January 31, 2012

Tucson, Arizona

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Five Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman &
McAnally PLC attorneys named among The Best Lawyers in America 2011

Best Lawyers, the oldest and most highly-respected peer review guide to
the legal profession worldwide, has named five lawyers from the law firm of
Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally among The Best Lawyers in
America 2011.

These lawyers are:

Gerald Maltz: Best in Bet-the-Company
Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Labor & Employment Law.  41 years in practice. Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellow of the
International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Represents clients in business and complex litigation, and serves
extensively as a private arbitrator, mediator and expert witness.

T. Patrick Griffin: Best in Real Estate Law.
38 years in practice. Represents businesses and individuals in business and
real estate law, transactions and finance, and serves as an expert witness.

Thomas G. Cotter: Best in Medical
Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation.
28 years in practice. Represents clients in medical malpractice, insurance
bad faith and plaintiff’s personal injury litigation.

Stephen T. Portell: Best in Product Liability
Litigation.  14 years in practice.  Represents clients in plaintiff’s personal
injury litigation, automotive and heavy equipment product liability,
drug/medical device cases, and complex and business litigation.

D. Dale Haralson: Best in Personal Injury
Litigation. 48 years in practice. Fellow of the
International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  Certified
specialist in injury and wrongful death litigation by the Arizona Supreme
Court. Represents clients in medical malpractice, products liability, and
aviation and railroad litigation.

For more
information and legal expertise for any news stories, please contact  Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally
PLC at 520-792-3836, visit www.hmpfmlaw.com,

According to a company press release, the recall affects 71,043 Jettas built between March 2010 and March 2011. The automaker says the recall will fix the wiring of the vehicles' anti-theft systems and horns.

The company says the car defect stems from a fuse that protects the anti-theft alarm and the convertor box that operates the windshield wipers and headlights. A Volkswagen representative said it is possible that short circuit in the horn could cause the lights and wipers to stop working, increasing the risk of a car accident.

As part of the recall, dealer service technicians will reconfigure the vehicles' wiring so that the horn and converter box do not share the same fuse. Owners of the defective cars will be notified via first class mail with information about corrective measures and the anticipated repair timeline.

At the time of Volkswagen's announcement, there had not been any reports of injuries or car accidents caused by the car defect.

Contact our Tucson and Flagstaff offices today at 800-723-1676 or our Phoenix office at 877-366-5557 to discuss your business needs with one of our business law and litigation attorneys.

According to the lawsuit, filed on March 4 in HarrisCounty District Court, Gregorio Valdez claims water carelessly left on thefloor of a Humble, Texas Walmart caused him injury. Valdez claims that onNovember 26, 2010, he was seriously injured when he and his daughter enteredthe Walmart store and he slipped and fell in a puddle of water that a salesassociate knew was there, but had not had a chance to clean up.

According to Valdez’s attorney Norman Straub, his clientis asking the court for actual and special damages, as well as court costs. Arepresentative for Walmart said the company does not comment on pendinglitigation.

Contact our Tucson and Flagstaff offices today at 800-723-1676 or our Phoenix office at 877-366-5557 to discuss your business needs with one of our business law and litigation attorneys.

According to Avra Valley Fire District Assistant Chief Ray Klein, the driver of a large water truck became trapped after the vehicle rolled at the ASARCO Silver Bell mine northwest of Tucson.  Northwest Fire District Captain Adam Goldberg says a technical rescue team was sent to the scene to assist Avra Valley fire crews.

Goldberg says hydraulic fluid and diesel fuel were leaking following the crash. Klein says crews were able to free the driver after about 90 minutes.

According to Avra Valley Police, the injured driver was transported by helicopter to University Medical Center in Tucson for treatment. Authorities say he is listed in critical condition.

Contact our Tucson and Flagstaff offices today at 800-723-1676 or our Phoenix office at 877-366-5557 to discuss your business needs with one of our business law and litigation attorneys.

According to officials with Tucson Police Department, 40 year-old Ernest Torres died after his car crashed into a light pole in the median at the intersection of South Alvernon Way and South Palo Verde Avenue. Torres was transported to University Medical Center after the crash, where he was pronounced dead.

In a news release issued Monday afternoon, police said "detectives have determined that Mr. Torres was traveling northbound on Palo Verde Ave where Alvernon Way/Palo Verde Ave merge for northbound traffic, when he struck a light pole at the median. Speed and alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision. The investigation is ongoing."

Police say Torres was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. He was the sole occupant of his vehicle.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and friends during this difficult time.

According to the National Highway Safety Commission, the Yellow Sac spider is attracted to the smell of gasoline and  makes a nest in the vent line of the Mazda vehicles. The build-up of spiderwebs in the emission system could restrict air flow, increasing the pressure in the fuel tank. This increased pressure can cause cracks in the tank, and fuel leaks, increasing the risk of fire. 

The recall affects Mazda6 sedans. The company says it has received 20 reports of spiders making their home in the vehicles' vent lines. 

Consumers should contact Mazda dealers, who will inspect the vehicles emission system and install a spring to prevent spiders from entering the vent line.

If you have been injured by a car defect, please contact the Tucson Personal Injury Lawyer of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally by calling 800-639-8460.

According to officials with the Drexel Heights Fire District, the accident occurred shortly after 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Cardinal Street and Trucker Road on the Southwest side of Tucson. Deputy Jason Ogan with the Pima County Sheriff's Department said a van transporting chemicals rear-ended a school bus in the intersection.

According to the accident report, 55 year-old Alvin Holsopple, of Tucson, was killed in the accident. Holsopple was driving the van. Two other people sustained minor injuries in the crash. The two were transported by ambulance to an area hospital as a precaution, Ogan said. 

Emergency personnel trained in hazardous materials responded to the scene and worked to cleanup spilled chemicals from the van. 

Deputies with the Pima County Sheriff's Department continue to investigate the cause of the crash. 

If someone you love has been injured in a similar auto accident, please contact the Tucson Bus Accident Lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally by calling 800-639-8460.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, consumers should take extra care when using one of 500,000 Burlington Basket Company Bassinets. The agency said in a statement that if not properly locked into position, the bassinets can collapse, causing infants to fall to the floor or fall within the bassinet and suffer injuries.

The company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission urged parents to stop using the bassinets until they are sure the cross-bracing rails are locked properly. The Iowa-based Burlington Basket Company announced plans to add new warning labels to the bassinets. The company is also offering a video showing proper assembly.

There have been 10 reported incidents of bassinets collapsing, two of which resulted in injuries to infants.

The bassinets were sold at Wal-Mart and other mass merchandisers between January 2003 through August 2010.

If your child has been injured by a dangerous product, please contact the Tucson product liability attorneys of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally by calling 800-639-8460

According to court documents, Vjolla Lecaj claims that on August 5, 2010 she was injured after she bit into a McChicken sandwich that unknowingly contained a large shard of glass. The lawsuit contends that the restaurant failed to properly inspect and maintain processing and cooking equipment.

 Lecaj has filed a 12-count lawsuit against the Oak Lawn, Illinois restaurant where she purchased the sandwich, McDonald's Corporation, McDonald's USA, LLC., and JDD Investment Company. She is seeking more than $600,000 in damages. The lawsuit claims Lecaj sustained severe and permanent oral injuries as well as great pain and anguish as a result of the glass. 

McDonald's Corporation has not released a statement regarding the lawsuit.

If you have been injured by a dangerous product, please contact the Tucson product liability lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally by calling 800-639-8460.

According to officials with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the three-vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of South Alvernon Way and East Los Reales Road shortly after 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Authorities say a whie car was traveling in the southbound lanes of Alvernon when the driver failed to stop at a red light. The car drove into the path of eastbound traffic and was struck by a red pickup truck on Los Reales.

According to Sheriff's officials, two people from the car were transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. The person in the truck was transported to a local medical center in undetermined condition. The nature of the victims' injuries was not known.

The accident remains under investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Contact the Tucson car accident lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally at 800-639-8460 to discuss your legal options if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident.