Fight Over a Parking Space Allegedly Leads to a Fractured Spine
A Colorado man faces assault charges after a fight over a parking space outside a bagel shop on the morning of Saturday, October 1. According to an arrest warrant issued October 4, the victim suffered a fractured spine, head injuries, and multiple abrasions and contusions. The victim presented in court that day with a U-shaped wound on his forehead. The incident made news in part because the alleged assailant had returned from Pakistan a few months earlier, where he had worked as a contractor for the CIA and was involved in a shooting incident.
Police originally arrested the man on charges of third-degree assault. When it became clear that the victim suffered a broken vertebra, authorities raised the charge to second-degree assault. As of October 5, no charges were pending against the victim for any actions in the fight. The alleged assailant admitted to hitting the victim first, but claims that the victim also hit him five times. Colorado law defines third-degree assault in part as “with criminal negligence...caus[ing] bodily injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon” and classifies it as a class 1 misdemeanor. Second-degree assault is defined in part as “[w]ith intent to cause bodily injury to another person...caus[ing] such injury to any person by means of a deadly weapon” and classified as a class 4 felony. Reports on the incident do not indicate if police allege use of a weapon by the alleged assailant. The key difference between the two criminal charges is the required mental state of the accused, although the distinction for authorities appeared to be the extent of the victim’s injuries.
Spinal cord injuries, defined as any injury resulting from trauma, can have serious consequences for the victim. Effects range from incontinence or impaired mobility to full paralysis. Treatments for spinal cord injuries generally involved extensive rehabilitative therapy, as well as surgeries and pharmaceutical and psychological treatment. Obviously a long course of treatment becomes exceedingly expensive for the victim. While the diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord injuries has advanced over the years, severe injuries still carry little hope for full recovery. In addition to treatment and rehabilitation, victims must make substantial adjustments in their lifestyle and occupation.
Continue reading " Fight Over a Parking Space Allegedly Leads to a Fractured Spine " »
Studies by the VA and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have shown that risky behavior accounts for many of the deaths. This includes not using seat belts or helmets, speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Training in “aggressive driving” is one possible cause. People on deployment receive training for driving in combat situations, and must constantly contend with the possibility of ambush or improvised explosive devices. VA officials have described a sense of “invincibility” among many returning veterans, having survived combat, which can unwittingly lead to dangerous driving.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a series of initiatives in late September that it hopes will further ensure the safety of the food supply. The proposed measures, known as the Retail Food Safety Action Plan, would apply to food service establishments such as stores, restaurants, and schools. The Plan will focus on food safety rules at the state and local levels. It establishes a set of “model rules” to help managers in food service establishments handle food safety procedures, and standards for training personnel on food safety issues. The Plan follows a series of recent stories in the news about food contamination such as the recent cantaloupe recall.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved new 
Jack D. Lebowitz
Vadim A. Mzhen
