Premises Liability

Published on: October 4, 2011

Walt Disney faces charges for Donald Duck allegedly groping a woman’s breast

by Stephen Bilkis

Donald Duck might be costing Walt Disney World more than $200,000 for alleged inappropriate behavior, reported a New York Injury Lawyer.

A 27-year-old woman recently visited Walt Disney World with her small child. While she was visiting Epcot Center, she claimed she approached Donald Duck for an autograph, just as she had been doing with all of the other characters. Just as she was getting her pen and autograph book back, she claims the person in the Donald Duck costume groped her breast.

Almost immediately after her visit, the woman filed a federal lawsuit against Walt Disney World that would seek more than $200,000 in damages. The woman claimed she had been experiencing post – traumatic distress and hadn’t been able to sleep after the incident.

Published on: August 20, 2011

In an effort to end sexual abuse cases and exit bankruptcy, Delaware Diocese ups their offer to victims

by Stephen Bilkis

Delaware is one of six states in which the Diocese has filed for bankruptcy as a result of dozens of sexual abuse cases being brought to light against priests, reports a N York Injury Lawyer. this disturbing trend keeps happening in states all across the country. It seems as if the dirty little secret that has been kept hidden by the church for dozens, if not hundreds of years, is finally coming to light. The fallout is worse than we would have imagined.   The Delaware Diocese has agreed to pay each of the more than 150 adults who are claiming to have been molested by priests an excess of $350,000 in order to end the cases and put that dirty shadow of a past behind them, explains the New York Injury Lawyer. Over the years, as more people have come forward with charges of sexual abuse perpetrated by priest onto young children, it has become more and more difficult to put our faith and trust in the church that seems to be doing the most harm that it can upon its congregation.   It is assumed that the majority of the adults who have filed cases against the Church will accept the settlement. Other states in which the Diocese has filed for bankruptcy as a result of sexual molestation charges against children by priests are Oregon, Texas, Iowa, Washington and Arizona.   When the people who we have been expected to trust harm our children in the worst ways and with utter deception, there really is no way to come out ahead, and this settlement does not feel like a victory for many of the adults who were molested as children. In Nassau and Queens this might be considered premises liability since the church in many cases owns the land or building. The New York Injury Lawyer suggests in his report that the more people who come forth and shed light on just how prevalent these lascivious acts have become, the faster such behavior will absolutely no longer be tolerated.  Victims who have suffered injury as a result of crime, negligence or abuse have resources that they can fall back on to help support them in their case.

Stephen Bilkis & Associates with its NY Injury Lawyers, has convenient offices throughout the New York Metropolitan area including Queens, NY. Our Personal Injury Attorneys can provide you with advice to guide you through situations where an injury came about because of another’s negligence. Without a New York Injury Attorney you may lose your rights which may cost you a significant amount of money.

Please be aware that In addition to Injury Law Stephen Bilkis and Associates will recommend Criminal Lawyers who can and will come to your aid.A New York Injury Attorney can navigate the judicial system with professionalism and expediency. Call and get a New York Injury Attorney on your side today.

Published on: August 11, 2011

Albany bar owner found not guilty in assault case, reports New York Injury Lawyer

by Stephen Bilkis

The owner of an Albany bar who was accused of initiating an assault on a Times Union reporter in October 2008 has been found not guilty of the crime, says a New York Injury Lawyer. The verdict comes more than two years after the reporter, a food critic, was beaten and assaulted by two brothers, one a professional fighter. The incident occurred after the reporter had apparently given harsh criticism of the establishment in his reviews.

According to the New York City Injury Lawyer, the owner of the bar was overheard making statements about wanting to have the food critic beaten up, and phone calls on the day of the attack between the bar owner and the two brothers were made. Even so, the jury did not have enough evidence to convict the owner of the bar for initiating the attack against the reporter. It was all circumstantial evidence, and apparently not admissible in court. Premises Liability could also be charged had this incident happened in Long Island or Manhattan.

Neither of the two brothers involved in the assault received jail time over the incident. One of the brothers had his jail time waived after agreeing to cooperate in the case against the bars owner, and the other brother had his case thrown out after mistakes were made in the trial. The victim of the assault was understandably unhappy with the not guilty verdict, but was quoted as saying that he had respect for the decision, and that, regardless of the outcome, he is happy to put the ordeal behind him and move on with his life.

Published on: July 5, 2011

Falling Rains and Walls Cause Injuries in April 2011

by Stephen Bilkis

Near the end of last month, a 38-year-old engineer died of a spinal injury when a part of the Freedom Park wall collapsed on his car he had been sitting in while talking on his cell phone. He leaves behind a wife and a 2-year-old daughter.

The mechanical engineer by training was one of the partners in a firm he and his childhood friend started seven years previously – SP Engineers and Contractors. His friend and business partner call the incident “an unbearable loss.” He’s lost a friend he had had for more than two decades.

The engineer was meeting his friends and had been looking for a parking spot; because of the rain, the task was more difficult than normal. He had been on his way to meet his business partner and two other friends as he did almost every day. When he didn’t show, his partner tried to call him, but didn’t get an answer. When they heard the wall had fallen, all three who were to meet him rushed to the scene and found him in his car crushed under the debris.