December 2014

By Robert A. Clifford AirAsia Flight 8501 was cruising at high altitude in an area of the world that has a reputation not only for high accident rates (3 times that of North America), but also for severe thunderstorm activity at altitudes that can exceed the ceilings of any airliner. Air traffic control (ATC) voice recordings reportedly show the pilots had asked for diversion around a storm cell but ATC denied that request. Minutes later,…

An Airbus AIR.PA A320-200 operated by Indonesia AirAsia disappeared on Sunday morning on course from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore, Reuters reported. As the plane was traveling over the Java Sea, it reportedly encountered a string of violent thunderstorms and massive clouds, at which point the pilot requested to ascend some 6,000 feet to circumvent a cloud, according to the Washington Post. However, Indonesian dispatchers denied the request, and the plane disappeared within minutes with no…

Keurig, a company best known for manufacturing easy-to-use, single cup coffee makers, has recalled approximately 6.6 million MIMI Plus Brewing Systems made between 2009 and 2014 in the United States, according to USA Today. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission divulged that the recalls were a response to consumers reporting burn injuries, USA Today reported. In total, Keurig had received 200 reports of hot water spewing out of the brewer, including 90 reports of burn-like…

Retired Judge Henry R. Simmons who is the son of former Chicago Public School teachers grew up on the South side of Chicago. His family’s strong work ethic provided him with a solid example to build upon throughout his career. He now takes on the position as managing partner at Clifford Law Offices, which is the bulk of all activity at the firm. The intake of every case originates through Judge Simmons. His goal will…

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The Chicago Tribune is reporting that 28 people were injured in a Megabus crash Saturday (Dec. 20, 2014) in downstate Indiana on I-65 that shut down the roadway while rescue crews worked to get people to area hospitals. The driver of the bus has been identified in the media as a 50-year-old man from Olympia Fields, a southern suburb of Chicago, who lost control of the vehicle as he was changing lanes near mile marker…

Yet another Megabus incident reportedly has left more than two dozen people injured as it traveled from Chicago bound for Louisville, Kentucky, about 250 southwest of Chicago. The final stop was to be Atlanta, Georgia. The double-decker Megabus reportedly slid off an Indiana highway near Seymour, Indiana, and flipped on its side, injuring some 27 passengers who were taken to local hospitals. It was reported that 70 people were on board. Rescue crews responded at…

On Thursday, February 19, 2015, Clifford Law Offices will sponsor a free two-hour continuing legal education program called “The Ethics of Conflicts of Interest” in the eighth annual Clifford Law Offices Continuing Legal Education Series. The program will provide attendees advice on the following questions: When are you barred from representing multiple clients or appearing adversely to a current or former client? When is the representation permitted with the clients’ informed consent, and how should…