Travis Barker, punk musician and former Blink-182 drummer, has filed a lawsuit against several companies whose actions he claims caused the plane crash in South Carolina on September 19, 2008.   He was badly burned and several of his friends were killed after the charter Learjet burst into flames after an aborted takeoff.

Barker is suing Global Exec Aviation, a Long Beach charter company, as well as Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and an airplane maintenance company.  The suit seeks damages for pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of earnings as well as medical and legal expenses.

The suit claims that the companies named are responsible for improperly operating and maintaining the Learjet that overshot the runway and burst into flames.  The lawsuit further alleges that the Learjet was ‘defective’ and faults pilots, claiming they were improperly trained and should have tried to take off. Two pilots were killed, along with Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, and his bodyguard, Charles Moore Still.

In a statement, Goodyear spokesman Ed Markey said it was “unfortunate” the suit was filed before the NTSB investigation is finalized.  “It is too early to speculate on a cause.”

Thelma Martin Still, who lost her son in the crash, has joined the lawsuit, seeking damages for grief and sorrow, funeral expenses and loss of earnings.

Check out a photo from 2003 below.

(more…)

Related Articles:

• Paul Newman: Last Will Details Revealed
• Travis Barker Says Goodbye to MTV's TRL
• Rebecca Willis Wins $275,000 Lawsuit Over Dirty Dancing
• Joe Jonas Dating Gorgeous Camilla Belle (Photos)
• Joaquin Phoenix Selling Hollywood Hills Mansion (Photos)
• Britney Spears Official Circus Cover Photo
• Joaquin Phoenix Says "I'm Done", Quits Acting
• Brad Paisley Arrested (Video)
• Faith Hill's First Ever Bikini Photo Shoot
• Travis Barker Hospital Pics
• Travis Barker Makes Memorial T-Shirts
• Travis Barker and DJ AM in Deadly Plane Crash (Photos)

VIA USATODAY:
Certain drugs used in premature babies and in pregnant women at risk for preterm deliveries kill brain cells, new animal studies show.A class of steroid drugs called glucocorticoids, which is often used to beef up the underdeveloped lungs of premature infants, irreversibly damages brain cells in the cerebellums of baby mice — the area of the brain responsible for coordination and balance.

Scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis presented their research at this week’s Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington, D.C. They also identified a time frame during which newborn babies’ brains appear most vulnerable to the steroids. In the study, brain cells in mice died after treatments that were given four to 10 days after birth, says study author Kevin Noguchi, a postdoctoral fellow in the university’s department of psychiatry.He says that danger zone translates to human babies from about 20 weeks in the womb to six weeks after birth. Noguchi says other studies have shown that the synthetic steroid — called dexamethasone (usually used postnatally) — causes later motor and cognitive problems in children. Because of that research, in 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that postnatal glucocorticoid use be halted, but the drugs are still used regularly in mothers at risk for early deliveries.Noguchi estimates that about 8% of infants born at a weight of 3.3 pounds or less are still given these drugs. “Thousands of babies a year receive these drugs that can cause damage to the brain,” he says.

The researchers have also studied adolescent mice that were treated with glucocorticoids during early infancy, and reported that a single exposure to the medication permanently damaged the cerebellums of the animals’ brains. Co-author Nuri Farber, an associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University, says other researchers have found dips in the IQs of children who have been given these drugs early in life.

“Our finding might explain why,” Farber says.

There are other types of glucocorticoids that appear to be less toxic and may be safer than the ones commonly used today, Farber says. But he says more research is required.The authors also note that the toxic effects of the steroid drugs they studied do not appear to affect the brains of older babies, children and adults.

“Our studies in mice suggest that once a human infant is a few months old, these drugs — which are used for other medical conditions, too — don’t appear to have this type of toxic effect,” Farber says.

Experts agree that an average adult needs seven to eight hours of sleep a night. That time is invaluable for our bodies because it means our bodies are repairing the damages of the day, and replenishing bone and muscle and skin and brain.  Our bodies also spend that time releasing hormones.

Hormones that help control appetite and weight control and gain…like Leptin (appetite suppressor) and Grehlin (appetite stimulant). When sleep and rest become inadequate, levels of Leptin decrease, while Grehlin increases.  Needless to say, that isnt’ good for the skinny jeans.

So, if you’re like me and facing insomnia, see your doctor and get some rest!!!

Source

Share This

Last year, video editor Ian C. Lewis sued Prince and his company, Paisley Park Enterprises.

The amount?

A total of $1,000,000 in exemplary damages.

Apparently, Lewis says Prince never paid him for editing work and never returned some of his equipment.

Just last month a trial was held that included testimony from Lewis saying he deserved to be paid.

But on Wednesday, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge issued an order that said Prince would only have to pay about $58,000 to Lewis.

At least that's nowhere close to the original $1 million he was asking for.

Lewis had also claimed that Prince and his company broke at $25,000 computer, but the judge denied that claim since no receipts were provided.

And in a weird turn, Prince's attorneys withdrew from the case!

He wasn't represented during the trial!!!

Taking that craziness into account, Prince must be quite thankful for the outcome!

[Image via WENN.]

Former “Laguna Beach” personality Jason Wahler owes a tow truck driver $5,000 in damages for a confrontation more than two years ago, a jury in his civil trial found Thursday.

Dario Stevenson said Wahler punched him in the face and hurled racial slurs at him and other blacks during a fight in September 2006. Eight women and four men decided that Wahler committed battery during the scuffle.

Wahler, who also appeared on “The Hills,” acknowledged testimony that he used racial slurs. Jurors rejected justifications by Wahler’s attorney that his client was defending his girlfriend and was too drunk to know what he was saying.

Wahler’s attorney declined to comment Thursday after the verdict.

Stevenson, who is black, claimed he suffered emotional distress from Wahler’s slurs. Jurors agreed the celebrity’s conduct was “outrageous,” but did not find that Stevenson suffered severe emotional distress.

Jurors will return Friday to hear testimony and decide whether Stevenson deserves punitive damages. The driver’s attorney had hoped the jury would award Stevenson up to $1 million, but because of the small award announced Thursday, damages will be capped around $55,000.

While disappointed with the amount, Daniel Wagner, who represented Stevenson, said he was pleased that the jury found Wahler acted maliciously.

“This case was to right a wrong,” he said.

(source)

Former “Laguna Beach” personality Jason Wahler owes a tow truck driver $5,000 in damages for a confrontation more than two years ago, a jury in his civil trial found Thursday.

Dario Stevenson said Wahler punched him in the face and hurled racial slurs at him and other blacks during a fight in September 2006. Eight women and four men decided that Wahler committed battery during the scuffle.

Wahler, who also appeared on “The Hills,” acknowledged testimony that he used racial slurs. Jurors rejected justifications by Wahler’s attorney that his client was defending his girlfriend and was too drunk to know what he was saying.

Wahler’s attorney declined to comment Thursday after the verdict.

Stevenson, who is black, claimed he suffered emotional distress from Wahler’s slurs. Jurors agreed the celebrity’s conduct was “outrageous,” but did not find that Stevenson suffered severe emotional distress.

Jurors will return Friday to hear testimony and decide whether Stevenson deserves punitive damages. The driver’s attorney had hoped the jury would award Stevenson up to $1 million, but because of the small award announced Thursday, damages will be capped around $55,000.

While disappointed with the amount, Daniel Wagner, who represented Stevenson, said he was pleased that the jury found Wahler acted maliciously.

“This case was to right a wrong,” he said.

TV Squad has the trailer for the second season of Damages, which I’m struggling to get excited about even though season one was the best show ever, mostly because it’s been so long since the show was last on the air. But I do love Close and Byrne, though.

Looks like Anne Hathaway isn't the only celeb who dates losers.

Apparently some celebs marry men prone to legal problems.

Such as Sandra Bullock did.

Turns out Mr. Bullock, Jesse James, is being sued for pulling out of a clothing deal last minute and taking the clothing line idea with him.

James was in a deal with Fortune Fashion Industries LLC which was responsible for creating a collaborative line of clothing named America's Brand which would be sold through Wal-Mart.

A lawsuit filed yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court by the heads of Fortune Fashion claims that James pulled out of their deal to then rename the clothing line and launch it with Wal-Mart.

Shady, shady.

Even more, the company says James loured away one of their key employees to work on his newly named clothes line, Jesse James Industrial Workwear.

In addition, they've accused him of of several things including breach of fiduciary duty.

The company is seeking damages "equal to 50 per cent of James' or his related entities' past and future net profit" from his new Wal-Mart deal.

Wonder if he's got enough money to pay his legal fees.

Or will Bullock need to pitch in with some money?

[Image via AP Images.]