Jan 31 2008
This recent article focuses on the “Hidden Causes of Social Disorders”, tying social symptoms to traumatic brain and head injuries.
Researchers studying brain injury believe they’ve found a common thread running through many cases of seemingly unrelated social problems: a long-forgotten blow to the head.
Jan 31 2008
The study is the military’s first large-scale effort to gauge the effect of mild head injuries that some experts worry may be causing a host of undiagnosed neurological deficiencies.
Read More Here…
Jan 31 2008
Earlier this week, Sen. Michael B. Enzi (R-WY) unveiled, “Guidelines for Assisting Those with Accessibility Needs,” a manual designed to make congressional offices more accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Through the hard work of Robert Demichelis, BIAA helped provide suggestions for the guide, which was distributed to all House and Senate offices.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter introducing the guide to Members of Congress and their staff, Sen. Enzi states, “Ensuring our ability to interact and assist [individuals who have accessibility needs] requires that we are prepared in advance to meet their needs with everything from the appropriate language and basic etiquette, to ensuring they are included in our emergency preparedness plans and provided for in our accessible room designs.”
Jan 31 2008
Also this week, negotiations focused on putting together an economic stimulus package, resulting in a bipartisan agreement by the week’s end, although the Senate is expected to possibly bring up further amendments during its consideration of the package in coming weeks.
BIAA signed on to a coalition letter urging House and Senate leaders to temporarily raise Medicaid reimbursement to states in order to prevent states from being forced to make cutbacks in essential state services. Such essential Medicaid services include health care and long-term services and supports, which are often especially important to individuals with disabilities.
Jan 31 2008
On Tuesday, the Senate passed a slightly revised version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 4986), following House approval of the same bill last week. Important wounded warrior provisions related to TBI care remain unchanged in the new version, which President Bush is expected to sign into law shortly.
The revised bill contains new language altering a provision in the original bill which expanded the rights of victims to sue foreign governments designated by the State Department as state sponsors of terrorism.
The White House unexpectedly announced on December 28, 2007, that President Bush would not sign the original bill because it included a provision which could allow plaintiffs to freeze Iraq government assets in the United States while their claims against Iraq were being litigated (Iraq was listed as a state sponsor of terrorism under Saddam Hussein’s regime).
One of BIAA’s policy goals for 2008 will be to monitor the implementation of the important TBI provisions contained in this bill. (The December 14, 2007 edition of Policy Corner contains more detailed information on these TBI provisions. You can access this issue, as well as all other archived issues of Policy Corner, by visiting BIAA’s webpage at http://www.biausa.org/policycorner.htm).
Jan 31 2008
New research suggests that hidden traumatic brain injuries can cause social or educational failure, such as alcoholism or homelessness. If broadly verified, the findings could have a significant impact in dealing with these difficulties.
Read More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120156672297223803.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone
Jan 31 2008
Traumatic brain injury, often described as the “silent epidemic” of the Iraq war, may be less to blame for soldiers’ symptoms than doctors once thought, contends a provocative military study that suggests post-traumatic stress and depression often play a role.
Read More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22904216/
Jan 31 2008
Researchers studying brain injury believe they’ve found a common thread running through many cases of seemingly unrelated social problems: a long-forgotten blow to the head.
Read More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120156672297223803.html
Jan 26 2008
As can be seen in this latest Bloomberg post, the recent changes in punitive damage settlements cases has had a profound impact on civil and tort litigations around the country. From Ford motor company settlements to the Exxon Valdez, this is a watershed moment in the world of serious injury law and civil litigation. Read more here.
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Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) — A U.S. court crackdown on punitive damages resulted in the second consecutive year of declines and reversals of earlier verdicts, a trend working in favor of companies like Ford Motor Co.
The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker in the past five years has been hit with more than $392 million in punitive awards. Limits on such damages have given Ford victories in appeals of two decisions totaling more than $100 million and may help it in hundreds of other product-liability suits. Click here for more.
Punitive damages in the 50 biggest verdicts fell to $1.6 billion in 2007 from $1.8 billion in 2006 and $5 billion in 2005, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A pivotal U.S. Supreme Court decision last year will aid in appeals and help reduce future awards, companies’ lawyers say. The court said defendants can’t be punished for harming anyone not included in a case, such as other customers.
Jan 22 2008
A benefit concert for the
CALIFORNIA BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION
Sunday, March 16, 7:00 p.m.
Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center
Silicon Valley Auditorium
Duets and ensembles from beloved operas: Carmen, La Traviata, Rigoletto, La Bohème, and many more with professional area singers.
All proceeds benefit the CALIFORNIA BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION, a non-profit membership organization providing information, referrals, education, advocacy and support for those affected by brain injury.
INFORMATION: 408-357-7429
www.svjcc.org/opera/
Download Flyer (pdf)
