The Illinois Personal Injury Weblog of Schaeffer & Lamere P.C.

Make Yourself Heard

The Alton Telegraph now accepts comments for its popular "Sound Off" feature through the Internet. Access the page here.

--Posted by Illinois pi attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Alton Illinois personal injury law firm Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

The High Cost of Heat

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Heating bills could deliver chills to customers," by Joe Scott---

Throughout the area, seniors and others on fixed incomes are worried about heating bills, especially if the 2005-2006 winter season proves colder than last year.

This winter could bring a double whammy for working poor families, the disabled and seniors on fixed incomes, said Gentry Trotter, founder of Heat-Up St. Louis and president of its board of directors.

First, they will experience higher heating bills.

According to the Missouri Public Service Commission, the cost of natural gas is expected to rise by about 36 percent due to wholesale price increases. The price increase went into effect Nov. 14.

--Posted by Illinois worker's compensation attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Illinois workers' comp firm Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Is Your Turkey Safe?

From KTRE-TV: "Consumers Should Worry About Their Thanksgiving Bird," by Ramonica R. Jones--

Poultry growers are in contact with their flock everyday and know almost immediately when there's an outbreak of any kind of disease.

David Alders, poultry grower for Pilgrim's Pride, said, "Tissue from every poultry house in this area is always tested before those birds go to the processing plants, so there are blood samples removed from randomly selected poultry in every house in this producing area in East Texas, and probably all over America."

--Posted by Illinois worker's compensation attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Illinois workers' comp firm Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Decaffeinated Coffee--Health Risk?

From Heartzine: "Decaffeinated Coffee Harms Heart"--

Not only regular coffee, but also decaffeinated coffee appears to have harmful effects on the heart. Researchers have found that decaffeinated coffee increases the levels of a certain type of cholesterol in the blood, as the beans caffeine-free coffee is made of have a higher fat content.

A three-month study conducted by scientists at the Piedmont-Mercer Center for Health and Learning in Atlanta, Georgia looked at the effects of decaffeinated coffee on the heart health of 187 people. The participants were assigned into 3 different, similar-sized groups: the first group drank three to six cups of caffeinated coffee per day, the second, the same number of cups of decaffeinated coffee, while the third group had no coffee at all. Statistics show that US coffee drinkers have an average of 3.1 cups of coffee per day.

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Nursing Home Fraud

From the Associated Press via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Nursing home fraud alleged in indictments," by Cheryl Wittenauer--

A federal grand jury returned indictments Thursday on charges that several nursing home operators conspired to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by collecting payments for services they did not provide to their residents.

U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said the nursing homes, management and owners provided a "level of care so deficient as to be non-care."

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Tobacco Tax and Medicaid

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Tobacco tax hikes might not boost funds for Medicaid," by Jo Mannies--

If Missouri voters approve an increase in the state's tobacco taxes, there's no guarantee the result will mean more money for the state's Medicaid programs.

That's the message from Republican legislative leaders, who say the Legislature could divert some of the existing money budgeted for Medicaid should voters OK either of two tobacco-tax plans pushed for a vote next year.

--Posted by Illinois Bextra attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of the Illinois personal injury firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Gift Cards: Read the Fine Print

From TheHometownChannel.com: "Attorney General Beebe Issues Consumer Warning"--

People are already shopping for the perfect Christmas gifts, but according to a recent credit card survey, about 57 percent of consumers are planning to buy gift cards.

Attorney General Mike Beebe said some retailers aren't explaining the cards policy, a policy that could actually end up costing the person who received it.

Gifts cards are the fifth most popular gift item this year. Managers at one Fort Smith store use them to make shopping simple.

But experts say that some gift cards have drawbacks. The biggest thing that you want to look for is hidden fees and expiration dates, they say.

--Posted by Illinois workers' compensation attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of the Illinois work comp firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Personal Data Stolen with Computer

From the Washington Post: "Data on 3,000 Consumers Stolen with Computer," by Jonathan Krim--

Social Security numbers and other information about more than 3,000 consumers were stolen recently from TransUnion LLC, one of three U.S. companies that maintain credit histories on individuals, in the latest of many security breaches that have focused congressional attention on identity theft and fraud.

The data were housed in a desktop computer that was stolen last month from a regional sales office in California, TransUnion said. On Oct. 21, the company sent 3,623 notices to consumers alerting them to the breach and offering free monitoring of their credit reports for a year.

--Posted by Illinois workers' compensation attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of the Illinois work comp firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Busch Stadium Being Demolished

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the demolition schedule. Fans can watch beginning at 3 p.m.

--Posted by Illinois Bextra attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of the Illinois mass tort firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Boating Accident in Greene County

From the Alton Telegraph: "Alton man dies in boating accident," by Maggie Borman--

The body of an 80-year-old Alton man was recovered in the White Hall Reservoir Thursday following what appears to be a boating accident at a popular Greene County fishing spot.

White Hall Police Chief Rob McMillen said the man’s pickup and driver’s license enabled his department to notify the man’s wife and to try to determine if he had been fishing alone Thursday or with others at the reservoir, which is about one mile east of White Hall.

--Posted by Illinois personal injury lawyer T. Evan Schaeffer of the Illinois personal injury firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.