This document provides a summary of various news items focused on motorcycle fatalities, Takata's airbag recall costs, anticipated Memorial Day traffic deaths, language advocacy regarding vehicle collisions, a court ruling on asbestos supplier liability, a revived lawsuit related to valley fever in prisons, federal inmates held past their release dates, and a police-related death incident. Key statistics include a 10% rise in motorcycle fatalities in 2015, potential 439 driver fatalities during Memorial Day weekend 2016, and a California Supreme Court ruling in favor of asbestos warning liability. The document illustrates ongoing safety concerns and legal issues within transportation and health sectors.

1. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 6/1/16
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Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
1. Motorcycle deaths: Up or down?
Adapted from L.A. Times, 5/21/16
In 2015, U.S. motorcycle fatalities rose 10%, according to estimates by the Governors Highway Safety
Association (GHSA). There were more than 5,000 estimated motorcycle fatalities in 2015, up from 4,548
the previous year. GHSA theorized the increase could be due to multiple causes, including a stronger
economy; lower average fuel prices; and a short, warm summer that extended the number of riding
days for motorcyclists. While motorcycle deaths in California fell 7%, the state still has the second
highest number of motorcycle deaths due to the large number of motorcyclists in the state. Florida led
the country in motorcycle fatalities.
2. Takata, Short of Cash, Wants Carmakers to Share Costs of Its Recall
Adapted from N.Y. Times, 5/26/16
Takata indicated it was trying to work out a deal whereby automakers would share in the costs of
replacing millions of faulty airbags worldwide. The airbags can explode with too much force, spraying
the passenger compartment with shrapnel. In the U.S., the faulty airbags have been linked to at least 10
deaths and more than 100 injuries. Takata is taking other steps to try to bolster its business, including
hiring investment bank Lazard to spearhead the company’s efforts to secure new investment. In
addition to the costs of the recall, Takata is facing multiple lawsuits from car owners and victims of the
faulty airbags, as well as stiff government penalties. In November, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration fined Takata $70 million for failing to promptly disclose information related to the
defective airbags. That fine could rise by up to $130 million if Takata fails to adhere to the terms of a
consent order.
3. Drivers May Face Deadliest Memorial Day Weekend since 2009, says NSC
Adapted from NSC News, 5/23/16
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimated the 2016 Memorial Day weekend may have been the
deadliest for drivers since 2009. The NSC estimated there could be 439 fatalities and 50,500 serious
injuries due to motor vehicle crashes during the three-day Memorial Day holiday period. In 2009, 462
people died in motor vehicle collisions during this period.
4. It’s No Accident: Advocates Want to Speak of Car “Crashes” Instead
Adapted from N.Y. Times, 5/23/16
Nationwide, a growing number of safety advocates, grassroots groups and public officials are
campaigning to change the language we use to discuss motor vehicle collisions. Historically, these
incidents have often been referred to as “car accidents.” Some advocates say this minimizes the role of
human error in roadway incidents, and have encouraged using the term “car crashes” instead. Nearly all
collisions are caused by driver behavior, with only about 6% caused by other factors including vehicle
malfunctions and weather.

2. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 6/1/16
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
5. Asbestos suppler loses at high court
Adapted from L.A. Daily Journal, 5/24/16
On May 23, California’s Supreme Court restored a $900,000 jury verdict, finding that suppliers of
hazardous substances could potentially face tort liability if they fail to provide explicit warnings to
purchasers and end users of their products. The case involved plaintiff William Webb’s lawsuit against
Special Electric Co. Inc., which brokered sales of asbestos to pipe manufacturer Johns-Manville Corp.
That company then sold products to Pyramid Pipe & Supply, Webb’s former employer. The plaintiff
claimed he developed mesothelioma due to exposure to Johns-Manville pipes. An L.A. jury originally
awarded Webb $5 million dollars, with 49% attributed to Johns-Manville, 33% to third parties and 18%
to Special Electric.
6. Valley Fever suit by prisoners revived
Adapted from L.A. Daily Journal, 5/23/16
On May 20, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the right of two men to pursue their case
against the U.S. after they contracted potentially fatal Valley Fever while at Taft Correctional Institution.
The finding overturned a decision by an Eastern Dist. judge who held the government was not liable.
The three-judge panel at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the Federal Tort Claims Act does
not bar the men from pursuing their case against the U.S. government. The new ruling will allow the
men to pursue their cases that the Federal Bureau of Prisons was negligent in failing to provide
protective structures such as covered walkways to help protect prisoners from the dust, which can lead
people to contract the disease. In 2012, both men separately sued the U.S. government, GEO Group
Inc., and Management & Training (MTC) Corp., said Ian Wallach of Feldman & Wallach LLP. The latter
two companies held contracts to run the day-to-day operations at the prison. Wallach represents both
Gregory Edison and Richard Nuwintore.
7. Thousands of Inmates Held in Federal Prisons for Too Long, a Report Finds
Adapted from N.Y. Times, 5/25/16
From 2009 to 2014, more than 4,300 federal inmates were held in prison past their scheduled
release dates, according to a report released on May 24. While most of the inmates were kept behind
bars for no more than an additional month, a small number were held for a month or longer past their
release date, and three inmates were held for more than a year past their release date. The
investigation found 153 inmates were held past their release date due to avoidable errors by prison
staff. Prison administrations said most untimely releases were caused by a technicality as opposed to
staff error, and likely could not have been prevented. Delays in releasing inmates have cost millions in
added prison costs and legal settlements with former inmates held past their release dates.

3. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 6/1/16
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
8. Captured on Police Video: Taser Shocks and a Death
Adapted from N.Y. Times, 5/21/16
During an altercation with police, thirty-two year-old Chase Sherman stopped breathing. Attempts to
revive him were unsuccessful. Sherman was allegedly shocked multiple times with a taser while
handcuffed, and a medical technician pinned him to the floor of the car. Similar to other recent fatal
police encounters, the incident was caught on video, specifically the body cams worn by the officers
involved. Sherman’s death certificate lists the cause of death as a homicide involving “an altercation
with law enforcement with several trigger pulls of an electronic control device.” The document also
noted that his torso had been compressed by another individual’s body weight. Prior to the incident,
Sherman had been driving home with his parents and fiancé when he began to hallucinate, possibly
reacting to synthetic marijuana he used days earlier. Attorney Mr. Stewart noted that the tasing
continued for four minutes and ten seconds after Sherman said “I quit.”