Declarations – South Central

No More Cellphones

“We really need better rules, regulations and laws, and corporations need to have a no-cellphone policy while operating a vehicle.”

—Thomas J. Henry, attorney for a Texas woman who received a $24 million jury award after being hit by a Coca-Cola truck driver who was chatting on her cellphone. The jury decided to give 37-year-old Vanice Chatman-Wilson $10 million in punitive damages and $14 million in actual damage. Henry said the jury is trying to tell Coca-Cola Enterprises to change its cellphone policy.

Supplemental Surgery?

“As payers limit price increases for physician services, the physicians look for other avenues to supplement their income — ownership of surgery centers and MRI facilities as well as physician dispensing of prescription drugs have become much more common.”

—Dr. Richard Victor, executive director of the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). New research by the WCRI shows that orthopedic surgeons who own one of the growing number of ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) are doing a lot more surgery than non-owner surgeons.

Moving Advice

“The most important piece of advice I can offer those planning a move is not to hire your mover from a free internet advertisement.”

—Assistant Chief John Trevino, of the Houston Police Department’s Special Investigation Command. Texas officials say that illegal moving companies are operating statewide, putting consumers at risk for losing their belongings or paying a ransom for getting them back. Texas government and moving industry officials say people should do their homework before hiring a moving company and note there is a new state law that imposes fines and jail time against unlicensed movers.