December 20, 2009
New Hampshire and Illinois have many things in common. In addition to snowy winters and wonderful people, both states share a concern over excessive police force. Chicago civil rights lawyers at Dolan Law Offices were concerned to hear about a case currently pending in the U.S. Federal District Court in Concord.
The case dates back to August 2006 when, the Mlodzinskis allege, 3 Bristol Police Officers and 20 members of the Central New Hampshire Special Operations Unit broke into their apartment at approximately 4 a.m. to arrest a 17 year old suspect and conduct a search. Officers were allegedly dressed in military gear, complete with masks, and carrying rifles. Members of the Mlodzinski family claim to have been handcuffed, held together in one room and then separated for interrogation.
NHPR reports that the mayor of Laconia filed a lawsuit against the officers for excessive force – alleging that breaking into the home at 4 a.m. in military gear was extreme to arrest a 17 year old who was known in the community. The Central New Hampshire Special Operations Unit denies that they were in military gear but does not deny many of the circumstances of the arrest.
Part of the public concern about this incident is that the six regional SWAT teams, including the Central New Hampshire Special Operations Unit, are independent entities. There are questions about their oversight.
Excessive police force erodes public confidence and trust in police officers and violates individuals’ civil rights. It is illegal and unacceptable in New Hampshire, in Illinois, and throughout the United States.
If you have been the victim of excessive police force then you should consult with local civil rights attorneys. Our clients know that the Chicago civil rights lawyers of Dolan Law Offices are trusted advisors and aggressive advocates for victims of excessive police force. We are watching the Mlodzinski case in New Hampshire and rooting for justice to be served.
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Lawsuits | Tagged: civil rights attorneys, excessive police force, Laconia lawsuit, New Hampshire civil rights | 
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Posted by Dave Austin
November 10, 2009
A rollover accident that recently took place in New Hampshire reportedly severely injured one driver and took the life of another. This personal injury accident happened on October 12 on Interested 93. According to reports police were forced to shut down the interstate for an estimated five hours while an investigation as to what may have caused the sudden, yet fatal, crash ensued.
Car Accident Details
Ben Bishop, 41, of Stowe, Vermont, was identified as the man driving his SUV on the I-93 over the Columbus Day Holiday. Bishop was reportedly traveling northbound when his vehicle suddenly jumped over the median, crossing into oncoming traffic going southbound.
Bishop’s SUV is said to have plowed into a semi truck being driven on the other side of the road. The driver of the truck, Joseph Bellandi, of Manchester, says he tried to avoid hitting the out of control SUV but wasn’t able to in time. After crashing into the tractor-trailer being driven by Bellandi, the SUV rolled over killing Bishop. Bellandi was immediately picked up by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and taken to a nearby hospital to treat the personal injures he suffered as a result of the unexpected crash.
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Auto/Car Accidents, New Hampshire, Personal Injury | 
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Posted by Dave Austin
October 28, 2009
A personal injury lawsuit was recently filed against by a passenger who was recently in a car accident. The lawsuit has been filed against the driver of the car who was reportedly driving erratically before he crashed into a local New Hampshire store.
The car crashed into Putnam’s Sky & Snowboard shop earlier this year and the driver has been charged with 10 different crimes. Now, the passenger in his car is taking legal action after reportedly suffering from mental and physical injuries.
Lawsuit Details
Walter Dunfey was a passenger in Mercer Smith’s car when it crashed into the snowboard shop. As a result of the car accident, Dunfey claims he has claims he suffers from personal injuries which have continued to cause him pain and anguish.
Dunfey filed a personal injury lawsuit against Smith and reportedly hopes to recover his loss of wages, since he has been unable to work, for his loss of enjoyment of life. The accident caused injury to Dunfey’s pelvis which has forced him to undergo medical treatments.
The suit also claims that Dunfey was witness to erratic driving and speeding as a passenger in Smith’s car. Although no civil suit has been filed against Smith regarding alcohol being involved at the time, Dunfey, and another passenger in the car are being charged for possessing alcohol since they are underage.
At the time of the personal injury accident Smith was reportedly charged with counts of causing serious bodily injury to the passengers in his car. He was also charged with speeding, running a stop light, and with crashing into the local shop causing damage.
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Auto/Car Accidents, New Hampshire, Personal Injury | 
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Posted by Dave Austin
October 22, 2009
Darryl Tait, 19 and an extreme snowmobile rider from Canada reportedly waved to a man in a wheelchair at a New Hampshire Rave-X freestyle show in New Hampshire. Moments later Tait jumped on his snowmobile to impress the large crowd with his tricks. However, the tricks suddenly turned harmful as her flipped through the air.
Extreme Athlete Injured in Tournament
The show, also known as the New Hampshire Grass Drags and Watercrossing competition, took place in Fremont.
According to reports, Tait didn’t complete a back flip and suddenly crashed to the ground. After falling Tait, who has gained a name for himself as one of Canada’s most popular extreme snowmobiling athletes, was hit in the back by his snowmobile.
Reports claim Tait was severely injured in the accident, which may have severed Tait’s spine. The boy’s family is now hoping their loved one will even walk again. Tait is currently awaiting spinal surgery in Boston. Meanwhile, New Hampshire snowmobiling community has joined forces with the snowmobiling community of Canada to do anything they can to help Tait and his family.
“My heart goes out to Darryl and his family. He’s got a long road ahead of him,” says snowmobile enthusiast Bob Jordan who watched with the many other onlookers as the crash occurred.
Snowmobiling Community Comes Together
Some snowmobilers have already begun planning various ways to raise money. Among the plans they’ve quickly put into action, is an auction being held giving away medals they’ve won in competitions, along with the auctioning off of their snowmobile suits.
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Posted by Dave Austin
October 15, 2009
According to recent reports, a trip to New Hampshire for a family from Boston recently turned deadly when they were involved in a car accident. The three family members, as well as the man they collided with, were all instantly killed when their SUV reportedly crossed the center line on a New Hampshire road last weekend.
Police believe that the victims, Stephen Lagakos, 63 and a professor at Harvard University, his 61-year-old wife Regina, and her 94-year-old mother, Helen, were all instantly killed in the injury accident.
Car Accident Details
Documents claim that the SUV, driven by Lagakos crossed over to the other side of the road and hit Stephen Krause, 56, head on. The family is believed to have been driving to their second home in the town of Rindge, which is just miles from where the accident occurred on Route 202. Krause was also killed in the accident.
Lagakos was a well- respected professor of biostatistics at the Harvard School of Public Health and both his colleagues and students are still in mourning over the tragic accident. He was intensely involved in the school and his research supposedly involved statistical issues in relation to clinical drug trials and other studies conducted by Harvard and its affiliates. Lagakos was also reportedly an expert in and emphasized in his studies the statistical analysis of HIV and other infectious diseases currently affecting people throughout the world.
“He had the strength in every area of biostatistical research,” states Lagakos’ colleague at Harvard, Robin Herman, in a recently released statement. “He was also a teacher and mentor to so many.”
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Posted by Dave Austin
October 8, 2009
A New Hampshire man was recently injured after being struck by a pickup truck while he was crossing the street. The man, who is a resident of Dover, New Hampshire, has yet to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver of the truck for the incident.
Early Monday morning, Donald Hughes, 69, was reportedly walking in the crosswalk at the intersection of Dover Transportation Center and Members Way. According to police reports, Hughes was suddenly struck by a pickup truck while he was in the middle of the crosswalk. The pickup truck is said to have been driven by Bruce Jenness, 54, a resident of Rochester.
Rochester’s Toyota Tacoma threw Hughes to the pavement. However, he did not sustain any major trauma to his body or head from the impact of the car. Emergency medical services (EMS) were immediately at the scene of the injury accident and transferred Hughes to the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital to be treated.
During his time at the hospital, Hughes is said to have complained about pain in his right side and in his chest. Dover Police are currently investigating the cause of the accident to see if charges should be filed.
According to what Hughes told police, he had the right of way since the walk sign was flashing as he crossed, which would make Jenness’s right hand turn illegal.
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Posted by Dave Austin
October 5, 2009
A morning commute turned ugly this past week in the state of New Hampshire when three people were injured after two cars collided on Route 155. No one was killed in the accident, which involved a Ford150 and Oldsmobile Achieva, however all three victims were rushed to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries.
Personal Injury Details
According to reports, the injury accident occurred early Thursday morning on Know Marsh Road. Police reports state the car accident occured between Knox Marsh, also known as Route 155, and Progress Drive. Kristopher Henner, 16, and a resident of Farmington, was reportedly driving his Ford 150 when he went to make a right turn onto Route 155. As he made the turn he side swiped the Oldsmobile Achieva, which was being driven by Michael Cataldi, 53 from Rochester.
Witnesses claim the collision threw both vehicles into oncoming northbound traffic. Cataldi was injured, along with the passenger in his car, 44-year-old Daniel Dix. Both men reportedly suffered minor injuries but needed medical attention. Henner also had injuries and all three were rushed to Wentworth Douglass Hospital to be treated. Police are reportedly investigating the crash and it has not been determined whether charges will be pressed or if either party has contacted a New Hampshire personal injury attorney.
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Posted by Dave Austin
September 30, 2009
A lawsuit was recently filed by the family of a little girl who was injured and killed in a flood while staying at a New Hampshire campground. The lawsuit has been filed against Amees Brooks Campground in Ashland. The family believes the campground staff could have taken preventative steps to ensure an accident such as this would not happen to visitors. A local personal injury attorney from the state of New Hampshire will be representing the family in the lawsuit which hopes to see justice served on behalf of a life suddenly taken.
Camp Visit Turns Deadly
The lawsuit was filed by a Rhode Island family who lost their seven-year-old daughter in a flash flood that hit the New Hampshire campgrounds in August 2008. The little girl suffered severe injuries as the result of the flood and soon after being taken to a local hospital was pronounced dead. The lawsuit has been filed against the owners of the campgrounds claiming they were negligent and holding them responsible for the little girl’s untimely death.
Kaitlyn Ferra was reportedly on vacation with her parents, plaintiffs Brandon and Donna Ferra, and her brother at Ames Brook Campground in Ashland for a late-summer camping trip. According to reports, heavy rains suddenly hit the campgrounds and caused two brooks to merge. The merge caused the area to quickly become flooded.
Although Brandon Ferra tried to rush his family to safety, water tore through their SUV. Everyone in the vehicle was reportedly instantly ejected, except Kaitlyn. It was later announced that the little girl had been killed from drowning. The family states in the lawsuit that the owners of the campgrounds. Vernon and Barbara Marion, knew the campsite had a tendency to flood but failed to warn them or post signs about past floodings in the area. The lawsuit also claimed the owners did nothing to help them as they attempted to evacuate the site.
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Posted by Dave Austin
September 22, 2009
A man from Concord, New Hampshire died in a forklift accident last Tuesday as his co-workers left work for the day. The man reportedly worked at Schnitzer Steel, which is a metals recycling plant, also known as Advanced Recycling.
The Concord Police along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are currently looking into the safety of the plant.
New Hampshire Injury Turns Deadly
According to reports, an emergency call around 5 p.m. to the Concord Police station indicated that an employee at Schnitzer Steels was crushed and severely injured by a forklift. The victim, later identified as Todd Leach, 33, of Concord was reported dead shortly after this call was made.
A spokesman for the company released a report stating that the recycling plant had never had anything like this happen before. Schnitzer Steel is responsible for processing large amounts of scrap metal, which are later recycled. Despite these reports, Adam Shifrin, who was formerly employed at the plant claims that the work is “dangerous.”
Aside from the current investigation, the company says its main priority is Leach’s family. Reports show that the company recently laid off several workers. One of the main things being investigated now according to the police is whether or not there were enough workers on site at the time of the accident.
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Posted by Dave Austin
September 17, 2009
According to recent reports two people were recently injured in New Hampshire as the result of a motorcycle crash. The accident occurred in the town of Milton late Sunday afternoon and no deaths were reported. A motorcycle reportedly collided with a truck and trailer, which was towing a boat.
A man and woman were both injured in the accident when they were ejected off thier motorcycle. Both victims are from the town of Milton. Park Clegg Sr., 48, and Jackie Norton, 52, were taking their Harley Davidson out for an afternoon ride when their Sunday took an unexpected turn. According to reports, the the motorcycle approached the trailer from behind as both vehicles traveled along Washington Street (also known as Route 202). As the pickup truck, driven by Timothy Ashe, 49, from Somersworth, made a turn onto Dry Hill Road, Clegg realized he could not stop in time. Witnesses say the Harley swerved to avoid hitting the trailer with the boat, which was attached to Ashe’s truck, and Clegg was unable to regain control of the bike. It was within a few short second that both Clegg and Norton were forced into the air from their motorcycle.
Paramedics quickly arrived on the scene and both Clegg and Norton were taken to Frisbie Memorial Hospital where they were treated for there injuries. Medical officials released a statement claiming that although the accident was a “close call”, fortunately the riders injuries were not life-threatening.
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Posted by Dave Austin
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