A newsletter roundup of recent stories including rising car crashes fatalities in the U.S., a lawsuit against medical device maker Olympus over tainted scopes, and a settlement over sexual misconduct by a teacher.

1. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 8/31/16
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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. Motor Vehicle Fatalities Up 9%; No Sign of Decrease in 2016, says National Safety Council
Adapted from National Safety Council, 8/23/2016
During the first half of 2016, motor vehicle fatalities in the U.S. rose 9% year-over-year, according to
preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council (NSC). Compared to 2014, fatalities rose 18% to an
estimated 19,100 people. In addition, an estimated 2.2 million people were seriously injured during the first
half of 2016.
2. Medical device instructions caused deaths, suits claim
Adapted from Daily Journal, 8/18/16
Medical device maker Olympus is facing a lawsuit alleging its duodenoscopes caused hundreds of patient
infections and multiple deaths worldwide. The suit alleges the devices sickened 250 patients around the
globe, including 150 in the U.S. In the lawsuit, attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP accused the company of
providing hospitals with cleaning instructions that were for an earlier model of the device, not the
rebranded model they released in 2010 that featured a sealed scope. Olympus allegedly failed to inform U.S.
hospitals of infection risks with its duodenoscopes until six months after telling European regulators.
3. School sexual abuse case is settled
Adapted from L.A. Tines, 8/20/16
Redlands Unified School District has agreed to pay $6 million to resolve a lawsuit by a former student who
fathered a child with one of his former teachers. The unnamed student, now 21, shares custody of the child
with the teacher, 29-year-old Laura Whitehurst. She pled guilty to four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse
and two counts of oral copulation with a person under 18. Whitehurst’s relationship with the victim
allegedly began when the student was 16, and continued for almost a year. Plaintiff attorney Vince Finaldi
alleged school officials had turned a blind eye to the relationship and failed to protect the student.
4. Video Captures Police Assault
Adapted from L.A. Times, 8/23/16
The release of a three-minute video showing a Los Angeles police officer striking a restrained man has
stirred outrage over a plea deal that allowed the officer to avoid jail time. Two officers were holding Clinton
Alford Jr. on the ground when Officer Richard Garcia ran over and kicked the man near the head. Garcia then
kneed Alford in the back, as well as elbowing and punching him in the head. Garcia could have faced up to
three years in jail if convicted of felony assault, but prosecutors agreed to a plea deal that would downgrade
the felony charge to a misdemeanor if Garcia adheres to the conditions of the agreement.

2. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 8/31/16
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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.
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