Declarations

Declarations

Award reversed

“Doctors, nurses, I’m suffocating. Please help me to be born. I want to play baseball. I want to hug my mother. I want to tell her that I love her. Help me.”

— The Ohio Supreme Court threw out a record $30 million verdict won by a brain-damaged man, citing his Detroit-area attorney for inappropriate theatrics in court. When Attorney Geoffrey Fieger’s made his closing arguments to the jury, he assumed the character of his client Walter Hollins as he was being deprived of oxygen as he waited to be delivered. Hollins, 20, of Cleveland, will have to file another lawsuit to seek compensation for his injuries. A jury ruled in May 2004 that the now-defunct Mount Sinai Medical Center and a doctor had been negligent in delaying Hollins’ delivery while his mother, Regina Harris, waited two hours for an emergency Caesarean section. Hollins was born with cerebral palsy. He cannot use his arms or legs and has the mental capabilities of a 1-year-old.

California wildfires

“While we have our claims professionals on the ground helping Safeco policyholders, we also want to reach out to the entire community at this time of great need.”

— Virginia Anderson, president of the Safeco Insurance Foundation comments after her organization announced it is donating a package of up to $250,000 to support relief efforts for victims of the Southern California wildfires. A $50,000 grant will be donated immediately to the San Diego/Imperial County Red Cross. In addition, the company is encouraging its employees and independent agent partners to contribute to relief efforts by matching their cash contributions to the area Red Cross and the Salvation Army/Sierra Del Mar up to $100,000.

Auto theft

“By reducing auto theft, distributing cash rewards and helping lower auto insurance rates H.E.A.T. continues to boost economic prosperity and quality of life among Michigan’s residents, bringing the community together to encourage regional cooperation.”

— Terri Miller, director of Help Eliminate Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) comments at the awards ceremony marking the 22nd anniversary of the organization. According to H.E.A.T. officials, since its inception in 1985, H.E.A.T., with its partners in law enforcement and the insurance industry, have helped lead to the recovery of nearly $46 million in stolen property and the arrests of more than 3,000 suspects involved in auto theft rings, chop shops, carjackings and fraudulent car thefts. H.E.A.T. has paid nearly $3.2 million in tipster rewards over the last 22 years.