Latest news with #negligence
The Independent
5 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Lawyer joins calls for sealed Chinook crash documents to be released
A lawyer representing one of the pilots wrongly accused of negligence in the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash has joined calls for the 'full truth' about the incident to be made public. RAF Chinook ZD576 crashed in foggy weather on the Mull of Kintyre on June 2 1994 while carrying 25 British intelligence personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness. The crash killed all 25 passengers along with all four members of the helicopter's crew in what remains one of the RAF's worst peacetime losses of life. Following the crash, the helicopter's dead pilots, flight lieutenants Richard Cook and Jonathan Tapper, were accused of gross negligence, but this was overturned in 2011, with the Government saying there was 'no justification' for it. A number of investigations into the incident have been carried out, including a review by Lord Philips, but last year a BBC documentary revealed a number of documents linked to the crash have been sealed for 100 years. The legal representative for Flight Lieutenant Cook has now joined bereaved families in calling for those documents to be made public and for the truth about what happened to RAF Chinook ZD576 to be revealed. Professor Peter Watson, solicitor advocate of PBW Law, said: 'The continued secrecy around these documents is indefensible after 30 years. The families deserve transparency and accountability. 'The men and women who died were dedicated public servants, military and civilian alike, lost in one of the most tragic peacetime events in RAF history. 'The fact their loved ones are still fighting for the truth three decades later is a national disgrace. 'The decision to seal vital documents for a century – until 2094 – is extraordinary and unjustified. What possible reason can there be for shielding the facts from public scrutiny for so long, particularly after the pilots were exonerated? 'The persistence of secrecy only fuels mistrust and prolongs the suffering of grieving families. It is time for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the UK Government to act with integrity and release these documents. 'The public, and most importantly the families, have a right to know the full truth.' Lord Philip's review set out numerous concerns raised by those who worked on the Chinooks, with staff at the MoD's testing centre at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire declaring the helicopters 'unfit to fly' prior to the crash. Prof Watson's call comes after the Chinook Justice Campaign, which includes the families of those who died, issued an open letter renewing calls for a public inquiry and for the sealed documents to be released in full. The group made a formal request for a public inquiry in October, but this was turned down by minister for veterans and people Alistair Carns in December. The group added that the minister has not responded to further requests for a meeting. The open letter also describes the 'huge concern and upset' experienced by the bereaved families as a result of the sealed documents. 'The papers will not be released until 2094, long after the spouses and children of those killed have themselves passed away,' it states. 'It is unbearable to us as bereaved families to know that this sealed information could give us the answers we need.' The MoD said the closed records contain personal information relating to third parties, and that releasing them early would breach those individuals' data protection rights. The ministry added that it was 'highly unlikely' a further review would identify any new evidence, or reach new conclusions on the basis of existing evidence. A MoD spokesperson said: 'The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.'
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Man sues Disney over water slide's ‘exhilarating speeds,' alleges permanent injuries
The Brief Eugene Strickland is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for negligence after he was injured on the Downhill Double Dipper water slide at Blizzard Beach. Strickland, who was over the ride's weight limit, claims he became airborne during the ride, causing his inner tube to dislodge and resulting in permanent injuries. The lawsuit alleges Disney allowed unsafe use of the slide and failed to properly inspect and maintain the area. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - A man is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. for negligence after he claims he was injured on one of the company's water slides. Eugene Strickland filed the lawsuit for damages of $50,000 and is demanding a jury trial, according to court documents filed on May 29 in Orange County, Florida. What we know On July 31, 2021, Strickland visited Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park and rode the Downhill Double Dipper water slide. According to Disney's website, the Downhill Double Dipper is described as a "high-speed" thrill ride that allows guests to race side-by-side. During the ride, guests "disappear into a black hole and plummet 50 feet downhill at exhilarating speeds," the website states. In the lawsuit, Strickland claims he weighed 334 pounds at the time – 34 pounds over the ride's posted weight limit—and rode the slide using one of the park's inner tubes. He alleges that, during the ride, he became airborne due to the slide's "exhilarating speeds" and design. As a result, he claims the inner tube unexpectedly dislodged from beneath him, causing him to land forcefully on the slide's hard surface. RELATED HEADLINES: New York woman sues Disney for $2 million, claims 'mammoth wave' injured her in Typhoon Lagoon 'kiddie area' Lawsuit filed against Disney regarding ex-employee who allegedly filmed up girl's dress Strickland said he suffered permanent injuries, although the specific injuries were not detailed in the lawsuit. The suit alleges Disney was negligent for several reasons, claiming the park allowed unrestricted use of an unsafe high-speed water slide and failed to have adequate staff assigned to inspect and maintain the premises for dangerous conditions. Click to open this PDF in a new window. The other side FOX 35 News has reached out to Disney regarding the lawsuit for comment. We're waiting to hear back. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared in Orange County Clerk of Court documents on May 28, 2025. Additional details regarding the Downhill Double Dipper ride were provided on Disney's website.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Supreme Court allows lawsuits against Tyson executives over COVID deaths
WATERLOO, Iowa (KNWA/KFTA) — The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that some top Tyson Foods executives can be held responsible for the deaths of workers who caught COVID-19 at the company's meatpacking plant in Waterloo, Iowa. On May 23, the state's supreme court reversed a lower court decision that had blocked the families of the deceased workers from suing these executives. The ruling lets the families of five workers move forward with their lawsuits, accusing Tyson leaders of negligence and fraud during the pandemic. While the court dismissed claims against Tyson Foods as a company and two health staff employees, it allowed lawsuits to continue against several executives, including: John Tyson, Chairman of the Board Noel White, former CEO and board member Dean Banks, former President and CEO Stephen Stouffer, President of Tyson Fresh Meats Tom Brower, Senior Vice President of Health and Safety Doug White, Corporate Safety Manager at Tyson Fresh Meats Some supervisors and plant managers may also face lawsuits. In their opinion, the Iowa Supreme Court wrote: 'Among other allegations… The petition also recites supervisors' statements to interpreters directing them to mislead workers about the dangers of the virus and its spread within the plant. We conclude that the estates have likewise alleged sufficient facts to show that the supervisor defendants had knowledge of the peril.' Whistleblower claims Tyson Foods employs child workers, US senator calls for investigation In 2020, the Waterloo plant, which employed about 3,000 people, had nearly 1,000 COVID cases, according to the court's opinion. Although hundreds of workers calling in sick, Tyson told other workers there was no outbreak. Over two dozen workers were hospitalized, and some died from COVID complications. 'The director of the Black Hawk County Health Department attributed ninety percent of the county's total COVID-19 cases to the Waterloo facility,' the court's opinion read. According to court documents, Tyson said it followed government rules that kept food plants open during the pandemic and believed it was protected from lawsuits. The court said the families presented enough evidence showing these executives knew about the COVID outbreak and the risks but did not take proper action to protect workers. For example, employees with symptoms were still asked to work, and safety measures like social distancing or masking were ignored. Former Tyson Foods CFO among additions to Board of Directors The five workers who died are Jose Ayala, Hus Hari Buljic, Sedika Buljic, Honario Garcia and Reberiano Leno Garcia. 'We are just grateful that we have a judicial system that recognizes that workers' lives are as important as anyone else's, in terms of the value they bring home every night to their families,' attorney for the workers' families Mel Orchard told Talk Business & Politics. 'Tyson has a lot to answer for, and this is just the beginning. Sadly, it has taken many years just to get back to the beginning. But justice has an awe-inspiring way of winning the long game.' These cases will now go back to a lower court for more action. Tyson Foods has yet not commented on the court's ruling. To read all court filings related to this case, go to Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Diego Maradona's daughters' lawyer reveals gruesome details of his 'abandonment' death 'amid the smell of urine and faeces'
Gruesome details about Diego Maradona 's 'abandonment' death have emerged with the football legend said to have passed away amid the smell of 'urine and faeces'. Maradona died at the age of 60 in November 2020 following a heart attack, just two weeks after he was released from hospital following surgery for a bleed on his brain. His family have accused the medical team who oversaw his care of negligence, a cover-up and derogatory comments - calling it a 'mafia'. Seven medical professionals are currently on trial for culpable homicide - roughly equivalent to involuntary manslaughter - but have denied the charges. They are facing prison sentences of between eight and 25 years. However, there was a shock twist when the case was declared a mistrial on Thursday, after one of the three judges overseeing proceedings stepped down following criticism surrounding her participation in an upcoming documentary. Her two fellow judges opted to restart the entire case from scratch. Morbid details on Maradona's condition before his passing were revealed during the trial. Indeed, it emerged he had suffered an agonising 12-hour death in a dark room, struggling to breathe after his heart swelled to double that of a regular size. Now, Fernando Burlando, the lawyer who represents Maradona's daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, has shed further light on the alleged negligence of his medical team. Speaking on Mirtha Legrand's show, he bluntly said: 'He died amidst the smell of urine and faeces.' Burlando then added that Maradona had been 'deeply sedated' by doctors, before claiming the medics purposefully isolated him from his loved ones. Burlando also shockingly alleged Maradona's phone number was changed constantly, and that his daughters' numbers were saved under different names so that he would not recognise them when they tried to call. He said: 'When Dalma or Gianinna arrived, Diego's face would transform, he would become a different person, his eyes would light up. 'But Diego didn't understand why they didn't call him. '"Why don't you call me?" he asked one of his daughters. They told him they did it all the time, but their calls didn't appear on his phone.' Burlando concluded: 'I doubt everything, and this deserves a serious investigation. Maradona was abandoned, isolated, and delivered to the worst possible end.' It was revealed earlier in the trial that four-and-a-half litres of fluid had accumulated in his organs due to an acute pulmonary edema brought on by heart failure. Forensic expert Carlos Mauricio Casinelli showed pictures of brain clots, a 'sign of agony', and claimed his heart weighed 503 grams - more than a football. Argentinian newspaper Clarin carried the horrifying details which became public, with Casinelli claiming that his torture would have been easy to spot for days. 'The heart was completely covered in fat and blood clots, which indicate agony,' he said. 'This is a patient who had been collecting water over the days; that's not acute. 'This was something that was foreseeable. Any doctor examining a patient would find this. The water he had in his abdomen, in both pleurae, and in his heart isn't normal. 'It doesn't form in a day or an hour. It's been forming over several days. It could have been from the time he was expelled (from hospital) until he died. 'This is likely to take at least 10 days, given the addition of cirrhosis and myocarditis.' Maradona had struggled with drug addiction, obesity and alcoholism for decades, and reportedly came close to death in 2000 and 2004. But prosecutors suspect that - were it not for the negligence of his doctors - his death could have been avoided. Maradona's cause of death was officially listed as 'acute pulmonary edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure'.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man sues Walt Disney World over Florida water slide's ‘exhilarating speeds'
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Walt Disney World is facing a lawsuit after a man was hurt on a high-speed water slide at its Blizzard Beach water park, according to a complaint filed Thursday. The lawsuit claimed that the man, Eugene Strickland, had visited the water park in July 2021 to try out the Downhill Double Dipper slide. According to the lawsuit, Strickland weighed about 334 pounds at the time, exceeding the slide's weight limit of 300 pounds. Buc-ee's sues Florida store over knockoff merchandise However, Strickland got on the ride and 'became momentarily airborne as a result of the ride's 'exhilarating speeds' and design,' the lawsuit claimed. Strickland said he forcefully landed onto the hard plastic surface of the slide, suffering 'permanent catastrophic injuries.' He accused Walt Disney World of negligence and failing to maintain safe premises. He argued that Disney had a responsibility to fix the water slide's 'dangerous conditions.' He is asking for more than $50,000 in damages, according to the lawsuit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
