Boca Raton Personal Injury Lawyers Blog | Ellis, Ged, & Bodden, P.A.

Haiti donors meet to plan rebuilding after quake destruction

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:25:00 +0000

(CNN) --Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton and foreign ministers from more than a dozen countries will start laying out the groundwork for rebuilding Haiti on Monday, nearly two weeks after a devastating earthquake. Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive is also due to attend the conference of the Friends of Haiti group of nations in Montreal, Quebec. The United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and European Union are also sending representatives, Canada's Foreign Ministry said. The one-day meeting is a first step toward a larger reconstruction conference on Haiti that will take place in coming months, the ministry said. It comes amid anger and frustration that efforts to rescue possible survivors have been called off. Thousands of people pushed Sunday for rescue efforts to continue at a collapsed hotel, as a 24-year-old man recovered in a hospital after being rescued 11 days after the earthquake.

Families of Americans who were staying at the Hotel Montana started an online petition Saturday in an effort to continue search efforts "until all the survivors are accounted for." As of Sunday morning, 2,395 people had signed the petition and sent 6,216 messages to the Senate, Congress and the White House, said Sue Keller, a friend of a family whose relatives are among the missing. The families hope to have at least 5,000 signatures by Monday, she said. The Haitian government has said more than 111,000 people died in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake. On Saturday, however, a French rescue team saved one life as they pulled Wismond Jean-Pierre from the rubble of the Hotel Napoli Inn -- 11 days after the quake.

Jean-Pierre had no injuries, but was dehydrated. Crews put him in an ambulance and took him to a hospital. He was a clerk at a store in the hotel, according to his brother. He survived after finding food and drink in the store's wreckage, the brother said. Looking for loved ones in Haiti Rescues like Jean-Pierre's, and others that have come more than a week after the January 12 quake, spark hope among families of the missing. But the emotional rescue came on a day when much of Haiti was mourning as operations largely shifted from rescue to recovery, and the country's president attended the funeral of an archbishop who was one of the victims. International search teams have rescued at least 132 people, the U.N. said. More than 600,000 people have also been left homeless in and around the capital of Port-au-Prince, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

Donations may be dropped off at the offices of Ellis, Ged & Bodden at 7171 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton between the hours of 7:30 am and 5:30 pm. For more information on the disaster relief efforts being coordinating through Ellis, Ged & Bodden’s, visit http://www.ellisandged.com/ or call (561) 995-1966.

Boca Raton Law Firm Responds to Devastating Earthquake in Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:18:00 +0000

Ellis, Ged & Bodden launches drive to collect relief supplies

The lawyers of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A., are teaming with Food For The Poor and Toussiant L’Ouverture High School to provide much needed aid to the victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. The earthquake, which, according to the US Geological Survey, was centered just off the coast of Haiti, about 10 miles west of the Caribbean nation's capital of Port-au-Prince had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0. Early estimates indicate that as many as 3 million people -- one-third of Haiti's population – may have been affected by the quake.

Food For The Poor is seeking donations of canned meats, fish, water and condensed, evaporated milk. Toussaint L’Ouverture High School will rely on its community ties in the devastated areas of Haiti to distribute additional relief supplies. Donations may be dropped off at the offices of Ellis, Ged & Bodden at 7171 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton between the hours of 7:30 am and 5:30 pm.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and to the Haitian American community,” C. Glen Ged, a founding partner in the Boca Raton-based law firm, said in the wake of the deadly earthquake. “I feel humbled in the face of such staggering loss; surely those of us who can offer more than heartfelt sympathy have a responsibility to provide whatever measure of comfort we can.”

Food For The Poor, based in South Florida base, is a major international relief and development organization that serves millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition to food, the interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information please visit, http://www.foodforthepoor.org/

Toussaint L'Ouverture High School for Arts & Social Justice is an innovative charter high school in Boynton Beach, serving students in grades 9-12. The tuition-free, publicly funded institution seeks to provide motivated students a unique secondary school experience using arts as a vehicle for social justice and individual change. The school’s vision is geared toward helping youth acquire the skills they need to be successful in college and/or work and to have a voice in co-creating a world they can believe in.

For more information on the disaster relief efforts being coordinating through Ellis, Ged & Bodden’s, visit http://www.ellisandged.com/ or call (561) 995-1966.

Woman, 26, dies in turnpike crash

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:52:00 +0000

South Florida Sun-Sentinel TAMARAC A 26-year-old Connecticut woman was killed when the car she was driving spun out of control on Florida's Turnpike and flipped over onto a guardrail, the Florida Highway Patrol reported Sunday.

Roshah Dejean was pronounced dead at the scene about 1 p.m. Friday. A passenger in the 1993 Toyota Camry, Johane G. Boursiquot, 30, was injured and taken to Florida Medical Center in Lauderdale Lakes.

Traveling north in the center lane near Commercial Boulevard, Dejean apparently lost control of the car while attempting to change lanes, the Highway Patrol said. The car spun across the lanes, hit the outside guardrail and overturned, coming to rest on the driver's side, officers said.The crash remains under investigation.

In all auto accident cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence and to investigate the accident. The staff at Ellis, Ged & Bodden has the experience and knowledge to analyze all avenues of recovery and will work with physicians and other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries and damages you have suffered.

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Tri-Rail train strikes car on tracks; 2 women killed

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:47:00 +0000

The lights started flashing. The gates lowered. A gold Toyota Camry drove onto the tracks. Thirty seconds later a 325-ton Tri-Rail commuter train barreled through the crossing at 60 mph. The northbound train with 250 passengers aboard plowed into the car on Commercial Boulevard just west of Interstate 95, dragging it about 60 feet as Thursday morning's rush hour ended. The driver, Connie Hamblin, 44, and Felicia Hatmaker, 22, both of Tennessee, were thrown from the sedan and pronounced dead at the scene, said Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman Detective Katherine Collins. Another passenger, Eddie Hamblin, also of Tennessee, was taken to North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach, where he was listed in critical but stable condition. His age and relationship to the women was not known Thursday. The crossing has just about every safety measure available, spurred by the fiery 1993 wreck in which six people were incinerated on Cypress Creek Road west of I-95 when an Amtrak train slammed into a gasoline tanker trapped on the tracks. Officials say the only way to make the Commercial Boulevard crossing safer is to build a bridge over the tracks or closing it to drivers. Neither is feasible or practical.

Medians were raised to prevent drivers from skirting the gates. Flashing signs warn drivers not to stop on the tracks. Yet that is what Hamblin did as the crossing arms lowered and the lights flashed, said George Moreno, 45, who was a few cars behind the Camry when the crash happened about 8:45 a.m. Instead of crossing to the other side, the driver backed up and hit the crossing arm behind her, Moreno said. She then hit the gas pedal and lurched forward just as the northbound train roared through. ``It was the most horrific thing you'll ever see,'' Moreno said. ``In the blink of an eye, [the car] was gone.'' A couple who witnessed the crash ran from their car to the mangled Toyota that had flipped over and come to rest next to the tracks. Brandon Williams, 22, of Lauderdale Lakes, called police and knelt by one of the two women thrown from the car. ``She was still breathing. I tried to talk to her, tell her everything was OK,'' said Williams, whose pants were stained with blood. ``She was gasping. She was really, really trying to breathe. There was nothing I really could do.'' Around him, other motorists and witnesses were screaming.

Williams' fiancée, Matia Hughes, 23, ran to the other woman lying next to the car and prayed. The young woman died in front of her, she said. ``I just broke down crying,'' said Hughes, of Lauderdale Lakes. ``I feel like I should have done more.'' The crash halted all passenger and freight trains in the area for about four hours. The tracks reopened at 12:33 p.m. The crossing sits between two busy intersections -- Powerline Road to the west and the southbound I-95 on- and off-ramps to the east. When the traffic lights turn red, especially at rush hour, traffic often backs up onto the crossing in both directions. At least two experiments to address the problem either haven't worked out or haven't been carried out completely. In 2000, the Florida Department of Transportation tested a concept called a ``European X'' -- a box about the size of a car with an X painted on the roadway just beyond the crossing in each traffic lane. If drivers could see the X as they approached the crossing, they had enough room to pull across safely.

The pavement markings are no longer there, and no one at the department Thursday could recall the results of the experiment. The department also announced plans to install cameras at the crossing and at McNab Road, Cypress Creek Road, Powerline Road and Prospect Road. The cameras were designed to send an instant signal to the train operator to slow down if a motorist is stalled. But train operators balked over the liability. Since Tri-Rail began service in 1989, there have been seven car-train accidents at the Commercial Boulevard Tri-Rail crossing, killing three people and injuring two, according to Tri-Rail records. Six accidents involved Tri-Rail and one involved Amtrak. Before Thursday's accident, only one person had died at the crossing. Police are asking anyone with information about Thursday's crash to call Fort Lauderdale Police Traffic Homicide Investigator Cheri Creque at 954-828-5825.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of personal injury in any of the firm’s specialized legal areas listed above, you may have a valid legal claim and be entitled to monetary damages. Please contact one of our experienced and dedicated personal injury attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. today for a free consultation.

Fort Lauderdale police check for DUI after van hits county bus

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Sun Sentinel FORT LAUDERDALE - Police are investigating a van driver for DUI after he rear-ended a Broward County bus this morning, sending three people to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said. A Broward County Transit bus had stopped for passengers in the 1800 block of West Commercial Boulevard around 7:52 a.m. when a white van struck it from behind, Fort Lauderdale police Sgt. Frank Sousa said. The van driver, Daniel Christy, is under investigation for possibly driving drunk, Sousa said.Two passengers in the bus and one in the van were taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale with minor injuries.The grill of the van was smashed, but the bus did not appear damaged.Witnesses or anyone with information about this accident are asked to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-5700.

If you're a passenger in a vehicle involved in an auto accident, and if you have sustained injury as a result, you are entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. As a passenger, you may have a claim against:

The driver of the vehicle in which you were riding
The drivers of any other vehicles involved
Any other negligent party involved in the collision

A passenger is generally not considered to be at fault or partially at fault for causing an accident unless he or she does something such as distracting the driver. The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today

BSO Looking For Driver In Hit & Run Accident

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:22:00 +0000

POMPANO BEACH (CBS4)- Broward Sheriff's deputies are looking for the driver of a 2006 Dodge Charger that investigators believe was involved in a deadly hit and run accident on Friday night. The accident happened on the 500 block of SW 3 Street in Pompano Beach.Jacinto Lopez Matias was driving home with a co-worker, Juilo Hernandez when the Charger hit Matias' van.
The van was pushed into the median and into a palm tree at which point the van spun out of control, throwing Hernandez from the van.

The Charger eventually came to a stop after hitting a steel bus bench. A witness told Broward Sheriff's deputies that the driver of the Charger got out of the car and stumbled off. Matias was taken to the North Broward Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries. Hernandez was pronounced dead on arrival. If you have any information about the accident, call the Broward Sheriff's Office at 954-765-4321 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS(8477).

If you or a loved one has been the victim of personal injury in any of the firm’s specialized legal areas, you may have a valid legal claim and be entitled to monetary damages. Please contact one of our experienced and dedicated personal injury attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. today for a free consultation.

Miami woman could get 30-year prison term for double-fatality crash

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Sun-Sentinel VERO BEACH - A 26-year-old woman who was speeding and weaving out of traffic on Interstate 95 is guilty of vehicular homicide of two motorcyclists she hit along the roadway. A jury deliberated for a hour Wednesday afternoon before finding Dominique Brice, of Miami, guilty of killing the motorcyclists parked along the northbound lanes on Feb. 29, 2008, near the juncture of Indian River and St. Lucie counties. Sentencing is Nov. 25. She could face up to 30 years in jail.

Killed in the mid-day accident were off-duty North Miami police officer Fritz Doucet, 37, and West Palm Beach computer technician Raul Ortiz. They were recently reunited high school buddies going to Bike Week in Daytona Beach, said Ortiz's sister, Carmen Sanchez, of New Jersey. "How can you call yourself a human being?" Sanchez told Brice shortly after the verdict was announced in the courtroom. Circuit Judge Robert Pegg allowed Sanchez to testify because she is from New Jersey and can't come back for the sentencing. Sanchez finally broke into sobs as Brice looked at the ceiling or at her relatives in the audience. Finally Brice was led out of the courtroom to be held in the Indian River County Jail.

Brice's mother, Angie Dixon, left the courtroom before the verdict because Pegg said he wouldn't tolerate outbursts. Brice's brother also declined comment. He was riding with her at the time of accident. Also in the car were her two young children who Dixon is now caring for. "You still have your children and brother," said Sanchez, who described Dixon as being unremorseful.

Doucet is survived by two sons, Fritz, 9, and Manny. 5, and his girlfriend Abigail Mena, of Broward County. Manny has only been told "his father is in heaven," said Doucet's sister Diana Doucet. "He asked if he could go too. When he asked why he (his father) had to go to heaven, I told him God needed him." Assistant State Attorney Brian Workman told jurors Brice was speeding at more than 80 mph, quickly changing lanes and cutting off cars like in a NASCAR race.

According to a witness, Ortiz and Doucet appeared to have been studying a map and only looked up at the last moment as Brice's Saturn slammed into them. The two men's bodies were knocked into bushes off the highway and their motorcycles were broken into pieces, reports show. Autopsies by the Medical Examiner's Office found that both men's spines were snapped in half and they had severe internal injuries. Brice contends another car forced her vehicle out of control. Her attorney, Assistant Public Defender Adrienne Bucci, said her client was just changing lanes. Former Indian River State College student Jessica More was on the highway and called 911 to report a reckless driver. While on the phone, she said, "Oh my God," as Brice's car swerved and slammed the motorcyclists. More testified in the trial as did an out-of-state couple who witnessed the accident.

"I satisfied with the verdict," said Doucet's brother, Daniel Doucet, of New York. "It is only fair."
At the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, PA, we can help you explore your legal options. We offer free consultations, and can meet with you at home, at work or even in your hospital room. We’ll listen to your concerns and tell you how we can help. You need to have a team on your side, to protect your interests. If a loved one has been killed in an accident, or if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, please contact our wrongful death lawyers today.

School van driver faulted for Davie crash that sent 10 to hospitals

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:29:00 +0000

Sun Sentinel-DAVIE - The driver of a school van was found at fault in a wreck that sent seven children and three adults to the hospital. The woman was driving a Nob Hill Academy van Monday afternoon when she crashed into a car and a minivan on the 7600 block of Stirling Road. No charges have been filed against her yet, Police Sgt. Greg Gasse said. He did not know the current condition of the victims.

One woman was seriously hurt and the seven children suffered minor injuries in the 2:45 p.m. crash, he said. The children were riding in the eastbound school van when it failed to stop for a Broward County school bus in another eastbound lane as it was dropping off students, Gasse said. The van kept going, hit a minivan and pushed it into the median, then hit a white sedan, Gasse said. The minivan and white sedan had both stopped for the school bus. The school van went over the median and landed in the westbound lanes. No one in the county school bus was hurt.

Thirteen patients were treated on the scene; seven children and three adults were taken to various hospitals, Fire-Rescue spokesman Braulio Rosa said. A woman was transported in critical condition to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. All the children had minor injuries, Rosa said. Some were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital and others to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines. The Nob Hill Academy van had a sign on its side that said "infant afterschool care." Police are investigating.

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today

Chinese Drywall Lawsuit Claims Material Used in Las Vegas Homes

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:59:00 +0000

A Chinese drywall class action lawsuit has been filed in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the Las Vegas Sun, the lawsuit alleges that Chinese drywall is causing health problems for occupants of homes in two Las Vegas neighborhoods

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four homeowners, the Sun said. Three of the homes are located in a neighborhood near Jones Boulevard and Grand Teton Drive; and the fourth is near Hollywood Boulevard and Desert Inn Road. The lawsuit, which seeks class action status for all residents of the state suffering health problems because of Chinese drywall, names subsidiaries of Miami-based homebuilder Lennar Corp. and drywall manufacturer Georgia-Pacific Corp. of Atlanta as defendants.

Defendants named in the suit claim that they did not use Chinese drywall in Las Vegas homes, and the Sun notes that domestic wallboard is made in the Las Vegas area. However, Georgia Pacific has been named in a Florida lawsuit that alleges its American-made synthetic drywall products are also causing corrosion in home components and health problems. The suit alleges that those products emit sulfur, methane and other volatile organic chemical compounds, the Sun said.

As we’ve reported previously, Lennar has acknowledged that Chinese drywall was used in about 400 of its Florida homes. The company has filed its own lawsuit against the makers and distributors of Chinese drywall.

Consumers in 24 states have filed a total of 1046 Chinese drywall complaints with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Gases emitted from the drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor, similar to fireworks or rotten eggs, that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode.

Earlier this summer, tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that Chinese-manufactured drywall contained elevated levels of strontium sulfide, as well as the presence of several organic compounds associated with the production of acrylic paint that were not present in samples of U.S.-made drywall. The Florida health department is expected to release further test results that could shed more light on potential health hazards posed by the drywall in September. The EPA and other government agencies are also conducting additional health testing, and those results should also be available soon.

CHINESE DRYWALL NEWS AND ARTICLES

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:19:00 +0000

Chinese Drywall Imported to Guam, Saipan, American Samoa
Potentially defective Chinese drywall was imported to Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 20,000 sheets of Chinese-made drywall made their way on to those islands in 2006. View entire article

Coral Gables builder guts his own bad drywall-plagued home
Across South Florida and the country, distraught homeowners feel stuck in their stinky, corroding homes that are breaking down bit by bit from something leaching from defective Chinese drywall. View entire article

Fort Myers drywall victim sick of wait
The owner of a $1.4 million Fort Myers home with defective Chinese drywall wants to know why his builder, Aubuchon Homes, won't fix it. Dr. Keith Baker, who moved his family out of the home Dec. 17, said State Rep. Gary Aubuchon, who is also president of Aubuchon Homes, did pay four months rent on an alternate residence and some expenses. But Aubuchon then cut off further assistance, Baker said. View entire article

Wall Street Journal: Lennar Confirms Bad Drywall in Homes
Lennar Corp. has identified 400 homes in Florida that have confirmed problems with defective Chinese drywall, and it has set aside $39.8 million to repair the homes, the Miami-based home builder said in a securities filing Friday. View entire Article

New Chinese drywall developments won't help some victims in SWFL
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - More people living in homes built with Chinese drywall are speaking only to WINK News. They say it's ruining their life and new developments this week aren't helping their problem. View entire article

Vioxx Judge Puts Chinese Drywall MDL Cases on Fast Track

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:56:00 +0000

New Orleans federal district court judge Eldon Fallon knows how to manage mass torts. He's the judge, after all, who oversaw the $4.85 billion settlement of Vioxx claims against Merck in 2007. So we were quite intrigued to see this story in the Miami Daily Business Review, outlining Fallon's plan for the 600-case multidistrict litigation involving allegedly sulfur-emitting Chinese-made drywall.

Fallon intends to begin trying bellwether cases before the end of the year, according to the Daily Business Review. Working with members of the defense and plaintiffs steering committees, he will pick five representative cases to test plaintiffs claims that the drywall in their houses is defective."

Fast-tracking is an understatement. It's a rocket docket. And he means business," plaintiffs steering committee member Ervin Gonzalez of Colson Hicks Eidson told the DBR. "He wants the first case tried by the end of the year, and he wants an inspection of every home. He wants to be able to get to the bottom of the problem."

Plaintiffs' lawyers told the DBR that Fallon's fast track to trial will encourage homeowners to consider settling their cases, but one of the lead drywall defendants, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin said Fallon's inspection order and a requirement that all claimants fill out fact sheets "will substantially narrow the scope of the litigation and finally put to rest the speculation as to the number of homes that are impacted by Chinese drywall."

If you or a loved one is a victim of an injury caused by a defective and unreasonably dangerous product, contact the law offices of Ellis, Ged & Bodden now. The legal team at Ellis, Ged & Bodden have the experience and resources to both preserve and pursue your claim and will work to recover fair and reasonable compensation for your injuries. The law provides a limited time period during which you have the right to bring a defective product or product liability claim. So act now to protect your legal rights. The initial consultation is free of charge.

Nine months of work ends in nearly $12 million deal

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Attorney Marius Ged The Deal:

Miami-based Rigstar II Holdings paid $11.92 million for a 156,871-square-foot warehouse in northern Miami-Dade County. First Industrial Realty Trust was the seller in the deal that closed July 24.

Details: Ged, who represented Rigstar, worked on the deal for nearly nine months. First Industrial originally wanted $17.25 million, or $110 per square foot. Eventually, the Chicago-based real estate investment trust agreed to sell for $75.98 per square foot.

“On a price per square foot basis, we did pretty well,” Ged said. The 2-year-old warehouse, at 10910 NW 92nd Terrace, is within the Flagler Station business park, which has about 9 million square feet of office, retail and industrial space.

Rigstar plans to turn the warehouse into the logistical headquarters for a company that exports and imports electronics to Latin America. Rigstar is led by Ghassan Abboud, according to the Florida Division of Corporations. Rigstar obtained an $8.2 million mortgage from Citibank for 70 percent of the purchase price.

Ged said negotiations were complex in part because the seller wasn’t familiar with Florida laws, especially how property taxes are calculated. “I learned that when you are dealing with an out-of-state seller on a transaction this large, to require them to get local counsel because they don’t understand the nuances of Florida laws,” he said. “And it just becomes more difficult.”

Background: Ged is an attorney with Ellis Ged & Bodden. He leads the firm’s real estate, estate planning, asset protection and corporate business transactional departments. First Industrial was represented by Chicago attorney Dapo Adedeji of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg.

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:58:00 +0000

The Dangers of Texting and Driving

Lately, it seems as if text messaging has become the preferred mode of communication for millions. As cell phones become more utilized on the road, driving tragedies involving text messaging, while behind the wheel, have been increasing.

One such recent tragedy involved a 17-year-old girl from Eureka, Illinois. The coroner stated that the teenager was texting when she lost control of her car and was killed. Based upon the data recovered from her cell phone, investigators found that she was sending and receiving text messages when the accident occurred.

Texting poses serious, sometimes fatal distractions to all drivers, but particularly teenagers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, auto accidents are the leading cause of death for people between 16 and 20, killing more than 5000 annually. Increasingly, drivers are texting on their phones and this is placing others at risk. Recent studies show that text messaging is a growing cause of auto accidents in the United States. Motorists who text message have been found to be more distracted and more likely to be involved in an accident.

A new study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that when drivers engaged in texting while driving, their risk of an accident was 23 times greater than when not texting. This study showed that texting is much more dangerous than other driving distractions. The study also demonstrated that drivers spent almost five seconds looking at their cell phones while texting and driving.

An experiment this year with Car and Driver editor Eddie Alterman revealed that texting while driving had more of a negative impact on driver safety than being drunk. Although being legally intoxicated added four feet to Alterman's stopping distance at 70 mph, reading an e-mail added 36 feet and sending a text added 70 feet.

Fourteen states and the District of Columbia currently have full bans on texting while driving. Legislators in some states have rejected such rules. Some say they need more data to decide whether to ban the activity.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident due to another driver's texting or negligence, you should consult with an attorney to learn about the laws of your state and your legal rights.

Police catch man suspected of causing fatal Lantana crash

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:26:00 +0000

LANTANA - A driver who police say caused a four-car crash that killed a pedestrian was caught after a manhunt. A Boynton Beach police officer came upon the crash at about 4 p.m. Thursday as he took the Lantana Road exit off Interstate 95 to turn around and return to the city.

Shortly before that discovery, the officer had attempted to stop a silver Mazda -- the car that apparently caused the crash, police say -- for breaking a traffic law on Interstate 95 near the Gateway Boulevard exit. But the car took off and sped away northbound. The officer did not pursue the car, but found what appeared to be the same silver Mazda involved in the crash on Lantana Road and 13th Street, said Boynton Beach Police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater. "It's believed to be the same car," she said.

The unidentified police officer saw a man run away from the accident scene but was unable to catch him, Slater said. Boynton Beach's K-9 units and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Eagle helicopter combed the area in search of the suspect. Witnesses said they saw the fleeing man jump over the fence behind the 7-Eleven convenience store wearing a white shirt and black shorts. The driver was later caught and arrested, Slater said, but police are not releasing his name. Charges are pending from the Florida Highway Patrol, she said. The dead pedestrian, a man, also remains unidentified.

No one else was injured in the crash, which involved a black Corvette, a white Explorer, a red Expedition and the Mazda, which had a Texas license plate. A preliminary check did not reveal the car was stolen, Boynton Beach Police Chief Matt Immler said. But that didn't eliminate that possibility, he said. James Spickler, 26, who lives nearby but was shopping at the 7-Eleven when the accident happened, called his wife at home to make sure the house was locked up. He was concerned for her safety with the suspect loose in the neighborhood.

"Because you never know," he said, "We saw all this debris and a body laying in the road. I told her to lock everything up." The Boynton Beach officer who attempted to make the traffic stop and tried to apprehend the fleeing suspect is on paid administrative leave, as per departmental policy, Slater said. Employees of the KFC just feet from the accident scene were shocked about a pedestrian's death nearby."That's like movie stuff," employee Cristal Huertas said. "I don't think I can eat. It's a sick feeling."

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Teenager Injured In SUV Accident

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:40:00 +0000

Relatives identify the teenager as Christian Alarcon and say he was visiting his father for the weekend. Witness Dennis Marquez told CBS4 News Reporter Joan Murray that he saw the 14-year-old hanging on the side of an SUV standing on the running board. He said that he watched in horror as the boy slipped and fell under the back wheels. The child's mother was driving. "I called 9-1-1. The child was unconscious and there was blood coming out of his eye. It was sad to see because he's so young," Marquez said.

Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said the department received the emergency call at 5:44 p.m. at 227 NW 43 Ct. The child was rushed to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. A cousin identified as Danny Reyes said, "His lungs are bruised. We have to wait and see." BSO cited the child's mother and impounded the SUV she was driving.

In all auto accident cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence and to investigate the accident.d The staff at Ellis, Ged & Bodden has the experience and knowledge to analyze all avenues of recovery and will work with physicians and other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries and damages you have suffered.

CHINESE DRYWALL NEWS

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:24:00 +0000

C. Glen Ged featured as a POWER POP in Boca/Delray magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:59:00 +0000

ELLIS, GED & BODDEN IN TRIAL, WEST PALM BEACH COURT HOUSE

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Joseph Duque was just 14 years old when he got caught up in an altercation during teen night at Rumbass night club in He was brutally stabbed and died in a dimly lit parking, trying to defend a friend who was being attacked by a number of unidentified individuals from the club.

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:51:00 +0000

Attorneys from Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. seek justice in wrongful death case, for teen stabbed at Rumbass night club in West Palm Beach on a summer night almost five years ago.

BSO: Woman, 87, killed by Amtrak in Pompano Beach may not have heard train

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:47:00 +0000

POMPANO BEACH - The 87-year-old woman hit and killed by an Amtrak train at a Tri-Rail station Wednesday was hearing impaired and probably didn't hear the train bearing down on her, a Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman said Thursday. View Entire article

At the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, PA, we can help you explore your legal options. We offer free consultations, and can meet with you at home, at work or even in your hospital room. We’ll listen to your concerns and tell you how we can help. You need to have a team on your side, to protect your interests. If a loved one has been killed in an accident, or if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, please contact our wrongful death lawyers today.

ON THE MONEY RADIO

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Steve Pomeranz, financial advisor from 90.7 F.M. in South Florida ON THE MONEY RADIO has invited Attorney Marius J. Ged to discuss current issues in today's economy. Topics will include: Real Estate, loan modifications,asset protection etc.. This interview aired at 7:30 p.m. May 27th, and Friday May 29th at 1:00 p.m.

Enclosed please find the link to the radio station and Steve Pomeranz show.

http://www.onthemoneyradio.org/guests/uploads/149.mp3

Salzlein Press Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Press Conference held May 20th at Memorial Regional Hospital with Ms. Salzlein's son, John Salzlein and Attorney C. Glen Ged.

Sun Sentinel VIDEO

Accidents send 3 to hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:35:00 +0000

Two injury auto accidents on rain-slickened streets late Sunday afternoon sent three people to local hospitals, authorities said. The first crash, which involved three vehicles, occurred about 4:30 p.m. at S.W. 29th and Indian Hills Road, just southwest of the Topeka city limits. Two people injured in that crash were taken to local hospitals by American Medical Response ambulance.

Shawnee County sheriff’s Sgt. Justin Vest said the accident occurred when a white four-door Toyota Camry that was eastbound on S.W. 29th slowed to turn onto S.W. Indian Hills and was rear-ended by a Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle. The impact sent the Camry into the westbound lane of S.W. 29th, where it collided head-on with a silver four-door Oldsmobile Intrigue. Drivers of both the Camry and Intrigue were taken to the hospital. Vest said the driver of the Camry appeared to have sustained minor injuries, while the driver of the Intrigue had injuries that were considered serious but not life-threatening.

About an hour later, Topeka police responded to a two-car collision about 5:20 p.m. at S.E. 6th and Carnahan in which one vehicle crashed into a power pole. Police at the scene said a four-door Oldsmobile Alero and a four-door Ford passenger car were eastbound on S.E. 6th when the cars collided near the intersection of S.E. Carnahan After the collision, the Alero struck a wooden power pole on the southeast corner of the intersection, near a Cenex service station.
The Ford continued east on S.E. 6th and pulled into the filling station’s parking lot. A restrained child in the Alero, who had minor injuries, was taken by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution, police said. No other injuries were reported.

If you have been injured in a traffic accident, or if you have a loved one injured, the traffic accident attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today

Teacher dies in crash involving students returning to Broward from Orlando

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:27:00 +0000

South Florida Sun-Sentinel - The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed a Broward County teacher and injured seven high school students returning from a trip to Orlando.

Gerald Jerome Oliphant, 27, died at North Broward Medical Center after the Sunday morning accident at the Coconut Creek Parkway exit ramp on Florida's Turnpike. Six other passengers, including five teenagers, are at Broward General Medical Center, where their condition is not available. The driver, Livingston James Finley, 18, of Fort Lauderdale, is in critical condition at North Broward.

Family and friends told WSVN-Ch/ 7 that Oliphant, a teacher from Oakland Park's South Florida Christian Preparatory Academy, and the seven students were driving back from a high school senior trip at Orlando's Universal Studios. Troopers say Finley fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the Chevy Suburban. The crash happened shortly after 6 a.m., in the southbound lanes of the turnpike, spokesman Lt. Roger Reyes said.

Five passengers were ejected from the Chevy Suburban, authorities said. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt, FHP said. The other six passengers were identified as: Shantek Ellis, 17; Elizabeth Codie Lewis, 17; Demitri Johnson, 20; Nolan Browne, 17; Tekhoya Browne, 17, and Jackson Walker, 19. Eugenia Ellis told WSVN her daughter was on life support with a collapsed lung Sunday. Friends grieved outside Broward Medical Center for Oliphant, according to WSVN. "He was somebody who we all respect and love, and he was there for me a lot, and I'm going to miss him," Lamont Walker said. Reyes had no additional details about the crash, which is under investigation.

Chinese drywall not used in area

noreply@blogger.com (Ellis, Ged and Bodden, P.A.) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:14:00 +0000

The Free Lance-Star is reporting that, Area builders and drywall providers say Chinese-made drywall has not been used in Fredericksburg-area houses.

Chinese drywall has been making national news of late after hundreds of U.S. homeowners have complained that it smells and emits gasses that make people sick. Most of the claims have been filed in Florida and New Orleans. Homebuilder Lennar Corp., which is building homes in Spotsylvania County's Lee's Parke subdivision, disclosed Monday that it has been named in a class-action lawsuit filed in Florida on behalf of people who bought homes with Chinese drywall that were built during the boom.

Bob Krieff, division president for Lennar in Virginia, said Chinese drywall has not been used in any of Lennar's Virginia homes. He said it appears to be a Florida-only problem for Lennar. In Florida, Lennar has been inspecting homes it built that might have had the Chinese drywall and paying to replace it. Lennar sued the Chinese drywall manufacturer and distributors. Florida's health department has said it will begin testing the air quality in homes to determine whether the material can make people ill. Estimates indicate the drywall may be in more than 100,000 homes, more than 35,000 in Florida alone.

Harvey Gold, director of government affairs for the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association, said none of the association's builders he's checked with have reported using the Chinese drywall. He's also checked with local governments, and no problems have been reported. Executives for Ashton Innovations and Chatham Construction Co. Inc., which are two of the Fredericksburg area's bigger drywall installers, both said they do not and have not used Chinese drywall.

The Attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. are offering FREE consultations to residents of Florida in all matters relating to Chinese drywall. If you believe your home and health may be at risk, please contact us immediately to protect your legal rights.

--The Associated Press contributed to this report.