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June 2010 |
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 Lakers Win 2010 NBA Championship and John Bisnar Wins a Bet
The Lakers overcame a 13-point loss in the third quarter to defeat the Boston Celtics, 83 to 79 in the final Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Staples Center, winning their second consecutive championship.
Among the fans attending, John Bisnar, founding partner of BISNAR | CHASE, had a special interest in the game.
John had a bet with his friend, Tom Kiley, an attorney in Boston, that the loser would have to fly the winner to their city and take him to his team's basketball game and a high-end filet mignon steak dinner. And if that's not enough humiliation, the loser will have to wear the cap of the winner's team to the game! Well, it looks like John is in for a trip to a Celtics game and a steak, and poor Tom will have to wear a Lakers cap!
Above right, John Bisnar and Brian Chase in the BISNAR | CHASE Lakers Room in Newport Beach, California.
California Cracks Down on Alcohol to Minors
Teen Alcohol Safety Act
In December 2008, 17-year-old Shelby Allen of Redding, California, stayed at a friend's house where the parents knowingly allowed the minors access to a fully stocked bar. Shelby died of alcohol poisoning as a result. Her story is just one of many that has recently prompted California lawmakers to band together to change the state's law when it comes to alcohol and minors.
Today, California is one of only three states that retains an absolute civil immunity for adult "social hosts" who provide alcohol to minors, a law that has been in effect since 1978.
Simply put, even though there are criminal ramifications for adults who serve alcohol to underage kids, current California legislation exempts those same adults from being sued for civil damages.
Based on recent events in the California legislature, however, this law could soon be saying "so long" in Sacramento.
In an unprecedented move, Republicans joined Democratic lawmakers in March 2010 to support a bill that could strip parents of civil immunity for providing alcohol to teens.
Dubbed the "Teen Alcohol Safety Act," the measure is co-sponsored by the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
Introduced at its first Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing on March 23, the measure received unanimous support from both sides of the political fence.
At the hearing, Debbie Allen - Shelby's mother - spoke of her daughter's death. When Debbie's efforts to seek criminal prosecution failed, she attempted to pursue a civil case but was rebuffed by this unusual regulation.
Debbie's speech moved lawmakers to express their disbelief that an immunity provision ever existed.
Noreen Evans, a Democrat assemblywoman from Santa Rosa, said making adults financially accountable for serving alcohol to minors "should have been the law all along."
Debbie said the measure is an added layer of consequence to prompt adults to "think twice" before providing teens with alcohol, to help save young lives like those of her daughter's.
The bill, also known as "AB 2486," was authored by state assemblyman Mike Feuer, a Democrat from Los Angeles.
Feuer is known for authoring last year's AB 91, a pilot program in four counties that required first-time convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlock devices to prevent their cars from starting unless they're sober.
AB 91 goes into effect July 1, 2010. The Teen Alcohol Safety Act (or AB 2486) now goes in front of the Senate after passing the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a unanimous bipartisan vote of 10 - 0.
  Toyota: New Safety, Old Problems?
Star Safety System
Toyota is touting its new and improved safety features after more than a year of mass media recalls for a sudden acceleration problem plaguing a variety of its cars.
The new system from the automaker, entitled the "Star Safety System," is a five-point program designed to enhance the safety of Toyota's vehicles and to prevent future recalls on newer models.
This latest marketing blitz from Toyota comes on the heels of more than 10 million product recalls that left the automaker reeling in recent months, including recalls of its Toyota Prius and its best-selling Toyota Camry.
According to the automaker, the Star Safety System includes the following components:
- Vehicle Stability Control for detecting and minimizing skids.
- Brake Assist necessary braking force in an emergency situation.
- Anti-lock Brakes for preventing the wheels of a vehicle from locking up.
- Traction Control for limiting tire slip when accelerating on wet surfaces.
- Electronic Brake-Force Distribution for appropriately balancing the force applied to the front and rear brakes.
Each of the components of the Star Safety System will be standard equipment in all new vehicles manufactured by Toyota.
In our March 2010 newsletter, we discussed how auto defect litigation has been the primary catalyst for vehicle safety design and manufacturing changes, from as far back as 1916.
In our opinion, this latest move from Toyota is more than coincidental given the hundreds of lawsuits the automaker currently faces in light of its sudden acceleration recall.
While we applaud Toyota for its latest efforts, we can't help but wonder why none of the safety features outlined in the Star Safety System actually address the problems that caused more than 10 million Toyota vehicle recalls, including the issue of sudden acceleration.
Sure, it's great Toyota is bolstering its efforts to enhance the safety of its vehicles, to protect the lives of its customers. But what would be even better is if these new safety features actually corrected Toyota's most significant and widespread problem.
We'll keep you posted with new developments at Toyota as they unfold.
This one's fishy...
Did you hear about the new sushi bar that caters exclusively to lawyers?
It's called Sosumi.
 The Giving Spotlight
New Section Highlights Those Who Give Of Themselves
At BISNAR | CHASE, we're extremely committed to philanthropic endeavors and the power of community activism to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
When people get actively involved in the causes they care about, they can change the world.
Barbecue Benefits Kids
On Saturday, June 12, the BISNAR | CHASE staff was on-hand to celebrate Orange County's premier barbecue event, designed to help critically ill children and their families.
"Que'n for Kids" was a huge success and we'd like to thank Kristie's Foundation for organizing it every year. Kristie's Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance, support and cherished moments to critically ill children and their families.
If you didn't have a chance to attend, you won't want to miss next year's event!
There were plenty of activities, including a car show, a rib eating contest and the "Mr. BBQ Pageant." Be sure to check out the profiles of the Mr. BBQ contestants. They made us laugh and we think they'll make you laugh too.
To learn more about Kristie's Foundation and its annual Orange County barbecue, visit the Orange County's BBQ Festival website.
We were proud to be on-hand to help such an important cause and we look forward to next year's event!
 Loree Glenn Finishes 545-Mile Bike Trek to Help Victims of AIDS Congratulations to Lorree Glenn for finishing the 545-mile AIDS/Lifecycle Ride!
Loree, a Mission Viejo wife and mother of two, participated in the event to help end the pandemic and human suffering caused by AIDS. This is the third year she has successfully completed the trek and the third year we've sponsored her efforts.
This year's trek began in San Francisco on June 6 and ended in Los Angeles on June 12, with thousands of riders joining the cause as they pushed their way over hundreds of miles of terrain, including California's scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1.
In all, Loree raised $3,825 this year, far above her overall fundraising goal of $3,000.
The AIDS/Lifecycle Ride raises funds to support the HIV/AIDS services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, as well as to increase awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the ride's participants, donors and the general public.
Loree said her journey was extremely meaningful this year given the fact that there are currently 1.1 million Americans living with HIV, the highest number in the history of the pandemic.
"With the current economic climate and the way many philanthropic organizations are struggling, I was determined to push myself as hard as I could to raise as much money as I did this year."
To view daily blog entries from Loree's bike trek, as well as a photo of her crossing the AIDS/Lifecycle finish line, or to make a donation to help victims of AIDS on behalf of Loree, be sure to visit her personal AIDS/Lifecycle webpage.
Mares vs. Chrysler
In October 2009, three members of a family, including two children, sustained severe and permanently disfiguring burns after their 1998 Dodge Caravan unexpectedly caught on fire.
The suit alleges that the vehicle's fuel system design was defective, including its fuel tank and fuel filler neck assembly that allowed for dangerous gas leakage.
What's more, it's alleged the vehicle's fuel filler neck was in a dangerous location, allowing debris to come in contact with it and thereby increasing the likelihood of an explosion.
The Dodge Caravan ignited after particles from a tire blowout came into contact with the vehicle's fuel system.
The case is pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Read more about Mares vs. Chrysler
Brian Chase on Fox 11 News
Brian Discusses the Dangers of Defective Car Seats
Get a copy of John Bisnar's book "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim" while it's still available at no cost.
Yours truly,
John Bisnar
BISNAR | CHASE
www.BestAttorney.com
1-800-561-4887
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