Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Martin Fletcher is the NBC News Bureau Chief based in Tel Aviv, Israel. During his 30 year career, Mr. Fletcher has travelled to many countries as a news reporter, correspondent, and / or cameraman. It is clear through Fletcher’s reporting and details that he keenly understands the stories that he covers. His book, Breaking News (available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon) recounts not just a story . . . but history. From Israel to South Africa to Kosovo and many other parts of the world, Fletcher has used his sharp intellect, street smarts, common sense, and work ethic to get the job done. Through the years, Martin Fletcher has learned that it is important to report the plight and hardships of the people including children. Fletcher has interviewed thousands of people through the years. His book – Making History – does an excellent job of detailing his experiences in many dangerous places. It is truly amazing that Martin Fletcher survived the dangerous and deadly locales where he has gathered and filmed important events. Reading Fletcher’s book has helped me put my life problems as well as the problems of others in perspective. Martin Fletcher has been around the world and has met with and interviewed world leaders. Through it all, Fletcher has remained grounded in his philosophy and demeanor. To Martin Fletcher, the best days are spent with his wife and children. I recently spent the better part of an afternoon with Martin Fletcher on his book tour throughout the United States. I was able to speak to him about his book, his life experiences, and some of his philosophy and opinions. He certainly is an interesting and affable person. Recently, he completed a new book about Israel which will be published in 2010. Hopefully, Martin Fletcher will continue his work as an author and write several more books in the future.
In June of 2009, Mattel and its subsidiary Fisher-Price, were accused by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission of knowingly selling millions of children’s toys that were contaminated with lead paint, exposing children to lead poisoning. Mattel and Fisher-Price agreed to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty.
Keeping kids safe while still having fun is an important goal for parents on Halloween. A few simple precautions can keep kids safe:
Zachary Christie, a six-year-old first-grader, was suspended and was facing 45 days in an alternative school for troublemakers for taking his favorite camping utensil to school. The utensil was a combination knife/fork/spoon that the child had planned to use to eat his lunch. The child was expelled under the school’s guidelines for dealing with children who bring weapons to school or commit violent offenses.
In New Jersey and other States, reports of fatalities from H1N1, commonly referred to as the Swine Flu, continue. Just recently, a 17 year old boy from South Jersey died from complications related to H1N1. The death was reported at the
Phillip Gross was driving an ATV on Maier Road, South of Mount Vernon, Indiana with two children, aged 9 and 12, as passengers. Gross reportedly hit a dog, causing the ATV to rollover, trapping Gross and the 9-year old under the vehicle. According to deputies of the Posey County, Indiana Sheriff’s Office, the boy died shortly after being transported to Saint Mary’s Hospital by Life Flight. Gross and the twelve-year-old girl were treated and the girl has been released.
In Australia, an amazing video captured a near tragic incident involving a train and a baby in a baby stroller / carrier. Video footage from the station’s security camera captured this incident. It is truly incredible that the baby only suffered minor injuries. The baby, who was only 6 months old, somehow avoided serious personal injuries. Any parent watching this video should take notice and make sure that children are safe and away from the dangers of moving trains, buses, and cars when children are in public. This incident resulted when the mother took her hand off the stroller for just a moment or so. It shows how incidents can take place in just a few seconds. You can read more about this incident and see the video footage at
In December 2008, an electrical space heater caused a fire at the Heavenly Angels Daycare in Alamo, Tennessee. The fire injured three children: two two-year olds and a three-year old. The children were rescued from the fire by Alamo Assistant Chief Kevin Sugg, who was off duty at the time. All three were treated for smoke inhalation, and the three-year old also had burns on his face. The owner, Kathy T. Humphrey, was charged with child abuse and neglect of a child under the age of six.
Parents can sometimes have a hard time determining when it is appropriate to take a child to the emergency room. CBS News medical correspondent and pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Ashton recently outlined some pointers for parents to recognize when an illness or injury is an emergency.