Jackaroos, the Australian counterpart of Western cowboys, have traditionally worn the bush hat known as an Akubra, but changes in the law may soon result in the substituting of hard hats instead. After a young jackaroo was thrown from a horse and killed, the New South Wales industrial safety authority pressed charges against the owners of the livestock station where he was working for not providing a safety helmet, and the owners have now pleaded guilty to the charges (Denis Gregory and Jim O’Rourke, “Jackaroo’s death could spell the end for old hats”, The Age (Melbourne), Nov. 30; “Curtains for Akubra after death?”, AAP/Sydney Morning Herald, Feb. 2).
Archive for February, 2004
Poland Spring class action
“A class-action suit raises questions: Does Poland Spring water come from springs? And can you drown lawyers in it? Please?” Terms of the settlement are “pretty standard: next to undetectable benefits for us — some discount coupons and whatnot — and $1.35 million in cash for the plaintiffs attorneys.” (Roger Parloff, “Springtime for Poland”, Fortune, Feb. 9)(see Sept. 10). Update Jun. 25: how much did consumers actually get? Darned if one columnist can find out.
Cerebral palsy: what Edwards knew
Risks of defensive radiology
Use of radiation-based diagnostic methods continues on a rapid rise, even though experts on carcinogenesis warn that a small but non-trivial share of cancer is attributable to radiation from the use of medical X-rays, much of it from CT scans. MedPundit Sydney Smith (Jan. 29) says she sees a high volume of CT scans of the chest and abdomen. “I have a couple of patients who are on their third or fourth follow-up CT for uncertain findings that, truth be told, are done more for our own protection than theirs. Yet another way our litigation culture is influencing healthcare — and health.”
Lockyer to sue grocery chains
Calif. Attorney General Bill Lockyer says he’s filing an antitrust suit against Southern California grocery chains alleging that their mutual-aid strike agreement violates the federal Sherman Act. His spokesmen deny (cue laughter) that he’s trying to lend a hand to the sagging fortunes of the United Food & Commercial Workers in its 3 1/2 month old labor dispute with the chains. (“State to file antitrust suit in grocery strike”, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 31). “It appears the attorney general’s office is seeking a legal precedent that would scotch strike-assistance agreements in general.” Meanwhile, the Los Angeles city council is expected to vote this month on a bill which would prevent Wal-Mart from opening its SuperCenters within city limits, thus excluding the main source of competition pressing grocery prices lower. We’re sure that isn’t meant as a favor to the UFCW, either. (Shirley Svorny, “Banning Wal-Mart May Prove Costly” (commentary), Los Angeles Times, Jan. 30)