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This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Lynn Neary in Washington; Neal Conan is away. Fifty years ago this week, the Supreme Court ruled in Gideon versus Wainwright. It was a landmark decision that guaranteed criminal defendants the right to counsel whether or not they could pay for it. Fifty years later, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says public defense systems, quote, "exist in the state of crisis."
And a 2004 American Bar Association study found that thousands of defendants face criminal charges each year without adequate representation, a problem that many observers say undermines the very credibility of the justice system.
We'd like to hear from you today. If you've been part of this process, either as a defendant, an attorney or a judge, tell us your story. What worked for you, and what didn't? Our number is 800-989-8255, the email address email@example.com. And of course you can join the conversation at our website. Go to npr.org, and click on TALK OF THE NATION.
Later in the program, memorializing a son lost in Iraq through dance. But first public defenders 50 years after Gideon versus Wainwright. Stephen Bright is a lecturer at Yale Law School and president and senior counsel of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, and he joins us now in Studio 3A. Welcome to TALK OF THE NATION. Good to have you here.
STEPHEN BRIGHT: Thank you so much for having me.
NEARY: Let's get a little history here. Who were Gideon and Wainwright? Tell us a little bit about that decision.
BRIGHT: Well, Clarence Earl Gideon was a man who went to trial in Panama City, Florida. He was accused of breaking into a pool room and stealing a bottle of wine and some change from the vending machines. And he asked for - it was a felony charge, and he asked for a lawyer, and at that time, 1962, the judge told him you're not entitled to a lawyer, you have to represent yourself.
And so he did and was convicted and sentenced to five years and sent off to the Florida state penitentiary. And there he wrote a, handwritten in pencil on the prison stationary, it's got the rules up at the top of correspondence from the prison, he wrote a five-page petition to the United States Supreme Court saying I have a right to a lawyer.
And remarkably, the court granted - this would never happen today - the court granted the writ that he filed, that is to review the case. They appointed - he went from no lawyer to having probably the best lawyer in the United States, Abe Fortas, who later joined the Supreme Court. But he was assigned to represent Mr. Gideon.
And Fortas did. And the Supreme Court set aside its earlier precedents and held that in any serious case, a poor person who could not afford a lawyer was entitled to one. Gideon went back to Panama City. He was tried again, but this time he had a lawyer, Fred Turner. And at the end of that trial, he was found not guilty.
So right from the outset, we see what a difference a lawyer can make to a poor person accused for a crime.
NEARY: Yeah. And so what are the key parts of that decision, and why is it so important?
BRIGHT: Well, the most important part of it is that it says that any person who is facing any kind of serious crime, and then the court extended it later to say any child who might be committed to a juvenile institution and then any person who's facing any loss of freedom at all, even in a so-called petty case because loss of freedom is serious business, that in all of those a person is entitled to a lawyer to represent them so they don't stand alone at the bar of justice.
NEARY: And now, in reality, 50 years later, most of the time that means if somebody is indigent that they would be defended by a public defender. Is that right?
BRIGHT: Well, they would be assigned a lawyer, not necessarily a public defender. A number of jurisdictions - Florida right after Gideon set up public defender offices in each of its judicial circuits. But a number of other states resisted and basically just ignored Gideon. And maybe lawyers were just appointed.
For a long time if you were a member of the bar in places like Alabama or Georgia, you just got a criminal case every so often, and you did it for free because part of the privilege of practicing law carried with it the obligation to represent poor people.
Even today in this country, there are a lot of states that do not have public defender systems: Alabama, Michigan, Texas, even California. It leaves it up to each county. So you may have a public defender, that is a fulltime lawyer employed by an office that specializes in these cases, but it may also be just a lawyer who's appointed and paid a very small amount, either by the case or by the hour, and even today we still have low-bid contracts.
A number of counties in California bid out the defense of people to whoever submits the lowest bid, which of course means you spend as little time on each case as possible and handle the highest volume possible. So...
NEARY: Yeah. And as you've pointed out, then, the effect of this is that essentially this very important Supreme Court decision is not being enforced.
BRIGHT: Never has been.
NEARY: Never has been.
BRIGHT: When Attorney General Holder said it's in a state of crisis, it's always been in a state of crisis, ever since the Supreme Court decided it. I think the thought was that the Supreme Court says everybody has to have a lawyer, so the states would follow the - they didn't say it was a good idea. They said it's constitutionally required.
So one would hope that the states would follow it, but even today I would say it's violated more often than we see the reality of it.
NEARY: But how is that possible? Why is it impossible to enforce this? I mean...
BRIGHT: Well, it's not impossible. It's easy to do. You...
NEARY: Well, why isn't it being enforced?
BRIGHT: Well, it isn't being because the states have treated Gideon as an unfunded mandate. There's no incentive for, in most - and let me just say that 95 percent of all the criminal cases are in the state courts, not in the federal courts. And most states or counties, many states have left this up to their counties or parishes, have no incentive to provide lawyers to the people that they're trying to convict and fine and imprison and execute.
In fact, a very mediocre or poor system of providing representation for poor people makes it easier to convict them. And so there just has been incredible underfunding, and what that has meant is huge caseloads for either the public defenders or the private lawyers who get assigned these ed thhe private lawywersprivddefense systems, quote, exist to
NEARY: And you've pointed out in your writing the incredible imbalance in that prosecutors' offices tend to be very well-funded.
BRIGHT: Very well-funded, and of course they have all the law enforcement agencies, state and federal. They have the crime labs. The federal government, not only do the states pretty generously fund their prosecutors and their attorneys general, but the federal government, the Department of Justice, gives huge grants to law enforcement and to prosecution.
On the other side of the ledger, the states are very stingy with regard to funding indigent defense. And what it really means is that in a lot of places in this country, there is no adversary system...
NEARY: Which is what our system of justice is based on, correct?
BRIGHT: Theoretically, theoretically, but...
NEARY: Adversarial meaning two different sides.
BRIGHT: Meaning that there are two statements made on each side of the question. And for that to work, of course, those have to be fairly evenly matched. If the prosecution - and this is the case in almost - most cases, the only investigation is done by law enforcement and by the prosecution. There is none done on the defense side because the defense may not have an investigator, or it may have one investigator, like in Missouri, for 1,500 cases.
So the prosecutor has all the information, all the ability to charge, and now really has pretty much the ability to influence the sentence because of the sentencing laws that we have now with mandatory minimums and repeat offenders and sentencing guidelines, make it possible for prosecutors to sort of manipulate the process. So they can relegate the defense lawyer to just being a messenger in some cases, just conveying the plea offer.
NEARY: Give us a sense of how that would play out, you know, in an actual case, I mean, maybe an example of...
BRIGHT: Well, I'll give you an example of what happens every day across this country and is really a disgrace, and it exposes, I think, the corruption of this system better than anything. And that's the so-called meet-them-and-plead-them system. I go to courthouses where it looks like a slave ship has docked outside the courthouses. All these black men are brought in, handcuffed to each other in yellow jumpsuits. They're put in the jury box in the first couple of rows. A lawyer goes down, talks to each one of them for maybe two, three, five minutes. Not long after that, a judge takes the bench, and they all plead guilty. They're sentenced, and that's the total legal representation, that's the total time before a judge that these people have.
Now of course that doesn't happen in every case, and it doesn't happen everywhere, but it happens an awful lot of the time. And by the same token, the people who are released on bond will come into court. They'll meet their lawyer for the first time. They'll have one of these quick conversations, plead guilty, be sentenced, and that's all the legal representation they're ever going to have.
And of course that's not legal representation. The lawyer knows nothing about the client. The lawyer knows absolutely nothing about the charges. So they really can't engage the prosecutor in any kind of negotiations, and they can't give the client professional, informed advice about what to do, whether to go to trial or whether to take the plea.
NEARY: Now what about - can the defendants insist on more legal representation than that, or do they not understand what their rights are at this point, or...
BRIGHT: I think many people in the culture in so many places is to just accept what you get. I was involved in a case of Gregory Wilson, though, who was represented, was assigned a lawyer in Covington, Kentucky. This is a death penalty case. And when he called the lawyer, they answered the phone Kelly's Keg, which was a bar across the street from the courthouse.
Now Wilson already had a lot of misgivings about this lawyer because he practiced out of his home, where there was a Budweiser beer sign on the wall. And so the next time he got to court, he said to the judge, you know, I'm from Detroit. I'm facing the death penalty. I don't have a friend in this town. I need a real lawyer.
And the judge said, well, Mr. Wilson, you can have any lawyer you want, but this is your court-appointed lawyer. This is your court-appointed lawyer. And every time they come to court, Mr. Wilson would try to fire the lawyer and get a better lawyer, and every time the judge would say no. And of course you can imagine the relationship between Mr. Wilson and Mr. Hagedorn, the lawyer, was deteriorating as this went on.
And finally he had a trial where he was very poorly represented and he was sentenced to death. So one of the questions I always ask my students when we take up the right to counsel is: How do you enforce the right to counsel? What else could Gregory Wilson have done? He raised the issue. He told the judge he was not satisfied with this lawyer, that he wanted a real lawyer. But most people sometimes don't realize that they're not being adequately represented.
NEARY: I'm surprised there's not a greater will within the legal profession to address this.
BRIGHT: Well, it's a sad commentary on our profession, I think, that so many people are left so vulnerable. A lot of courts don't have lawyers at all. I mean, a lot - as you pointed out, the ABA reported that in many courts that people don't have lawyers at all, and sometimes people have this very brief association with a lawyer, five, 10 minutes, before they plead guilty.
Again I want to make clear that's not everywhere, but that's too many - one place would be too many places, but this is all over the country.
NEARY: We're going to continue this discussion in a moment. Stay with us. If you've been part of this process, either as a defendant, an attorney or a judge, tell us your story at 800-989-8255. Or send us an email to email@example.com. I'm Lynn Neary, and this is TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News.
NEARY: This is TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. I'm Lynn Neary. Fifty years after the Supreme Court ruled that everyone facing serious criminal charges has the right to an attorney, we're talking about what's changed and what works and what doesn't in today's public defenders offices.
If you've been part of this process, either as a defendant, an attorney or a judge, tell us your story. What worked for you? What didn't? Our number, 800-989-8255. The email address is email@example.com. Or join the conversation on our website. Go to npr.org, and click on TALK OF THE NATION.
Our guest is Stephen Bright, a visiting lecturer at Yale Law School and president and senior counsel of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. And we're going to take a call now. We're going to go to Algosemo(ph), I believe it is, in Philadelphia. Hi. Hello.
ALGOSEMO: Hi. Yes, you've got it right. How are you doing?
NEARY: I'm good, thanks. Go ahead.
ALGOSEMO: Thanks for taking my call. Yes, I actually - until I heard this on NPR, I thought that this is something that people are not aware of or that that's not going on. But I actually have my brother right now that's in this particular situation, my brother who is in jail right now. He's waiting - he's awaiting sentencing right now.
And the lawyer, like your guest said, the lawyer actually is only playing the messenger because from the first time they met, that he met my brother, all he's telling him is to take a plea deal, and there is nothing he can do. This is a federal situation. The federal government never loses cases, and if he don't take the plea deal, he's looking for more time than he got.
And as it is right now, he's looking at a punishment that is far more than whatever crime that he has committed. So I was wondering if there is - at this time he has not been sentenced yet, if there is anything that can be done at this stage of his trial, even though he has taken the plea deal. And the lawyer is not even willing to talk to either him or any one of his relatives.
NEARY: Stephen Bright?
BRIGHT: I'm very sorry to hear about this situation. I don't think without knowing more about the case I could really give you any advice about what your brother should do. I would say this: The federal courts are a good example of how the prosecutors have such tremendous power over sentencing.
Ninety-seven percent of federal cases are in - 97 percent of convictions are obtained by plea bargain. And that's because the prosecution can threaten such draconian, such incredibly severe sentences that it really is a tremendous risk to go to trial because you get substantially less than that if you plead guilty. But I'm sorry to hear that - and usually I would say this, that representation in federal courts tends to be much better than the state courts just because the volume is less and there are good federal public defenders and usually pretty good lawyers appointed to those cases.
But I'm sorry to hear that your brother's had this experience.
NEARY: I'm sorry we can't do more for you, but thanks for calling in, Algosemo. OK, thanks so much. We're going to take another call now from Anna(ph), and Anna is calling from Denver. Hi, Anna. See if we can get Anna here. Oh, we're having a little trouble calling up Anna. Hello, Anna, are you there?
ANNA: Yes, I'm here.
NEARY: Go ahead.
ANNA: I'm actually facing this process this week. I have appearance of counsel on Friday, and I'll be meeting my public defender for the first time. I'm a recently single mom of three kids, and the only reason I can't afford a lawyer is because I can't get a job now because of the charges I'm up against. I'm a nurse and I'm completely innocent of the charges that I'm going to be facing, and I'm really, really concerned about meeting a public defender who is, you know, hey, take a plea deal and go because then I'll lose my nursing license also.
And I know that I'm innocent. I'm pretty sure I know exactly who committed the crime that I'm being accused of. And I was wondering if you had any advice on what I should do if I come across a lawyer who has the same kind of (unintelligible) like meet them and plead them kind of attitude about my case.
BRIGHT: Well, you're fairly fortunate to be in Colorado because one of the guests on this program in a few minutes is going to be Doug Wilson, who's the head of the public defender office there. I have pointed to Colorado as sort of a model system. It's been in existence since 1970, and it's a comprehensive, statewide system.
And often in cases people say that you're better represented by the public defender in Colorado than you are by a private lawyer. So let's hope that you get a very capable public defender who can provide the time and resources and investigation into your case.
I mention this just because it reminds me of it. Last May I got a letter from a young nurse in Georgia who had been facing arson charges for three years, and the only thing her lawyers were telling her was to plead guilty and take 15 years. And like you, she said I'm completely innocent, and if I do plead guilty, I'll lose my license, I'll never be taken seriously again.
She lost both her jobs, including her nursing job, because these charges were pending, and she couldn't get any other job. And when she wrote me, she was homeless and living in her car and unable to make the next car payment. And she said I just don't know what I'm going to do. I tried to be admitted to jail, but they won't take me.
And we took the case, and in a few months of investigation were able to show that there really was no basis for the charges against her, and they were dismissed, and she's now working as a home health care nurse for mentally ill people in Georgia. So I hope you have similar success in your case.
ANNA: (Unintelligible) and I love my job as a nurse, and I would do nothing to jeopardize it like I'm being charged with. And I know of evidence to my innocence, but it's stuff that I'm unable to get on my own.
BRIGHT: Well, that's what your lawyer - it's probably not too good to discuss it too much on the radio would be my advice, but talk to your lawyer about it, and your lawyer should have an investigator and should be able to run down. That's why it's so important that people have lawyers that have time and investigative assistance and...
ANNA: And care.
DOUGLAS WILSON: And care. Right, exactly.
NEARY: Anna, I urge you to keep listening. We're going to bring in a guest now who's very relevant to your case. You might want to listen to this. And thanks so much for calling in.
ANNA: Thank you, and this has been very encouraging. I appreciate it.
NEARY: OK, great, bye-bye, thank you. All right, we're going to go now to Colorado state public defender Douglas Wilson, and he's joining us by phone from his office in Denver. Thanks so much for being with us, Doug.
WILSON: Hi Lynn, it's a pleasure to be here. Hey, Steve, how are you?
BRIGHT: Doug, it's good to hear from you.
WILSON: Nice hearing from you too.
NEARY: So I understand that the public defender system in Colorado is different from what goes on in a lot of the rest of the country. Explain that. How so?
WILSON: Well, I certainly hope we are. We've been around since 1970. We were created by the state legislature as a result of the Gideon decision. So we've got 43 years under our belt, and we are a state system. We're a system that is funded by the state legislature, and that's a lot different than most jurisdictions.
So I have 21 offices, trial offices across the state and an appellate division. We're up to about 413 lawyers now statewide. And it sets both a consistent representation standard across the state because I do all the hiring and firing at the state office, and we set standards that we expect people to meet. We set our - we have a great training program. We set our training standards here.
And I just think it's a different creature when you are a state system than the court-appointed system or the low-bid system or the county system because of the consistency and the camaraderie that we have throughout the system. We've got 400 lawyers that rely on each other every day.
NEARY: Yeah, let me ask you about your hiring and your training because I think one of the real stereotypes regarding public defenders in general, you know, maybe perhaps because of the way they sometimes are portrayed in the media or on television, is that they're not always the best lawyers, they don't go into it for idealistic reasons but just because they can't find a job elsewhere. Number one, is that true, those stereotypes?
WILSON: I'm certain it's true in some places. It's not true here. I mean the state - here's what I look for (unintelligible) we hired 50 lawyers last year. We had 800 resumes for those 50 positions. What I care about when I'm hiring someone is, first, what have you done with poor people? What have you done with our client base? Why do you want to work with our folks? Because we try to be a very client-centered system.
They are the people that need our help. That's who we need to focus on. It's not about the lawyer, and it's not about getting a job. It's not about getting pay. The second thing is clinical work in law schools, and have you worked with a public defender system, whether it's ours or somewhere else. So those are the starting points. If you don't meet those minimum qualifications, I don't talk to you about a job.
NEARY: All right, let's take a call now. We're going to go to Martin, who's calling from San Francisco. Hi Martin.
MARTIN: Hi, good day. I was a - I've been an attorney for 25 years practicing criminal law. I started off in Boston, I left in '98, but I was a reserve attorney. I did - I'm a private lawyer who did court-appointed cases. I think you called it a low pay position. Well, it was low pay, but I did happen to like it. And what I want to say is in Boston and surrounding counties, some of the best public defenders - best criminal defense attorneys in the state were public defenders or members of the private bar who took court-appointed cases.
And I know there's a discrepancy, but I just want to say that sometimes it's excellent because it was in Boston. And just by coincidence, I was listening to the story, the shows this morning, you talked about Colorado. I had a roommate for a couple of years in Colorado who got, I think, railroaded by his public defender, and I was astounded at what happened or didn't happen in his case in Colorado. So it may not be consistent. But Boston area was excellent.
NEARY: All right. Stephen?
BRIGHT: Well, I would just say this: I know from firsthand observation that there's no question that in Massachusetts the lawyers provided to represent poor people accused of a crime are quite good. Both lawyers that are appointed from private practice, which most of the cases are, as well as the public defenders in that state. It's one of the states that's really made good on what Gideon requires.
NEARY: All right. Thanks so much for your call, Martin.
MARTIN: You're welcome.
NEARY: I've got an email here I'd like to read. This is from Lance in Orlando, Florida. He writes: What Mr. Bright doesn't mention is the efficiency built into the meet them and plead them policies. I was prosecuted in federal court. My family spent many thousands of dollars on my defense. My co-defendants with court-appointed lawyers received exactly the same treatment with sentences in line with the one I received. The evolved efficiency of the public defender plea system saves the courts and defendants untold amounts of time and money.
My experience has been that nearly 100 percent of the defendants get exactly what they deserve, including me. I wonder if you can respond to that, Douglas Wilson?
WILSON: Sure. I think, you know, Steve talked earlier about the tremendous power that the prosecutors have and certainly in the federal system - in the state system as well. I mean we basically lost our right to have jury trials by our peers because of the minimum mandatory sentences and the charges that get stacked. I've rarely seen a case anymore that isn't overcharged. So while somebody may be guilty of something, they're usually not guilty of everything that's been thrown at them. And we as defense lawyers are pushed into this position oftentimes of entering pleas in order to avoid the more serious consequences.
NEARY: Is it an efficient system? I mean does it work on a certain level, do you think? I mean...
WILSON: No. I mean the system works (unintelligible) and Steve's right. I'm very proud of the people in my system. I'm not proud of the way our society continues to deny access to counsel to the poor. I think we have a good system. But we're still only 89 percent staffed as to where we should be in comparison to the prosecutors across the state. And the pay for my folks is abysmal. We haven't had a pay raise in - going on five years.
NEARY: What about the caseload? I think...
BRIGHT: Yeah.
NEARY: ...Mr. Bright, I - in one of the pieces that I read that you had written, you talked about the fact that the resources are so poor, the caseloads - there's so many caseloads that it's almost ethically impossible for somebody to really defend...
WILSON: And I think Steve is right and I will tell you I was appointed in November of 2006. And at that time we were on the brink of unethical representation. We had county court lawyers, misdemeanor lawyers, that were carrying 350 cases. That's not ethical representation. We have decreased those to where the maximum that people are carrying now is about 150, which is still too much, but we...
NEARY: Douglas Wilson is the Colorado state public defender, and you are listening to TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. What can your lawyers do then if they feel like they're in a position where it's almost unethical for them to proceed? I mean...
WILSON: Well, I hope I'm addressing that as much as I can with the legislature, but there was an ABA ethical opinion that came out probably four years ago. And it's the first time the ABA has stepped up and said when you get to that level where you feel you are unethical, it is your obligation, individual lawyer, to bring it to your supervisor if you're in a PD system or to your - to the court if you're a court-appointed system and just say: No, I can't do this anymore.
NEARY: I wonder how that would be received. Do you have any idea?
BRIGHT: Well, I know how it was received in Miami, Florida when a lawyer said I can't take another case because ethically I cannot handle it, and the trial judge said, well, of course, and didn't appoint the lawyer. This is a public defender. The prosecution for whatever reason appealed the case, and the court of appeals held that the lawyer had to take the case. Any other lawyer would have an ethical obligation not to take a case which he or she could not handle competently, but public defenders often have cases just piled on them.
And one of the critical things here is the independence of the public defender. In many places, I think, public defenders are afraid to do what Doug just described because they'll lose their jobs if they stand up and say I have too many cases.
NEARY: I have an interesting story here I'd like to read, an email from Pat and - in Tampa, Florida, who writes: I wanted to relate my experience as a defendant in a misdemeanor criminal case in the Seattle municipal court. Unlike the situations your guests have described, I had an amazing, passionate and experienced public defender. Although I was facing a misdemeanor charge, the prosecution first offered a plea agreement which included six months in jail.
After several continuances and my lawyer's badgering, I plead guilty to a reduced charge with only one month in work release. If I hadn't had such excellent representation, I would likely have spent six months or more in jail and would not have gotten back into school and would not have been in my new career today. These penalties are not simply jail time and fines. They can absolutely be life-changing. Doug Wilson, let me just hear what you have to say about that quickly before we have to go.
WILSON: Well, Lynn, I think that's a perfect example of why people are drawn to this practice. I think it truly comes from the heart, and there's a level of commitment and compassion that you will not see from many people. And our folks go in and slug it out every day against the government. And sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. They work their eight to 10 hours, 12 hours a day, and they go back and do it the following day because they care about the clients.
NEARY: Well, thanks so much for joining us, Douglas Wilson.
WILSON: You're welcome.
NEARY: Douglas Wilson is the Colorado state public defender, and he joined us today by phone from his office in Denver. And just very quickly, Stephen Bright, anything that can be done to address some of these problems that you've been talking about?
BRIGHT: Well, two things that I would say quickly. One is that there have to be lawsuits brought as there have been in some states to try to correct these systemic problems. And secondly, these - the criminal justice system, unfortunately, is out of sight and out of mind. It's poor people. It's overwhelmingly racial minorities. And this has to be held up for people to see because this is a disgrace to our society and to the legal profession, and it's got to change. And it's only going to be done when it's examined.
NEARY: Stephen Bright is a lecturer at Yale Law School and president and senior counsel of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. Thanks so much for being with us today.
BRIGHT: Thank you for having me. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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BFL Soft Sock - Algae
This product is sold out
This soft superwash BFL is great for lightweight sweaters, shawls, scarves, and colourwork projects. It is also ideal for socks.
Weight - Fingering - 100 grams
Fibre - 100% Superwash Blue-Faced Leicester
Length - 400 meters / 437 yards
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subset: commoncrawl


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Molsheim/Pebble Beach, August 16, 2008 – The world's most significant celebration of the automobile takes place annually in Monterey, California. This year, it saw some of the most elegant, exclusive, and valuable vehicles ever produced in over 100 years of motoring, with Bugatti playing prominent role. On the evening prior to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the highlight of the event, the marque renowned for impeccable automotive solutions, aesthetics and driving dynamics unveiled a second model to the world – the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with a unique removable roof. In response to customer demand, significant modifications have been made to the vehicle's complex structure to make possible open-top driving, thereby adding a new dimension to this high-performance sports car. Incorporating a host of new and innovative safety and equipment features, it is the world's fastest and most exciting roadster. It is immediately recognizable as a result of its slightly higher windscreen, stylized daytime running lights, and lightweight, transparent polycarbonate roof. The main challenge in developing the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with removable roof resulted from the unique structure of the fixed-roof Bugatti Veyron. An optimum combination of rigidity and lightweight engineering ensures the monocoque passenger cell of the original model is extremely strong while weighing an absolute minimum – it is a central element of the vehicle's structure. As the roof is an integral part of this, removing it meant the load paths had to be completely redesigned to maintain the vehicle's rigidity and crash safety, and to offer additional protection from side impacts and rolling. As a result, the monocoque structure has been reinforced around the side skirts and the transmission tunnel. The B-pillars have been cross-stiffened using a carbon fibre support, and a central carbon plate has been positioned beneath the transmission tunnel to ensure the vehicle suffers from less torsional flexing than any other roadster. The doors of the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport are made of carbon fibre, and house an integrated longitudinal beam. In the event of an accident, this transfers the load from the A to the B-pillar, thereby dissipating impact energy. Furthermore, the two redesigned air intakes for the 16-cylinder mid-engine now feature 10-centimetre wide carbon-fibre elements to offer protection should the car roll. Along with moisture-resistant, backstitched leather, a range of new equipment features has been added to the interior, including a reversing camera with 2.7-inch monitor in the rear view-mirror, and the "Puccini" sound system with digital signal processor. When the roof is closed, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport can reach 407 km/h, while speeds of up to 360 km/h are possible with roof off. Should it rain, an innovative folding roof stored in the luggage compartment can be opened up like an umbrella at any time. When this folding roof is in place, the car can travel at up to 130 km/h. Assembled by hand at the company's headquarters in Molsheim, Alsace, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport will be available from March 2009 at the price of 1.4 million euros (excluding tax). Just 150 examples will be made, with the first 50 of these going exclusively to registered Bugatti customers. The first vehicle is certain to be highly sought after, and Bugatti has taken the decision to donate this specific car to charity.
It will be sold to the highest bidder at the Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company.


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When you visit our website, we record your visit only as a "hit" and do not collect any personal identifiable information about you. The "hit" information is to allow us to compile general statistics to show the daily number of visitors to our site. When you visit certain services of our website, we collect general information about your visits by means of cookies files. The information is only used for analysing your preference in relation to the service we provide. You have a choice not to accept the cookie files, but if you do not, certain functionality may not be available.
2.2 Provision of Personal Data
2.2.1 We collect personal data from our website visitors; data collected may include name, address, e-mail address, etc. The information is used by us for the purposes stated in the respective pages on which we invite you to provide your data. We may also use the information we collect for the following purposes: a) To complete your registration/purchase transactions; b) To identify your interests and preferences, so that you can be informed of new or additional events, activities and promotions that might be of interest of you; c) To notify you of any news relating to the events or activities you have engaged; d) To improve the events and activities organised or co-organised by us and the overall services of us; and 2.2.2 We may communicate or send message to you via fax, email, direct mail, telephone and other means of communication, or send e-newsletters to you. You may choose not to receive promotional materials, by simply telling us, and we will cease to do so, without charge. We do not use your personal data for any other purposes without your prior consent unless such use is permitted or required by law.
3. Data Disclosure
The personal data that we have collected may be transferred to persons or companies engaged in contractual activities on our behalf for the above mentioned purposes for which the personal data are to be used. We limit the personal data we provide to outside persons or companies to only the personal data we believe is appropriate to enable them to carry out their responsibilities under our contracts. We contractually require that the personal data provided be used only for the specifically authorized purpose and that its confidentiality be maintained.
4. Data Retention
In your dealings with us, we retain records of your online transactions for auditing purposes. We also retain your personal data for the purposes as stated in this policy. Should you prefer that your personal data be not kept by us, please let us know and we will remove your personal data from our record after the specified purpose for which you provide us the data has attained.
5. Data Security
All personal data you provide to us is secured on our web site with restricted access by authorized personnel only.
6. Your Consent and Rights
By using our service, making an application/registration or visiting our website, you consent to the collection and use of your personal data as outlined in this policy. Under the Hong Kong Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, you have the right:- to check whether we hold personal data about you and to access such data; to require us to correct inaccurate data; and to ascertain our policies and practices in relation to personal data and the kind of personal data held by us.
7. Enquiry
If you want to access or correct data, have any questions or complaints; please contact our Public Relations Department by: a) writing to our address at Unit 602, 6/F, Mill 5, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan b) or emailing us at email@example.com. Please note that this Privacy Policy Statement may be amended from time to time. Notices regarding amendments will be posted at HKDC's website to inform you of the effective dates of the amendments. Amendments will not have retrospective effect.


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A Career in Film: Musings from Michael Paxton
How does an artist apply Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism to his life and work? How do you handle the challenges posed by working in an industry whose figureheads are largely hostile to reason, romanticism, and capitalism? In STRIVE's latest Mentoring Q&A session, filmmaker Michael Paxton,


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A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.
Researchers at the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, have been awarded a $10 million grant from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) over the next four years to study asbestos exposure pathways that lead to mesothelioma, the bioremediation of this hazardous material and mechanisms that lead to asbestos-related diseases. One of these, mesothelioma, a rare cancer diagnosed in about 3,000 patients each year, is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. The disease is usually fatal with very poor prognosis once diagnosed.
The Penn Superfund Research and Training Program (SRP) Center, which was established by this grant, evolved as a direct consequence of concerns from the community living near the BioRit Asbestos Superfund site in Ambler, PA, about 20 miles north of Philadelphia.
This award is the first NIEHS Superfund grant driven by problems identified in a community-academic partnership. CEET's Community Outreach and Engagement Core (COEC) has facilitated bi-directional communication with the Ambler community for the last five years. The communities of West and South Ambler have long been active in studying the ramifications of their town's long-closed asbestos factory.
Residents in these communities remain at risk for environmental exposure and a potentially increased risk of developing mesothelioma.
From the late 1880s through the present day, Ambler residents have had either occupational or environmental exposure to asbestos. As a result, both current and former residents of the area face potentially serious long-term health consequences. The Pennsylvania Department of Health, with the aid of the COEC, determined that there has been an increase in the rate of mesothelioma in the area compared to the adjacent zip codes, with women having a greater risk than men. The researchers are hopeful that continued investigation and education will yield more information about exposure pathways that led to these health risks.
The new Center will tackle two inter-related environmental science studies and four biomedical science studies. The six projects were designed to address a community-based question or concern that had been previously identified by the COEC:
• Can we remediate asbestos without moving it from the original disposal site?
• What do we know about the fate and transport of asbestos in the environment by water and air?
• What do we know about the exposure pathways that were responsible for the mesothelioma cluster in Ambler? And why is the incidence higher in women?
• Is susceptibility to mesothelioma genetic?
• Can asbestos-related disease be prevented?
• Is there a blood test to determine whether a person will get asbestos-related disease?
Jefferson County, WV: The family of a man who recently died after exposure to asbestos have filed an asbestos lawsuit against his former employer Gulf Oil/Chevron in Jefferson County.
In their complaint, Dolores Belton, Carla Mahan and Myra Mitchell allege their husband and father, Jack Belton, during the course of his employment with the defendant was exposed to toxic materials, including asbestos dust and fibers. "As a result of such exposure, Jack Belton, developed an asbestos-related disease, asbestosis, from which he died a painful and terrible death on March 6, 2014," the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs allege Chevron is responsible for their loved one's injuries, saying the company knew that the products could case asbestosis and other related cancers but still allowed their employees to work around the products. In their complaint, the plaintiffs seek unspecified exemplary and punitive damages plus costs. (wvrecord.com)
Jefferson County, WV: Rosemary Philmon, surviving spouse of Jesse Philmon, and Terry and Ryan Philmon, his surviving children, have filed an asbestos lawsuit against Chevron USA Inc. alleging the company exposed Jess Philmon to asbestos during the course of his employment at Chevron. This exposure resulted in his developing lung cancer and subsequently dying from it.
According to the complaint, Jesse Philmon was was allegedly "exposed to toxic materials including asbestos dust and fibers," while employed by Gulf Oil/Chevron in Jefferson County.
Philmon developed lung cancer "from which he died a painful and terrible death March 6, 2013," the lawsuit states.
Philmon's family alleges Chevron has known for decades that asbestos-containing products could cause asbestos-related cancers but still allowed employees to be exposed to it on the job. They accuse the company of gross negligence for allegedly failing to take the necessary precautions or provide adequate training for Jesse Philmon.
Rosemary Philmon and her sons seek an unspecified amount in exemplary and punitive damages. (wvrecord.com)
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.
According to a study done by The National Fire Administration/NIOSH, published in the October 2013 issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the rate of mesothelioma among firefighters studied was twice that of the general US population.
The study is one the largest of its kind done to date, and looked at mortality patterns and cancer incidence among career firefighters. The researchers evaluated a pool of approximately 30,000 firefighters employed in San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia between 1950 and 2009.
They found, as have previous studies, that firefighters, through the course of their work, are exposed to known and suspected carcinogens like formaldehyde and benzene. The study shows that such exposure is linked to an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Additionally, the results were consistent with previous studies which show that firefighters experience higher rates of respiratory, digestive and urinary cancers, compared to the general population.
What was new, however, was the nearly doubling of the incidence rate for asbestos mesothelioma among firefighters, compared with the general US population. This had not been previously reported. The study not only strengthens previous evidence for the health risks firefighters are exposed to, but also suggests an association between firefighters' occupational exposure to asbestos and increased mesothelioma rates, as asbestos is "the only known causal agent of mesothelioma."
Moundsville, WV: Deborah Morgan has filed an asbestos lawsuit naming 72 companies she claims are responsible for her late husband's lung cancer and death. She claims her husband's condition was a direct and proximate result of the negligence of the defendants.
Ronald Morgan was diagnosed with lung cancer on May 2, 2013, and died September 22, according to the lawsuit. Deborah Morgan alleges the defendants that are premise owners had a duty to provide Ronald Morgan with a reasonably safe place to work and a duty to exercise reasonable care in protecting him from work place hazards.
Further, Mrs. Morgan alleges the defendants failed to warn her husband of the dangers of its products when they knew or should have down that expose to asbestos-containing products and other ingredients of the products would cause disease and injury, and that they failed to exercise reasonable care to warn Ronald Morgan of the dangers to which he was exposed by use of the asbestos-containing products and other ingredients in the defendants' product.
Mrs. Morgan also claims the defendants failed to inform her late husband about safe and sufficient apparel for a person who was exposed to or used the product or products and that the defendants failed to place any warnings on the asbestos-containing products and failed to warn of the dangers of the ingredients of the products.
The 72 defendants in the suit include: A.W. Chesteron Company; Air & Liquid Systems Corporation; Allied Glove Corporation; Ametek Inc.; American Gage & Machine Company Inc.; American Optical Corporation; Atlas Industries Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; Bayer Cropscience Inc.; and Beazer East Inc. (wvrecord.com)
Moundsville, WV: 109 companies have been named as defendants by a couple seeking damages in an asbestos lawsuit. The plaintiffs claim the companies say are responsible for the mesothelioma diagnosis pertaining to Thomas Ray Allen. Allen was diagnosed with mesothelioma on April 30, according to the lawsuit.
Allen and his wife, Phyllis Allen, claim defendants exposed Thomas Allen to asbestos during his employment in New Martinsville. Specifically, the Allens claim that Thomas Allen was exposed to asbestos and/or other harmful minerals manufactured, supplied, sold, distributed, installed, used, specified, removed and/or required by the defendants.
Further, the Allens contend that the defendants failed to warn them of the dangers of the asbestos-containing products and failed to take reasonable precautions to warn them of the dangers.
The defendants also failed to exercise reasonable care to warn them of the dangers and failed to inform them of what would be safe and sufficient apparel for a person who was exposed to or used the product or products, according to the complaint.
The 109 defendants include Bayer Corporation; Air & Liquid Systems Corporation; Ajax Management Corporation; Alliance Machine Company; Allied Glove Corporation; American Gage & Machine Company; American Optical Corporation; Ametek Inc.; Armstrong International Inc.; and Armstrong Pumps Inc. (wvrecord.com)
Salinas, CA: The Windsor Gardens, a 99 bed for-profit nursing home in California, has agreed to a $225,000 settlement to settle allegations it failed to properly handle the removal of asbestos during a renovation.
The nursing home, in Salinas CA, and its general contractor relied on an incomplete "operations and maintenance" report rather than a full survey when doing a renovation in 2012, according to the lawsuit. As a result, they did not know that wallboard in patient rooms contained asbestos, and the harmful substance, which can cause lung cancer, was emitted during work, local CBS affiliate KION reported this week.
Windsor Gardens and its operator, S&F Management Company, entered into the settlement with the Monterey County District Attorney's Environmental Protection Unit. The general contractor, The Stahl Companies, will also pay $70,435 in a civil settlement. (mcknights.com)
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.
Recently, Bayshore Broadcasting published a report about new developments with the demolition of the former Hillcrest Public School in Orillia, Canada. According to the article, asbestos has been discovered in the structure and building materials. Consequently, the structure is being demolished to make way for the construction of a new playground and park.
For many years, asbestos was added to a number of common building materials to increase their strength and durability, and to provide insulating and fireproofing properties. Many older buildings across Canada still have materials that contain asbestos in them. Some of the many materials that may contain asbestos in older structures include:
• Attic and wall insulation containing vermiculite
• Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring
• Adhesives
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings
• Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard or cement sheets
• Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape
• Oil and coal furnace insulation and door gaskets
• Heat-resistant fabrics
When asbestos-containing materials age or are disturbed, they can become friable and asbestos fibers can become airborne. During remodeling and demolition activities, such as at the former Hillcrest Public School, these materials can be easily disturbed and become airborne. If not properly handled, these fibers can pose a threat to workers and other building occupants and in this situation could have created a hazard in the soil of the new playground and park if the asbestos had not been identified and properly managed.
Flint, MI: An out of state law firm has initiated asbestos testing for thousands of former GM employees. Begun some four months ago, the firm reportedly wants to test workers who their current health problems are related to exposure. The firm is paying for the testing, which consists of two x-rays.
In cases where people test positive, they become eligible to receive money from as many as 47 asbestos trusts that have established for this very reason. The amount of financial compensation varies from person to person, depending on the severity of symptoms that are found to be directly related to asbestos.
In cases where peoples test results are negative they don't owe any money for the testing.
According to the attorney heading up the effort, thousands of GM employees were exposed to asbestos if they worked at GM plants from the 1960's to 1982. (ABC12.com)
St. Clair County, IL: Danny Balensiefen has filed an asbestos lawsuit alleging Crane Company, Foster Wheeler Corporation and dozens of other defendants are responsible for his diagnosis of asbestos lung cancer. Balensiefen was diagnosed with asbestos-induced lung cancer on May 9.
According to his complaint, Balensiefen was exposed to asbestos by products designed, manufactured, marketed and sold by the defendant companies and used in his employment in various capacities, including laborer at an auto repair shop, clerk at Safeway Groceries, truck driver at Eagle Motor Lines and laborer at several other companies.
Balensiefen is seeking more than $50,000 in damages. (madisoncountryrecord.com)
Medina, OH: RPM International Inc. settled a lawsuit that resolves personal injury asbestos-related claims related to Bondex International, Inc.
The agreement calls for a plan of reorganization with the United States Bankruptcy Court. Under the terms of the agreement a $450 million trust will be established for the benefit of the asbestos claims. Over the next fours years RPM will deposit an additional $347.5 million into the trust fund.
RPM's industrial products include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and specialty chemicals. Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, Universal Sealants and Euco. RPM's consumer products are used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home maintenance and improvement and by hobbyists. (woodworkingnetwork.com)
Martinsburg, WV: The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has cited The Veterans AffairsMedical Center near Martinsburg for improperly disposing of asbestos-containing material.
The debris was discovered July 21 by Greenfield Enterprises while the general contractor was working on demolition of a concrete slab in the boiler plant, according to information released by the DEP and provided by Krista Bowen, an industrial hygienist with the medical center.
The material was spotted in soil along the rear wall of the boiler plant, according to information provided to the state. Work was stopped on the day the debris was spotted and appropriate measures were taken to cordon off and wet down the area, officials said.
The work was being done as part of upgrades to the boiler plant, which is about as far away from the hospital building as you can get on the medical campus, medical center spokesman Michael J. McAleer said.
The contractor began demolition work on the concrete slab on July 11, according to the DEP.
A DEP notice of violation was issued July 24 by inspector Michael Kanehl, according to a copy of the notice released by the agency. (heraldmailmedia.com)
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.
Many workplaces in the US are now considered to have put workers at high-risk for asbestos exposure—decades ago. These include: US Navy, oil refineries, shipyards, chemical manufacturing facilities, aerospace manufacturing facilities, mines, smelters, coal fired power plants, construction work sites, auto repair shops, plumbers, welders, electricians, and most manufacturing, or industrial plants that were operating in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s.
Sadly, many individuals who served in the US Navy, worked at a power plant, an oil refinery, or a shipyard decades ago are now being diagnosed with asbestos disease—the average age of diagnosis of asbestos mesothelioma is 72 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC).
Although strict regulations about the use of asbestos have been put in place, the potential for asbestos exposure remains. In 2009, the CDC reported:
"Although asbestos has been eliminated in the manufacture of many products, it is still being imported (approximately 1,730 metric tons in 2007) and used in the United States in various construction and transportation products. Ensuring a future decrease in mesothelioma mortality requires meticulous control of exposures to asbestos and other materials that might cause mesothelioma. Recent studies suggest that carbon nanotubes (fiber-shaped nanoparticles), which are increasingly being used in manufacturing, might share the carcinogenic mechanism postulated for asbestos and induce mesothelioma, underscoring the need for documentation of occupational history in future cases." The full report can be accessed at the CDC's webpage: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5815a3.htm
St. Clair County, IL: A former railroad engineer has filed an asbestos lawsuit alleging he developed lung cancer as a result of career-related asbestos exposure.
Gary W. Davis filed the lawsuit against Union Pacific Railroad Company stating that during his 38-year career as a hostler, fireman and engineer for Union Pacific he was exposed to various toxic substances, including asbestos, diesel exhaust, environmental tobacco smoke, silica and creosote, which led to his diagnosis of lung cancer.
As a result of his cancer, Davis suffered great pain and disability, lost his enjoyment of life and suffered mental anguish, the lawsuit states. Further, Davis claims he has suffered extreme nervousness, incurred great costs and lost income as a result of the illness.
He claims the defendant is responsible for causing his injuries, saying it failed to monitor the system to determine whether employees' exposure to asbestos was below prescribed limits, failed to provide special clothing, failed to collect work environment samples and failed to implement proper engineering controls, among other negligent actions.
Davis is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. (madisonrecord.com)
Boston, MA: An Oxford environmental company has been sued for allegedly failing to follow proper procedures and safety precautions while removing asbestos-containing materials from a home in Sturbridge, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.
The lawsuit against Patriots Environmental Corporation, filed Monday in Suffolk Superior Court, also alleges that the company failed to pay permit fees to the Commonwealth for at least 24 separate projects, as well as a $50,000 penalty by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for asbestos and hazardous waste violations at other sites.
According to the complaint, in July 2013, Patriots was hired to remove asbestos shingles from the exterior walls of a single-family home in Sturbridge. During the renovation, Patriots allegedly caused the asbestos shingles to break apart, dropping debris onto on the ground and into unsealed plastic bags exposed to the air. Patriots also allegedly failed to wet, cover, or keep in sealed containers the transite asbestos shingles that it removed during the renovation.
Further, the complaint also alleges that Patriots, for at least 25 asbestos removal or construction and demolition projects between November 2012 and December 2013, failed to pay required permit application fees when notifying the Commonwealth of the intended operations. Additionally, Patriots failed to pay a civil administrative penalty of approximately $50,000 assessed by MassDEP against Patriots for its illegal handling of asbestos and hazardous waste at various sites in the Commonwealth in 2008.
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties for Massachusetts Clean Air Act violations, as well as payment of the outstanding fees and penalties.(mass.gov)
Boston, MA: A $9.3 million settlement has been awarded by a Massachusetts jury hearing an asbestos trial in which the plaintiffs alleged a former pipefitter union business manager was exposed to Limpet spray insulation made by Turner & Newall Ltd.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts jury reached the verdict on June 20 after a two-week trial. T&N Ltd, was the lone remaining defendant at the time of the verdict. The plaintiff was exposed to the product in the 1960s. (harrismartin.com)
Boise, ID: The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has agreed to settle with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for alleged violations of asbestos regulations.
In April 2013, ITD hired inmates at the St. Anthony Idaho Work Camp, a division of the Idaho Department of Correction, to remove approximately 460 feet of flooring tiles at an ITD maintenance station in Rigby using mechanical chippers and buffers. Waste from this project had been contaminated with asbestos, which was placed in a trash dumpster—a violation of asbestos disposal protocols. The material was then removed from the site to a landfill unapproved to handle asbestos waste. The EPA was notified of the incident by a worker and supervisor on the job site.
The workers had not been trained in asbestos handling or disposal, and accepted methods of waste disposal were not used.
The last asbestos test performed on the site took place in July 1989, and a single sample taken during that examination tested negative for the noxious material. However, industry standards indicate that such exams include multiple tests. After learning of the EPA's allegations seven months after the alleged incident, the ITD hired a consultant to perform an independent test, during which two-thirds of samples taken by the consultant tested positive for asbestos.
In the settlement, released July 9, ITD has agreed to pay a $55,800 penalty. As part of that settlement, ITD neither admits nor denies allegations made by the EPA. (boiseweekly.com)
Denver, CO: Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced that Tri State Environmental Group and Aftermath Cleanup & Remediation Services, LLC, will pay fines totaling $1 million for failing to properly dispose of asbestos containing waste material (ACWM). The fine will be split evenly between the two asbestos abatement disposal companies. The owner of the companies, James Joseph Duran (D.O.B. 04/01/66), and the companies themselves were sentenced after all three plead guilty to the crime of Causing and Contributing to a Hazardous Substance Incident which is a felony under Colorado law.
An Arapahoe District Court judge sentenced Duran and his companies for criminal behavior that also violated Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's regulations regarding illegal storage of ACWM. The Environmental Crimes Unit of the Attorney General's Office partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division and the CDPHE to investigate and prosecute the case.
Beginning in 2009, Duran began abandoning ACWM without following the proper safety procedures which caused a series of hazardous substance incidents. Duran and his companies also knowingly violated emissions regulations of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. Finally, Duran, Aftermath and Tri State knowingly concealed violations from law enforcement and CDPHE officials.
James Duran pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and six years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $2,538 in restitution. Both Aftermath Cleanup & Remediation Services and Tri State Environmental Group pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to a $500,000 fine.
The Environmental Crimes Unit of the Colorado Attorney General's Office, EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and the CDPHE, all members of the Colorado Environmental Task Force, investigated a series of crimes that brought Duran and his companies to justice. (coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/)
A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.
This month, a school building in Tennessee was found to have asbestos. The finding came after several employees became ill. Several months ago a junior high school in Rhode Island was closed for several days so that workers could safely remove asbestos from the building. The asbestos was discovered when a ceiling that was being taken down revealed a second concealed ceiling. The hidden ceiling was found to contain asbestos.
Because of its strength and heat resistance, asbestos was used in a wide variety of building construction materials. As the Rhode Island case demonstrates, many times asbestos containing materials may be out of sight.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos can be found in many products and materials. Some of the many suspect materials include:
• Attic and wall insulation produced containing vermiculite
• Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and ceilings
• Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets
• Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape
• Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation
• Heat-resistant fabrics
• Automobile clutches and brakes
You can find out more about asbestos dangers in the home by watching this video:
Springfield, TN: Engineers have found asbestos in the Robertson County School central office, after several school employees have come down with respiratory illness.
The finding is a surprise, as the school was built about 90 years ago. "This came as somewhat of a surprise because a building of that age doesn't usually have asbestos," Robertson County Mayor Howard Bradley told WSMV Nashville. The building reportedly failed an air quality test in March.
The director of schools has informed county officials that five of his employees are ill, all of whom work in the central office. They have been diagnosed with environmentally-caused illnesses.
"I think there are five people who have been treated for respiratory issues over the past few months, not to say they are directly connected to the environment of that building," said Bradley. "I'm not privy to say that. Hopefully we'll find that out in time, but we need to take care of our people and put them in a safe environment." (WSMV, Nashville)
Charleston WV: 74 companies have been named as defendants in an asbestos lawsuit alleging they are responsible for William A. Williams diagnosis of lung cancer.
Williams was diagnosed with lung cancer on December 4, 2012, according to the complaint. He alleges that he was exposed to asbestos dust at various work sites during the course of his lifetime. Specifically, he claims the defendants knew or should have known that exposure to the asbestos-containing products would cause disease and injury. However, the defendants failed to warm him of those dangers.
Williams claims the defendants' actions were malicious, willful and wanton misconduct and were done with a complete disregard for the safety and rights of others.
The 74 defendants named in the suit include Air & Liquid Systems Corporation, American Optical Corporation, Atlas Industries Inc., Aurora Pump Company, Bayer Cropscience Inc., Beazer East Inc., Brand Insulations Inc., CBS Corporation, Catalytic Construction Company, and Certainteed Corporation. (wvrecord.com)
Jefferson County, TX: Port Arthur residents are suing Texaco after their family member died from asbestos-related disease.
Wanda Wallace, surviving spouse of Herman Wallace, and Dana Bodden and Damon Wallace, surviving children of Herman Wallace, filed a lawsuit May 28 in the Jefferson County District Court against Texaco Inc. and Chevron USA Inc., citing asbestos exposure.
The plaintiffs claim Herman Wallace used and was exposed to asbestos while he worked for the defendants.
According to the suit, Herman was diagnosed as having asbestosis, an asbestos-related disease, which resulted in Herman dying a painful and terrible death Oct. 9, 2012.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages and court costs. (setexasrecord.com)
New Orleans, LA: An asbestos lawsuit has been filed by the widow of a former shipyard employee who died of mesothelioma. Janet Wusthoff, who filed the complaint on behalf of Charles W. Wusthoff, naming Huntington Ingalls Inc., Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Inc., Avondale Industries Inc., Reilly Benton Co Inc., Taylor-Seidenbach Inc., Mccarty Corporation, Eagle Inc., Eagle Asbestos And Packing Co Inc., Onebeacon America Insurance Company, Onebeacon Insurance Company and Commercial Union Insurance Company as defendants.
According to the complaint, following the death of Charles Wusthoff on July 24, 2013, it was determined that his cause of death resulted from asbestos exposure. The plaintiff asserts that her husband was employed as a boiler-room painter by the shipyard at Avondale Industries Inc. located at 5100 River Road in Avondale in the early 1970s where he was allegedly exposed to asbestos and asbestos containing products in poorly ventilated quarters without being provided respiratory or other safety equipment.
Wusthoff further alleges that the asbestos exposure during her husband's employment resulted in his contraction of lung cancer and subsequent death.
The defendants are accused of wrongful death, general negligence and strict liability.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, loss of quality of life, disfigurement, financial loss, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of love, loss of affection and loss of society. (louisianrecord.com)


text: Submit a Ticket Product or Category With which product or category do you need help? Choose one ... Nomady - Magazine Theme for Digital NomadsBone - WordPress Blog ThemeBone - WordPress Blog Theme - WooCommerce Compatible Verify Purchase with Envato OR Enter your Purchase Code Enter your Envato purchase code here to verify your purchase. Registration You will need to register an account with us to get support. Ticket Subject In general, what is this ticket about? Related URL Optional, but very helpful. Ticket Description Please be as descriptive as possible regarding the details of this ticket. Add Attachment Ticket Visibility By default, only the support team can view and respond to your tickets. A public ticket, however, would allow the entire community to view and reply. Note that they cannot view any information entered into the "private" fields above. Make this ticket public Read our privacy policy and see how we handle your personal data Submit Ticket


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Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Updated: March 1, 2019
1.0 Introduction
We care about your privacy online, so here is relevant information regarding privacy on our website www.jenniemoserdesign.com. Our goal is to safeguard the privacy of all our visitors and users. Please make sure you understand our practices before you use our site.
2.0 No Children's Use
Our website is not intended for children, which is defined as anyone under 13 years of age in the US and anyone under 16 in the EU. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian be willing to agree to these terms on their behalf. If you are a child under these definitions, you may not use or provide any information on this Website; use any of its features or register; make any purchases; use any of the interactive or public comment features; or provide any information about yourself to us.
If we learn that we have received personal information from a child without parental consent, we will delete that information. If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under 13, please contact us at email@example.com.
3.0 Data: Do we collect it, and what do we do with it? (For EU visitors)
3.1 Data Collection Table
Provide goods/services; Personalize website/email experience; Protect our company
We will ask for consent
Provide goods/services; send emails about goods/services
We will ask for consent
Provide goods/services
Deliver goods/services as part of transaction
Collect payment for goods/services
Contracted purchase
To answer questions and improve site experience and offerings
Need questions to provide answers
Improve site experience and offerings
We will ask for consent
Improve site experience and offerings
We will ask for consent
3.2 Who Has Access To The Data We Collect?
We process and store data we collect from you, but we may also use third parties to assist us with processing your personal data including the following categories of vendors:
Financial transaction processors (Paypal)
Customer service communication platform
Contest and survey platform
Email communication manager
Marketing funnel providers
Website management services
Website design and programming services
Website analytics services (Wix Analytics, Google Analytics)
Any of these third parties who help process or store your data have written agreements with us that prevent them from using, sharing, or storing your personal data for any other purpose than the scope of our contracted terms with them.
3.3 Legitimate Interest: We claim a legitimate interest for processing your personal information when you submit the information with an expectation that it will be processed without any impact on you. If you have questions about your data, what we use it for, or the basis for us collecting it, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
3.4 How Long Do We Keep Your Data? We keep your personal data for differing periods of time depending on why we gathered it:
Opt-In to [Newsletter, Email Course, Program]: 36 months
Waiting List: 24 months
Transaction: Four years for tax audit purposes.
Submitting Questions: Five years
Survey data: 24 months
Lessons: 24 months
If a legal claim arises involving your data, we will store and disclose that data to the relevant parties until the matter has been resolved.
3.5 Your Right To Ask For Corrections, Erasure, And Export Of Your Data: You have the right to control your personal data. Specifically, you have the following rights:
The right to be informed: We are informing you now with this policy.
The right of access: We'll provide you with the data we have about you.
The right to rectification: Request we fix incorrect data about you.
The right to erasure: Request we erase certain data about you.
The right to restrict processing: Ask us to restrict certain type of processing of your personal information.
The right to data portability: Ask us to provide your personal data we have for export.
The right to object: Object to how we use your data.
Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling: We don't profile you, but keep in mind you have this right with other sites.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact email@example.com with your request.
3.6 Your Right To Withdraw Consent: Although this is mentioned above, we want to emphasize that wherever we've asked for your consent to collect or process your personal data, you have the right to withdraw that consent. If you receive email messages from us, you can use the Unsubscribe link in each message to withdraw consent and stop the mailings. Alternatively, you can contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com with your request.
3.7 Do We Transfer Your Data To Third Countries? No. We are located in the United States. Your data is collected and held here.
3.8 Privacy Concerns, Contacting Us, Complaints: You can contact email@example.com with any questions or requests about these policies or your personal data. If, after contacting us, you feel a privacy issue has not be resolved, you have the right to file a complaint with a Supervisory Authority such as the Data Protection Commissioner of Ireland.
Data Controller
Representative: Jennie Moser
3.9 Cookies and Similar Technologies:
Like many websites, this site uses cookies and similar technologies to track particular aspects of you and other people who visit us. Cookies are tiny files that are downloaded to your computer to track particular aspects of your activity online to help us learn certain things about our website. This tracking is done to provide us with information on how people move about the site, what is of interest to them and what is not, how our marketing is performing, and incidental items such as what percentage of users access the site from a personal computer versus a mobile phone. You may block most cookies by adjusting your browser settings as well as responding to cookie consent notices. This site uses the following cookies: TS01d5fbf4, hs, TS01e85bed, TS013d62ce, svSession, requestId, XSRF-TOKEN.
4.0 For California Folks
4.1 Do Not Track Signals: Pursuant to the California Online Privacy Protection Act, we hereby disclose that we do not currently honor Do Not Track signals issued by browsers or other third-party sources.
4.2 California Eraser Law If you are an individual under 18 and have provided personal information or content to us in some manner, you have the right to request the deletion of that information pursuant to the "California Eraser Law." Contact us to make such a request at email@example.com
5.0 For Our Valued Friends Regardless of Location
5.1 Privacy Policy Modifications and Updates:We may update and modify this Privacy Policy at any time. We will post a notice on the site 30 days before the change goes into effect and forward an email message to you should we have an email address for you. You may or may not notice the changes.
5.2 Legal Disclosures of Personal Information:We may process, store, and disclose personal information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to 1) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on us; 2) protect and defend our rights or property; or 3) act under exigent circumstances to protect the safety of the public or users of the site.
5.3 DMCA Disclosures:We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. As part of the compliance process, we may be required to disclose whatever information we have for you to a copyright holder who has submitted a complaint to us.
5.4 Third Party Websites: We link to other sites, but please keep in mind that we do not control the privacy policies of those sites. Make sure to review the policies of these sites before providing your personal information.
5.5 Sale of Business: Should we sell a portion or all of this site or our business, your personal information will be an asset transferred to the new owner.
5.6 Affiliates: We may share your personal information with affiliates who promote our products or services for a commission fee. We require our affiliates to honor this Privacy Policy. They are not allowed to spam you and must disclose they are an affiliate for us. If they do not do so, they are in violation of their affiliate terms and this Privacy Policy, and any violation of this nature should be reported to email@example.com
6.0. Miscellaneous Legal
6.1 Severability: If any part of this Privacy Policy is deemed unlawful and/or unenforceable, all other provisions contained herein will remain in full force and effect.
6.2 Entire Agreement: The information contained herein constitutes the entire agreement between site users and our company relating to the use of this website.
6.3 Law and Jurisdiction: This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with United States law. Any dispute arising out of or related to the information contained herein is subject to adjudication in the state of Indiana, United States.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at email@example.com.
Terms & Conditions of Use
Updated July 11, 2019
Welcome to www.jenniemoserdesign.com, as operated by Jennie Moser Design, LLC. These are our rules if you want to use our website and digital products/templates available for purchase from our site. If you do not agree to these rules, you cannot use our site and we invite you to explore other options. You must also agree to the usage terms connected with the purchase of any media.
We can change these rules whenever we want and will post the new rules on our site, whether you notice them or not. We have intentionally written them in a way that avoids legalese so that everyone can clearly understand and agree to the rules and understand their rights and responsibilities.
We hope there won't be any problems and that you will reach out to us if you are having issues with our site, service, or products. We aim to provide a clear and transparent customer experience for you.
1.0 Site Services
We agree to provide you with services, or the "Service" through www.jenniemoserdesign.com and any affiliate domains or sub-domains. In exchange for providing this service, we require you to follow these rules:
You must be at least 13 years old to use the Site, or if you are a resident of the EU, you must be at least 16 years old. Don't lie about your age. If you are under 18, you agree that a parent or legal guardian agrees to these rules on your behalf.
Don't use the Site to do anything illegal or break the rules in our terms of use.
Don't change anything about our website or applications, upload any type of virus or malware, or do anything that might interfere with the way the Site or its services works.
Don't do anything that might affect how other people use and enjoy the Site. Be a good neighbor.
Don't encourage anyone to break these rules.
Use your common sense, and be a good human.
Don't post anything violent, or anything that promotes violence or violent groups, or that might make other people feel scared.
Don't post content that contains nudity, sexual violence, or commercial sexual services.
Don't post content that promotes crime or anything that would break US law.
Do not post content related to certain regulated goods, like selling or trading non-medical drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, or marijuana.
Don't bully anyone or post anything horrible about people. By bullying, we mean making a degrading statement about someone or posting inappropriate images that threaten someone. If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, you shouldn't say it on the Site. And if you can't say anything nice or at least constructive, maybe you shouldn't say anything at all.
Don't post personal or private information about someone else. This includes someone's contact information like their phone number, address, email, location, or other private details.
Don't post stuff that doesn't belong to you or infringes upon someone else's intellectual property.
Don't use anybody else's account without their permission or try to find out their login details.
Don't let anyone else use your account. Keep your password secret.
Don't set up an account with someone else's name, including a famous person or company. If you lie when you set up an account, you can be kicked off forever.
Don't use any type of software or robot to create accounts or access Site, and don't use it send spam or unwanted messages to others.
Don't register an account if your previous account was disabled or you were kicked off for violating our rules.
Don't register for an account if you are not allowed to under any other rules or laws.
2.0 Your Rights
2.1 You have the right to feel safe using Site.
2.2 You have the right to your privacy on Site. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for details.
2.3 Any communications made through our contact page, blog, blog comments, newsletter sign-up or other pages, or directly to us through phone, mail or email is not confidential and is subject to viewing and distribution by third parties. We own any and all communications displayed on our website, servers, comments, emails or other media as allowed by United States law, and we will not give credit or pay royalties for unsolicited user-generated content such as blog comments or emails. For more information on when and how we store and use your communications or any data provided by you in those communications, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
We reserve the right to republish or distribute anything you upload to our site as reasonable in the course of our business. You agree not to submit any content that could be illegal or serve an unlawful purpose, including, but not limited to, content that is potentially libelous or maliciously false, obscene, abusive, negligent or otherwise harmful or inappropriate.
2.4 If you are a resident of the EU, you have the right to be forgotten and can delete your account and the content on your page at any time by logging in and completing a delete request. It may take a few days to process and may be visible by others in the meantime. Some of your content that was on other accounts or pages or that was shared may survive and may not be deletable. Please think before you post. We may also keep your registration information for as long as we need to do to run our business and to follow these rules.
2.5 You are responsible for anything you do on Site under your login, including things you post and comment on. You are responsible for making sure the stuff you post belongs to you, including any music or photos. If you post something you shouldn't and get a fine,you will have to pay it.
3.0 Our Rights
3.1 We are not responsible for the following:
1. Links to other companies or websites, even when the link shows up in Site
2. What happens when you connect your Site account to another website or service, including sharing a picture or video. You should read the rules for that service to know your rights.
3. The data cost on your mobile device for using Site or its services.
4. Any content that is stolen or copied from the Site by someone else
3.2 We can end the Site and its services at any time or stop you from using Site at any time for any reason without letting you know beforehand. We can also delete content you have uploaded for any reason, whether you think they violated our rules or not. We do not have to pay you if we delete content that was making you money.
3.3 We can make you switch your username for any reason.
4.0 Intellectual Property Rights
All images, text, designs, graphics, trademarks and service marks are owned by and the property of Jennie Moser Design, LLC. It is a violation of federal law to use any of our intellectual property in whole or in part, and modification of any materials contained on this Site is illegal and may be prosecuted to the fullest extent permissible, including asking for financial penalties (damages) and/or an injunction forcing you to stop using our intellectual property immediately. Do not try to use our stuff, remove it, change it, or claim to be us without written permission.
4.1 License. Subject to your compliance with these terms and the law, when you purchase a template you are granted a limited, single-user, non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to use the digital template in one (1) website. Please read through the licensing terms BEFORE you make a purchase to make sure you can use the template in a way that complies with the licensing terms and your expectations and marketing plans.
4.2. Content Files. "Content Files" means Jennie Moser Design template file(s). Unless the documentation or specific license associated with the Content Files state otherwise, you may use, display, modify, reproduce, and distribute any of the Content Files. However, you may not distribute the Content Files on a stand-alone basis (i.e., in circumstances in which the Content Files constitute the primary value of the product being distributed), and you must not claim any copyright or trademark rights in the Content Files or derivative works of the Content Files. Lowdown: You cannot use our templates to set up your own template website or service, whether or not you are charging for it.
4.3. Single-template Purchases. Purchasers receive a limited license to use the template for a single website. Users may uninstall the template and reinstall it on the same website but may not transfer or sell them it in any form to any third party. The license to use the template file(s) individually purchased and downloaded from Jennie Moser Design never expires.
4.4. No Distribution Rights. All purchasers agree that you may not share, upload, or otherwise make the template available for any other use and doing so would be a violation of this Agreement and could subject the user to a liquidated damages penalty, namely a $10,000 fine or the largest fine permitted in the local jurisdiction. The purchaser agrees that she or he is put on notice and cannot claim ignorance of the licensing terms and applicable restrictions.
4.5. Credit. Purchasers must include the credit statement included on the template and may not manipulate the template to remove it.
4.6. Download access. Customers are responsible for downloading and saving the files to their own files or devices. Jennie Moser Design reserves the right to change, delete or archive files in its library at any time and without any notice.
4.7. License Specific. The purchaser MAY: use the template for personal or commercial web use. The purchaser MAY NOT: sell, lease, transfer, assign, give away or distribute this template to any other party in any way. The purchaser MAY NOT: use or resell this photo as part of a template library or template shop. All other rights reserved by Jennie Moser Design, LLC.
5.0 This Agreement
5.1 If you use other third-party services on the Site, including payment services, you will need to follow those rules or terms. If any of those rules conflict with these rules, those rules will win.
5.2 If a court finds any of this Agreement unenforceable, the other rules will still be valid.
5.3 Any changes to these rules must be made in writing. If we fail to enforce any of these rules for any reason, we still have the right to enforce them in the future, and our behavior will not be a waiver of our overall rights in this Agreement.
5.4 We reserve all the rights we did not expressly grant or tell you about in this Agreement.
5.5 No one else besides you and us (no third parties) have rights under this agreement.
5.6 You cannot give these rights or obligations to someone else without our consent. We can give our rights and obligations to someone else, however, like if we change ownership by selling part or all of our business, or if we need to for legal reasons.
6.0. Advertising, Affiliates and Testimonials
This site may use advertising or affiliate links to sell certain products or services. We disclaim any and all liability as a result of your purchase through one of these links. We will use reasonable efforts to notify you when and where we have placed ads or affiliate links in addition to this disclaimer located in these Terms & Conditions. You accept express liability for any and all consequences or benefits of clicking the affiliate links contained on this website or related communications. Any testimonials reflect the accurate experience of the person quoted, however, your results with any particular product or service may vary.
7.0 Refunds & Payment Collection
We like to have fun, but we take our business seriously. We'd appreciate your careful consideration of the service and products available on the site, and we advise you to make your purchases carefully.
Due to the nature of the services and/or products provided, refunds will not be given unless otherwise specified in writing.
8.0 Limits on Liability
8.1 Site operates as is, and we can't guarantee it will be safe and secure or will work perfectly all the time. Sometimes crazy things and mistakes happen, even when we try to find reliable vendors to help us operate the Site and its services. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE ALSO DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. We do not control or direct what people and others do or say, and we are not responsible for their actions or conduct (whether online or offline) or any content they share (including offensive, inappropriate, obscene, unlawful, and other objectionable content). We also aren't responsible for services and features offered by other people or companies, even if you access them through our Service. You should read and agree to their rules and terms.
8.2 We cannot predict when issues might arise with our service. Accordingly, our liability shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. We are not responsible for lost profits, data or any kind of damages connected to you using the Site. The total limit on our liability to you under these Terms is the greater of: $100 or the amount you have paid us in the past twelve months.
8.3 You agree to defend (at our request), indemnify and hold us harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and costs, arising out of or connected with these Terms or your use of the Service. You will cooperate as required by us in the defense of any claim. We reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, and you may not settle any claim without our prior written consent.
9.0 How We Will Handle Disputes
9.1 We hope there won't be any problems and that you will reach out to us if you are having issues with our service. But, if you have a legal problem with Site, you agree to use binding arbitration under the AAA, which means you will not get go to court by yourself or with others or be part of a class-action lawsuit or arbitration. We and you waive a trial by jury. The following claims don't have to be arbitrated and may be brought to court: small claims, intellectual property disputes (like copyrights and trademarks), or efforts to interfere with the services or engage with the service in unauthorized ways. A court can also decide issues about the scope and enforceability of these arbitration provisions.
9.2 For any claim that is not arbitrated or resolved in small claims court, you agree that it will be resolved exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the District of New York or a state court located in New York. You also agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of either of these courts for the purpose of litigating any such claim.
9.3 The laws of the State of New York to the extent not preempted by or inconsistent with federal law, will govern these Terms and any claim, without regard to conflict of law provisions.
9.4 We appreciate feedback, but we may use any of your comments without any obligation to pay you and do not have to keep them confidential. For questions about this policy, you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Record | |||||
Author | Roijezon, U.; Djupsjobacka, M.; Bjorklund, M.; Hager-Ross, C.; Grip, H.; Liebermann, D.G. | ||||
Title | Kinematics of fast cervical rotations in persons with chronic neck pain: a cross-sectional and reliability study | Type | Journal Article | ||
Year | 2010 | Publication | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Abbreviated Journal | BMC Musculoskelet Disord |
Volume | 11 | Issue | Pages | 222 | |
Keywords | Adult; Aged; Biomechanics/*physiology; Cervical Vertebrae/*physiopathology; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Head Movements/*physiology; Humans; Middle Aged; Neck Pain/*diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology; Physical Examination/methods; Reproducibility of Results; Rotation/*adverse effects; Time Factors; Young Adult | ||||
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Assessment of sensorimotor function is useful for classification and treatment evaluation of neck pain disorders. Several studies have investigated various aspects of cervical motor functions. Most of these have involved slow or self-paced movements, while few have investigated fast cervical movements. Moreover, the reliability of assessment of fast cervical axial rotation has, to our knowledge, not been evaluated before. METHODS: Cervical kinematics was assessed during fast axial head rotations in 118 women with chronic nonspecific neck pain (NS) and compared to 49 healthy controls (CON). The relationship between cervical kinematics and symptoms, self-rated functioning and fear of movement was evaluated in the NS group. A sub-sample of 16 NS and 16 CON was re-tested after one week to assess the reliability of kinematic variables. Six cervical kinematic variables were calculated: peak speed, range of movement, conjunct movements and three variables related to the shape of the speed profile. RESULTS: Together, peak speed and conjunct movements had a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 78% in discriminating between NS and CON, of which the major part could be attributed to peak speed (NS: 226 +/- 88 degrees /s and CON: 348 +/- 92 degrees /s, p < 0.01). Peak speed was slower in NS compared to healthy controls and even slower in NS with comorbidity of low-back pain. Associations were found between reduced peak speed and self-rated difficulties with running, performing head movements, car driving, sleeping and pain. Peak speed showed reasonably high reliability, while the reliability for conjunct movements was poor. CONCLUSIONS: Peak speed of fast cervical axial rotations is reduced in people with chronic neck pain, and even further reduced in subjects with concomitant low back pain. Fast cervical rotation test seems to be a reliable and valid tool for assessment of neck pain disorders on group level, while a rather large between subject variation and overlap between groups calls for caution in the interpretation of individual assessments. | ||||
Address | Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gavle, Sweden. email@example.com | ||||
Corporate Author | Thesis | ||||
Publisher | Place of Publication | Editor | |||
Language | English | Summary Language | Original Title | ||
Series Editor | Series Title | Abbreviated Series Title | |||
Series Volume | Series Issue | Edition | |||
ISSN | 1471-2474 | ISBN | Medium | ||
Area | Expedition | Conference | |||
Notes | PMID:20875135 | Approved | no | ||
Call Number | Serial | 31 | |||
Permanent link to this record |