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Bayer may inherit Monsanto’s environmental liabilities

A pending acquisition at the top of German multinational and pharmaceutical company Bayer AG’s shopping list, the $66 million agreement to purchase St. Louis, Missouri-based multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto Co., may trap Bayer into a web of ongoing environmental lawsuits, attorneys told Bloomberg BNA.

The deal will connect Bayer to litigation concerning Monsanto’s earlier production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as well as its cleanup liabilities, even though terms of the sale are geared toward creating a firewall against the liabilities, attorneys said. They noted that this is because a purchaser in a genuine merger receives both the assets and the liabilities of the purchase.

German legislators are urging the European Commission to pull back the scope of the deal, which will also have to be approved by United States antitrust regulators.

Meanwhile, plaintiffs from San Francisco and San Diego, are continuing litigation against Monsanto over public waterway contamination due to the presence of PCBs, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says can cause liver damage and respiratory problems.

When a company releases a toxic pollutant into the environment, it is possible to hold that company accountable for the resulting toxicity injuries you and your family endure. If you had been hurt due to toxic circumstances in San Diego or other areas in California, enlist the legal services of our attorneys at Ritter & Associates by calling our offices today at (619) 296-0123.


Tori Spelling sues Benihana after incurring burn wounds at restaurant

Forty-two-year-old Hollywood actress Tori Spelling filed a lawsuit against the popular restaurant chain, Benihana Inc., in the first week of September in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that she suffered burn injuries from one of the restaurant’s hibachi grills on last Easter Sunday.

Spelling, who is most popular for her role as Donna Martin on the 1990 television show Beverly Hills, 90210, is asking for damages of over $25,000.

According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by the Daily News, plaintiff Victoria Davey Spelling “slipped and fell at Benihana Restaurant [in] Encino, California, and sustained deep second and third degree burn injuries requiring hospitalization and surgery”.

Our attorneys at Ritter & Associates in San Diego handle personal injury accidents that have occurred in San Diego or other areas in California – such as premises liability, product liability, automobile and other motor vehicle accidents, above ground pool accidents, among others. Call our offices today at (619) 296-0123 to see how we can help with your legal case.


Proposed bill to impose stricter requirements on contractors fails

Members of the Assembly business and professions committee voted down a bill that would have implemented stricter oversight rules on California contractors, according to SF Gate on July 15.

The bill was drafted by Senators Jerry Hill and Loni Hancock in response to the terrible balcony collapse that happened in Berkeley last month and killed six people. The senators have said they will not give up on SB465 or legislation like it. The bill would have required contractors to disclose any past litigation, convictions, or accusations of defects, negligence, or fraud to the Contractors State License Board.

Lobbyist Nick Cammarota, who represents the interests of the California Building Industry Association, argued against using previous settlements as a measurement for negligent or inadequate construction companies. According to Cammarota, settlements between construction companies and victims do not name individuals responsible for the faulty work that caused the accident.

Proponents of the bill counter Cammarota’s thoughts by arguing that State Boards responsible for crediting and endorsing construction companies should be aware of those companies’ complete histories.

Representatives from Senator Hill’s office have said a special hearing of the committee might be called if one more vote for the bill can be secured. If the current vote stands, the bill will be taken up again in January.

The San Diego attorneys of Ritter & Associates represent those who have been injured on another’s property due to inherently unsafe conditions, possibly including, in some cases, a balcony that has not been properly maintained. Call us at (619) 296-0123 today to discuss your case.


Six killed and seven injured in balcony collapse near UC Berkeley

Six individuals died while seven others were seriously injured after the fifth-floor balcony of a stucco apartment building collapsed during a 21st birthday party on June 16, according to WANE.

Five of the deceased party-goers were 21-year-old Ireland nationals who were visiting the United States on J-1 visas, which make it possible for young individuals to work and travel in the country over the summer. The sixth person was a California native, local authorities said.

Federal regulators will investigate whether the balcony was built following building standards, whether it was overloaded at the time of the crash, or if weather weakened the stability of the balcony, said Structural Engineers Association of California structural standards committee chairman Kevin Moore. According to Moore, weather may play a factor because balconies can experience deterioration due to rain. City inspectors have told residents not to use the balconies in the wake of the fatal balcony collapse until they are fully inspected for safety.


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