Attorney Elizabeth B. Lewis to Retire as Firm Director
It is with mixed emotions that Jacobs & Crumplar announces the retirement of firm director Elizabeth Barnes Lewis. Although we will all miss having Liz in the office on a regular basis, she has well-earned the opportunity to devote more time to her family and personal interests.
As many of our clients and friends know, after securing her law degree from Delaware Law School, Liz practiced for 25 years with the firm. During her career, she managed all manner of cases ranging from auto accidents to complex occupational disease. All of Liz’s contributions were integral to Jacobs & Crumplar’s success and continuity.
Plans to Sue Poultry Processing Plant Over Contaminated Drinking Water
Environmental toxic tort lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar and other firms have sent a warning to Mountaire Farms Poultry Processing Plant – Stop polluting or face a federal lawsuit. The Millsboro plant in Sussex County has been accused of knowingly spraying contaminated wastewater containing up to 41 times the legally permitted level of nitrates.
Thomas Crumplar was quoted in an article recently published on Delawareonline.com, in which he expresses his intentions, as well as that of the rest of the legal team representing Millsboro area residents who have been affected by contaminated drinking water. “I hope it is now crystal clear to Mountaire and everyone in the community that our clients are not simply seeking compensation for their own injuries, but they are also going to do everything in their power to make sure no one in the community ever has to suffer in the same way as they have,” he says. To read the entire article, click here.
To hear audio from a recently recorded interview about the case, click here.
For more information regarding the services provided by Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., call 302-656-5445 today or submit an online inquiry. From our Wilmington and Georgetown offices, our environmental toxic tort lawyers represent clients throughout Delaware, including those in Sussex County.
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. to Represent Wilmington Firefighter Injured in Deadly Canby Park Fire
The four dedicated Wilmington firefighters who responded to a fire call on September 24, 2016 in Canby Park had every right to expect the full support of the City. Tragically, only one of the four firefighters survived the blaze, whose cause was later determined to be arson. The Delaware civil rights lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, in partnership with The Neuberger Firm, will represent the surviving firefighter. Our goal is to secure justice for our client, honor the memory of the three firefighters who died, and convince city officials to change policies so that tragedies like this may be prevented in the future.
Jacobs & Crumplar and The Neuberger Firm have partnered in the past to resolve civil rights cases for Plaintiffs in Delaware. Their successes include a $1.5 million settlement for the family of Jeremy “Bam” McDole, who was fatally shot by Wilmington police in September 2015. Most recently, the firms achieved a record-breaking settlement for victims of the prison riot at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware. The monetary value to our clients was over $8 million and was the largest amount ever paid by the State of Delaware.
Questions Over City’s Rolling Bypass Policy
Wilmington’s “rolling bypass” policy mandates City fire trucks shut down for 24 hours on a rotating basis, leaving vast areas of Wilmington and its citizens unprotected. This is done in the interest of cost savings to the City.
However, taking a single fire engine out of service can delay emergency response time by three or four minutes. During these critical moments, even a small fire can transform into a deadly inferno. It is every firefighter’s and every citizen’s right to have the utmost protection, and we hope to send a message that the rolling bypass policy comes at far too high a cost.
If you have been injured because of the rolling bypass policy, or because of other negligence on the part of the City, our Wilmington civil rights lawyers will evaluate your claim to determine if you have an actionable case. We will work tirelessly to secure the financial compensation you need now and for the future. To arrange a free consultation, call the legal team at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. today at (302) 656-5445, or contact us online. From our offices in Wilmington and Georgetown, we represent clients across the state, including those in Dover and throughout downstate Delaware.
To read more about this case, click here.
Attorneys at Jacobs & Crumplar Secure $7.55 Million Settlement for Plaintiffs in Prison Riot Case
To read more about the case, click here.
The Delaware civil rights lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. provide experienced representation in a broad range of legal matters for clients across the state of Delaware. To discuss your case, call 302-656-5445 today or contact us online.
Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Named AIOPIA’s 10 Best Law Firms
The Delaware personal injury law firm of Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. has been recognized by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as 10 Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Delaware for Client Satisfaction. To view the full press release, click here.
For information on the services we provide, submit an online inquiry, or call 302-656-5445 to arrange a confidential consultation with a knowledgeable and highly skilled Delaware personal injury lawyer at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A.
Attorney Thomas Crumplar Part of Team Representing Family of Slain Corrections Officer
The family of a slain correctional officer and two officers who were injured during a 20-hour riot at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware have filed a federal lawsuit over the tragedy. They blame two former governors and other state officials for the conditions that led to the hostage crisis. Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. attorney Thomas Crumplar is a member of the legal team that is representing the group.
Calls to Address Safety Issues Ignored
In 2004, a convicted serial rapist serving a 699-year sentence passed through two security checkpoints with a homemade knife. He then took his victim hostage for nearly seven hours. Soon after, an independent investigation called for the state to implement changes that would have made conditions at the center safer. Investigators asked the state to hire more officers, limit overtime, and provide better staff training. The officer who was killed had also complained to superiors about the conditions and the rising tensions, but no actions were taken.
Understaffing a Serious Problem
According to reports, the prison was critically understaffed when the February 2017 riot occurred. Other factors that led to the crisis included mandatory overtime that led to fatigued employees with low morale, and a lack of technology – including cameras – to keep officers safe. In fact, during a two-week pay period, officers routinely worked 80 hours of overtime in addition to their standard 80-hour work schedules. The lawsuit also claims that the prison stopped training officers to search prisoners for dangerous weapons because they were understaffed, leaving them even more vulnerable.
February 2017 Riot Leads to Deadly 18-Hour Standoff
During the ordeal, the hostages were handcuffed and brutally beaten by the inmates, and some were locked in a maintenance closet. Although some may point to budgetary restrictions as the reason for the conditions at the prison, basic protection should never be sacrificed.
A former inmate, who had been housed in Building C, where the siege occurred, said tensions had been rising for years. The prison, which was built in 1971, houses minimum-, medium-, and maximum-security inmates.
Delaware Civil Rights Lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. Fight for Those Who Have Suffered the Wrongful Death of a Loved One
To learn more about Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. or to speak with one of our highly skilled Delaware civil rights lawyers, call 302-656-5445 or 800-355-1818 to schedule a consultation or contact us online. With offices in Wilmington and Georgetown, we represent clients throughout Delaware.
Jacobs & Crumplar Represents Victim in Day Care Sex Abuse Case
The lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., are representing a young child and his parents in a day care sex abuse case. The lawsuit was filed in the Delaware Superior Court against the day care facility where the child attended. In 2015, the then 7-year-old male victim was subjected to inappropriate touching by a teacher at the Kidz Inc. day care facility. The act was recorded on surveillance video.
The Plaintiffs claim that the facility failed to protect their child, and was negligent in hiring the teacher, who is now serving a 12-year prison sentence for sexually abusing three children. It is also alleged that the day care facility failed to monitor the video surveillance on a regular basis and failed to implement appropriate written policies and procedures that would protect the children in the facility’s care. Furthermore, the suit claims the facility violated child care licensing requirements.
If you suspect your child is a victim of sexual abuse, we can offer assistance and handle your claim. Contact our Delaware sex abuse lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., at 302-656-5445 or contact us online to schedule a free case review. With offices located in Wilmington and Georgetown, Delaware, we represent clients throughout upstate and downstate Delaware, including those in Kent County, Sussex County, and Dover.
McDole $1.5 Million Settlement Approved in Federal Court
A $1.5 million settlement has been approved and finalized in Federal Court for a lawsuit filed by civil rights attorney, Thomas C. Crumplar on behalf of the family of Jeremy “Bam” McDole. McDole, who was confined to a wheelchair, was fatally shot by four Wilmington police officers in September 2015. His heartbroken family initiated the lawsuit against the police officers, citing that the shooting stemmed from racial discrimination.
Although the lawsuit has been settled, the parties have agreed that the facts of the case are still in dispute. The settlement does not amount to an admission of guilt by the Wilmington police, nor a concession by the victim’s family that their claims were unfounded. Federal authorities state they found no evidence of excessive force used by the police officers in this case, and the claims remain disputed.
Another stipulation of the settlement is a recommendation that the police department implement a thorough use of force policy that establishes when force is necessary, and provide proper training regarding de-escalation procedures for officers. Detailed procedures would include using cover to lessen threat exposure, verbal calming techniques for distraught individuals, and calling for backup assistance if needed.
If you believe your civil rights have been violated, we will review your case for free to determine if you may be eligible for compensation. Contact our seasoned and dedicated Wilmington civil rights lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., at 302-656-5445 or contact us online to schedule a free case review. With offices located in Wilmington and Georgetown, Delaware, we represent clients in Kent County and Sussex County, as well as in those in Dover, Delaware.
Jacobs & Crumplar, Personal Injury Law Firm
Since its founding over 35 years ago, Jacobs and Crumplar has occupied only two places: one at 800 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington and for most of the firm’s existence at 2 East 7th Street also in Wilmington. After almost 30 years at 2 East 7th Street, the firm is moving this time to the Wilmington Riverfront and specifically 750 Riverfront Drive, right near the Wilmington Blue Rocks stadium. The new home for the firm is a modern yet classic looking office building that is the home of other businesses. Jacobs & Crumplar will occupy the second floor of the building. The firm’s old location will be renovated into apartments with a restaurant occupying the first floor.
Any move is a process, and moving an entire law firm that has been in the same building for almost 30 years is no exception. The entire staff has been spending extra time going through old documents, scanning files, and figuring out what needs to keep and what can be thrown away.
The new office is conveniently located off of I95, which will allow clients coming from all over northern Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to get to the office, with plenty of parking as well. The new office is only a short drive to the New Castle County Courthouse. Jacobs & Crumplar still has a satellite office in Georgetown, DE to serve its clients in southern Delaware.
The area around the new office has blossomed in the last couple years with many new apartments, stores, and restaurants opening up. The entire firm is excited about this new chapter in the history of Jacobs & Crumplar.
Farm Workers Sue Monsanto For Roundup Exposure
As reported on CNBC’s website on October 15, 2015, Jacobs & Crumplar along with the firms of LUNDY, LUNDY, SOILEAU & SOUTH, LLP and WEITZ & LUXENBERG, P.C. filed a lawsuit on October 14, 2015 on behalf of three plaintiffs who as farm workers were exposed to Roundup, a pesticide sold by Monsanto.
The lawsuit alleges that these plaintiffs are suffering from serious diseases such as and chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The lawsuit claims that Defendant Monsanto Company, Inc. began marketing glyphosate in products in 1974 under the brand name Roundup®. Roundup® is a non-selective herbicide used to kill weeds that commonly compete with the growing of crops.
On March 20, 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (“IARC”), an agency of the World Health Organization (“WHO”), issued an evaluation of several herbicides, including glyphosate.
That evaluation was based, in part, on studies of exposures to glyphosate in several countries around the world, and it traces the health implications from exposure to glyphosate since 2001.On July 29, 2015, IARC issued the formal monograph relating to glyphosate.
In that monograph, the IARC Working Group provides a thorough review of the numerous studies and data relating to glyphosate exposure in humans. The IARC Working Group classified glyphosate as a Group 2A herbicide, which means that it is probably carcinogenic to humans.
The IARC Working Group concluded that the cancers most associated with glyphosate exposure are non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other haematopoietic cancers, including lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
The lawsuit alleges that Monsanto knew or should have known of the hazards and dangers of Roundup® and specifically, the carcinogenic properties of the chemical glyphosate prior to the times that plaintiffs were exposed to its product and that it failed to warn them and other consumers of the dangers of exposure to its product.
The plaintiffs were exposed to Roundup at various times between the 1980s and the 2000s.