Employee Injured When Thrown from Horse

An employee at a Medieval Times restaurant in Schaumburg, Ill. has filed a lawsuit against the owners after he was flung from a horse during a dinner show. Frank Kaszycki claims in his lawsuit that during the show, the horse suddenly reared up and threw him onto his back and then fell on top of him, causing him injury. The lawsuit is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.  Serena Maria Daniels, Chicago Tribune.

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Houston, Texas Judge Reduces Jury Verdict Against BP by $99 Million in Toxic Fumes Lawsuit

A federal judge has set aside $100 million in punitive damages awarded to workers injured a 2007 chemical release at a British Petroleum refinery in Texas, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt said the plaintiffs failed to show “clear and convincing” evidence of gross negligence necessary to justify the punitive damage award.

Judge Hoyt reduced combined damages in the case to $340,660.  An attorney for the plaintiffs said the ruling essentially gave BP a “free pass.”  Brett Clanton, Houston Chronicle.  Needless to say, BP lawyers like Houston judges.

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Wal-Mart Unpaid Wages Lawsuit Settles for $86 Million

Retail giant Wal-Mart has agreed to pay a combined settlement of $86 million to resolve claims it failed to pay California workers for vacations, overtime and other wages, Reuters reports. The class actions lawsuit, which was settled Tuesday, affects more than 200,000 California Wal-Mart employees.  Jonathan Stempel and Brad Dorfman, Reuters.

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LAWSUIT FILED AFTER MAN DIES ON CONSTRUCTION SITE

An Illinois water processing plant and a Pennsylvania-based heavy equipment manufacturer were negligent in the death of a man killed during a construction project, a lawsuit filed by family members claims. According to the lawsuit Jose Meza was crushed to death after a safety harness became entangled in the skid steer loader he was operating at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant. The lawsuit seeks at least $50,000 in damages.

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Lawsuit Claims Employees Exposed to Radiation

Employees of Exxon Mobile have filed a lawsuit against their employe.  The lawsuit alleges the employers were exposed radioactive material in used oil drilling pipes.  The plaintiffs allege Exxon knew of the risk of radiation since the 1930s, but recklessly put profits ahead of safety.  The plaintiffs are asking for $17 million in damages.

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Administrative Assistant Files Lawsuit for Unpaid Overtime Pay

An administrative assistant has filed a lawsuit against her employer for unpaid overtime pay.  The administrative assistant claims her employer, Blackstone Group LP, required her to work 45-50 hours per week and owes her almost 2 years worth of overtime pay.

Her employer claims she was an “exempt” employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) because she was in a management position.  The plaintiff claims she was misclassified her as management and is due overtime pay.

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If you have worked more than 40 hours in one week for you employer and you have not received overtime pay (time and a half), you may be entitled to money damages.