the highway putting gasoline in his van when he was struck by a tractor-trailer owned by A-1 Transport Company.
$7 Million Recovery
Daniel Becker, 19, and his mother, Pamela Becker, 42, were traveling southbound on Interstate 85, near the South Carolina/Georgia state line. A tractor pulling double trailers operated by Oliver Mitchell was traveling north on Interstate 85 when he lost control of the vehicle.
Recovery $7 Million
William Henderson, who owned a window washing company, sued his liability insurance carrier claiming that he was exposed to an excess judgment when the insurance company failed to settle an underlying wrongful death case.
$6.5 Million Recovery
Michael and Deborah Munroe were traveling westbound on a U.S. Highway in Lee's Summit, Missouri when an eastbound tractor-trailer driven by a student driver taking his commercial driver's license examination crossed the median and collided with the Munroe vehicle.
Recovery $6 Million
A 6 year old little boy saw James Cassidy, D.D.S. for a dental examination. Dr. Cassidy recommended a tooth extraction and other dental work be performed under general anesthesia.
5,000,000 Verdict
The attorneys at Dollar, Burns and Becker represented four minor children in a lawsuit against their day care provider. The plaintiffs alleged that they had attended the defendant's day care but the defendant had failed to supervise them.
$5 Million Recovery
58 year old Danny Hall was traveling westbound on U.S. 36 in Macon County, Missouri, carrying a load of puppies for the canine breeding and brokerage business he and his wife owned and operated.
$4 Million Recovery
Tony Jackson was driving a tractor trailer northbound on a two lane highway in rural Kansas. The driver for H & L Transport Services, heading southbound, rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped to make a left hand turn.
$3.375 Million Recovery
Michael Hawkins sued Haas Carriage, Inc. and its driver after he was severely injured in a crash with a tractor trailer. Mr. Hawkins was stopped in traffic on an interstate highway near Asheville, North Carolina.
$3 Million Recovery
28 year old Justin Coffman, husband and father of two minor children died after a tractor-trailer crossed the median of highway K-10 in Johnson County, Kansas and struck his Toyota Camry.
$2.6 Million Recovery
Lemonte Christian, 39, was killed when the fuel tanker truck he was driving flipped after being struck by a Collins & Hermann truck in the backup of traffic caused when a wheelbarrow fell off the back of a Symmetry Landscaping truck onto Interstate 270.
$2.4 Million Recovery
Joseph and Missy Ubbes were traveling on an interstate highway in central Texas. Police were redirecting traffic around an accident that occurred ahead on the roadway.
$2.4 Million Recovery
62 year old Doriss Edwards lost her life when her Jeep Cherokee was rear-ended by a driver-trainee employed by Werner Enterprises, Inc. The accident occurred at night.
$1,725,000.00
On November 9, 2010, Miguel and Teresa Viveros had set off from their home in Dixon, Illinois and were on their bicycles heading on the 12 mile route to their church in Sterling, Illinois.&
Recovery $1.4 Million
Mr. Swenson suffered from cerebral palsy, spastic quadriplegia and a seizure disorder, requiring 24 hour care. He was placed in a bathtub of scalding water and left unattended.
$1.1 Million Recovery
Bobbi Hartgrave, 45, was driving westbound on U.S. Highway in rural Missouri. A truck driver, heading eastbound, crashed head-on into Mrs. Hartgrave's vehicle. The collision caused a fire and Mrs. Hartgrave's death.
$1 Million Recovery
Luke Hausmann a 23 year old missionary, died after the back wheels of a trailer broke free and crossed the median before striking the car which Luke was driving. Luke's three younger siblings, Anna, Ethan and Julia, were passengers who also suffered injuries.
Verdict $1 Million
Quinlock Shobe sued her automobile liability insurance carrier, Allstate Insurance for bad faith insurance practices. Shobe was involved in an automobile accident resulting in injuries to three persons.
Defendant Agrees to Implement State of the Art Safety System
On April 17, 2010, Melissa Payne and her daughters, Rachel and Alyson, were travelling east on Highway 18 near the Big Lake Bridge in Arkansas.
Confidential v. Confidential
Eastern District of Missouri
Defendant Agrees to Implement State of the Art Safety System.In early 2011, four family members passed away after being struck from behind by a tractor-trailer.
$1,550,095.00 Recovery
A young mother was driving southbound U.S. Highway 71 with her 8 year-old daughter as a passenger in the back seat. Because of congestion, traffic was slowing and the mother had come to a complete stop on the highway.
Recovery $950,000
Mr. Jamison, a 38 year old college professor, went to an oncologist for confirmation of a leukemia diagnosis. Tests confirmed the diagnosis and suggested that Mr. Jamison suffered from a rare form of the disease called APL.
$700,000 Recovery
Delmar Stone, age 85, was a resident of Hyde Park Nursing Home. While a certified nurses' assistant was turning him, his feet came into contact with an exposed radiator at the foot of his bed, causing severe burns. The burns became stage III decubitus ulcers.
$700,000 Recovery
Conan Smith, age 74, who suffered from mild dementia, was temporarily placed in an Illinois nursing home while his wife recovered from a hip fracture. Within 5 months after he entered the home, Mr. Smith could not walk. He lost 30 pounds in 30 days and developed Stage IV decubitus ulcers.
Recovery $425,000
The family of 86 year old Ruth Rushly sued the nursing home for negligence following Mrs. Rushly's fall from a bath-lift chair. Mrs. Rushly fell five feet to the ground and suffered a spiral fracture to her hip. She died one month later.
$535,000 Recovery
Geraldine Boles, age 81, fell while she was a patient at a Kansas City, Missouri hospital. She suffered a subdural hematoma and was hospitalized until her discharge to Plaza Manor Nursing Home.
$325,000 Recovery
Elderly Rachel Robinson became a resident of Saxton Woods Care Center. The nursing home's staff assessed Mrs. Robinson as a high risk for dehydration and infection, and instituted a care plan to address these risks.

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Dollar, Burns & Becker, L.C | 1100 Main Street, Suite 2600 | Kansas City MO 64105 | 816-876-2600 | 877-816-2600 | Fax 816-221-8763 | Kansas City Law Office

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