Pennsylvania Officials Face Lawsuit After Police Shoot and Kill Mentally Ill Man

Published on: February 26, 2021 | Levin & Perconti

Family Files Wrongful Death Suit After Police Shooting of Ricardo Muñoz

Attorneys Steven Levin, Daisy Ayllon, and Julie Murphy from Levin & Perconti in Chicago are representing the family of Ricardo Muñoz in a wrongful death suit against the Lancaster Police Department and local officials. The team is working alongside Michael Perna and Ryan Borchik of Pennsylvania’s Perna & Abracht Law Offices.

Ricardo Muñoz, of Pennsylvania, was fatally shot by police on Sept. 13 in response to his family asking for assistance during his mental health episode. Mr. Muñoz, 27, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in his early 20s, was well-known by the local police department, whom his family had turned to repeatedly for help in similar situations.

Proposed Bill Would Hold Tech Platforms Accountable For Wrongful Death

Published on: February 17, 2021 | Levin & Perconti

Proposed SAFE TECH ACT Could Help Safeguard Against Fraud, Abuse, and Exploitation of Online Users

With so many more individuals, organizations, and private companies using mostly online-based and platform-mediated channels to reach communities and consumers, many of us have started to question the safeguards and civil rights protections regarding who is responsible for abusing or exploiting those involved, especially in moments of tragedy. In response, the SAFE TECH ACT has been introduced by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and rallied for by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and designed to make it easier for targets of fraud, exploitation, and harassment to sue online and social media platforms that host abusive or harmful content.

According to the office of Sen. Warner, “Service providers’ disregard of the misuse of their platforms has produced more than just consumer harm: in many cases, continued – and reckless – inaction of platforms has facilitated pervasive online harassment of users. With abusers often shielded by online anonymity and platforms’ neglect of meaningful reporting tools, victims are in large measure left to fend for themselves.”

Sex Trafficking and Commercial Sex Crimes

Published on: December 31, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

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Fashion Executive Charged with Sex Trafficking Crimes Against Women and Young Girls

On Tuesday, December 15, the U.S. attorney’s office, the F.B.I., and the New York Police Department charged an influential and wealthy fashion executive with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and several other related crimes that involved dozens of women and girls as young as 14 over a 25-year-period. More than 80 women from the United States, the Bahamas, and Canada have signed on as plaintiffs. At the time of the assault, many victims were sought out to be models or actresses, recruited by Nygaard’s company.

According to The New York Times, Peter Nygard is “accused of targeting victims from disadvantaged economic backgrounds and, in some cases, with a history of abuse. Mr. Nygard sexually assaulted some, it said, while his associates assaulted or drugged others to ensure their compliance with Nygard’s sexual demands.”

Massage Envy Failed To Report Sexual Assaults

Published on: December 16, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

Levin & Perconti Attorney Megan Shore Represents Women in Massage Envy Sexual Assault Cases

A male massage therapist sexually assaulted at least three women at an Old Town spa facility in separate incidents last year. Personal injury firm Levin & Perconti represents two of the women, referred to in court filings as Jane Doe and Jane Doe #2.

On December 10, 2019, a male Massage Envy Spa Chicago therapist sexually assaulted Jane Doe #2, removing her towel to expose her body and touching her buttocks and genitalia. The incident was reported to a spa manager.

Police Mistakes Led To Mentally Ill Man’s Death

Published on: October 15, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

Levin & Perconti Represents Family Who Lost Mentally Ill Son in Deadly Encounters with Pennsylvania Law Enforcement

Levin & Perconti attorneys Steven Levin and Daisy Ayllon are representing the family of a mentally ill man who was shot and killed by police in the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Chicago-based legal team says police made numerous mistakes in handling the situation leading up to the 27-year-old man’s death when they failed to consider Ricardo Miguel Muñoz’s mental wellness, further allowing the situation to escalate.

“On the day of his death, Mr. Muñoz’s family made several concerning calls and requested help from the City of Lancaster police,” said Steven Levin, senior partner at Levin & Perconti. “If the police had been trained appropriately and followed protocols, Ricardo Muñoz would still be alive and provided treatment for his documented history of mental illness.”

Is It Possible Cruise Lines Knew of Coronavirus Risk to Passengers?

Published on: May 4, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues investigations of clusters of Covid-19 cases among cruise ship passengers and staff, many are left to wonder how this may have happened in the first place, and if the quick spread of the novel disease was due to corporate negligence. At least 32 cruise ships have now been affected by the global coronavirus pandemic, resulting in deadly exposures to the disease, illness, and extended quarantine stays onboard. A recent Wall Street Journal investigation published on May 1, 2020 revealed that many of these ships continued to go on with voyages knowing the dangerous risk to passengers and crew.

Princess Cruises, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean Among List of Infected Ships

In some way, nearly all ships operated by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, have been impacted by the virus. This includes trip cancellations, quarantined off the coast of other countries, left untreated with lagging sicknesses, nearly a dozen passenger deaths, and thousands of individuals traveling without access to the proper medications and support.

Levin & Perconti Leads Illinois in Winning Settlements over $500,000

Published on: October 24, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

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The attorneys of Levin & Perconti are pleased to announce the firm secured more settlements over $500,000 than any other law firm in Illinois over the last year.

Having reached 58 of these top-dollar settlements between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, the firm brought in more than $75 million for its clients and was also highlighted in Chicago Lawyer Magazine’s 2019 Settlement Survey as one of the top five law firms in the state for total settlements secured.

Each year, Chicago Lawyer and the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter — a sister publication within Law Bulletin Media — examine top reported settlements. This year’s report is based on 634 Illinois settlements of $500,000 or more submitted to Jury Verdict Reporter.

Lung Disease Cluster Identified In U.S. Stone Workers

Published on: October 16, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

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Companies Can Prevent Fatal Lung Disease in Stone Fabrication Workers

Thousands of U.S. workers are getting sick from cutting, grinding and polishing slabs of artificial stone used to make kitchen and bathroom countertops. The “engineered stone” is at risk of creating damaging levels of respirable crystalline silica in a workplace. Workers have been linked to cases of death and dangerous and irreversible lung injury in stone fabricators who cut, grind and polish high levels of the mineral silica, and then breathe in silica dust outputs.

An updated report by the Centers for Disease Control Doctors titled Severe Silicosis in Engineered Stone Fabrication Workers was released on September 27, 2019, and highlighted related worker illnesses in California, Colorado, Texas, and Washington, from 2017–2019.

Zantac Pulled In Fear Of Drug Injury Risk

Published on: October 8, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

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Zantac and Generic Ranitidine May Be Harmful

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently revealed that Zantac and generic varieties contain a chemical that could be linked to cancer, called

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Concern erupted when private lab Valisure found the contaminant and alerted FDA officials of a problem stemming from the composition of the drug. Several large pharmacy chains and stores such as Walmart, Rite-Aid, CVS and Walgreens have since suspended the sales of Zantac branded heartburn medicines and generic versions that contain active ingredient ranitidine. Three drugmakers – Apotex, Sandoz and GlaxoSmithKline – have recalled generic versions.

Episiotomy Complications After Childbirth

Published on: September 19, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

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Episiotomy Complications After Childbirth

As more women speak up about their pregnancy challenges, share delivery stories and post-partum struggles, many are starting to let their doctors know that the unnecessary episiotomy they performed during childbirth has created lasting injuries and made sexual intercourse painful if not impossible. The American Pregnancy Association identifies these situations in which an episiotomy may be needed for any of the following reasons:

Birth is imminent and the perineum hasn’t had time to stretch slowly

Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog

Family Files Wrongful Death Suit After Police Shooting of Ricardo Muñoz

Proposed SAFE TECH ACT Could Help Safeguard Against Fraud, Abuse, and Exploitation of Online Users

Fashion Executive Charged with Sex Trafficking Crimes Against Women and Young Girls

Levin & Perconti Attorney Megan Shore Represents Women in Massage Envy Sexual Assault Cases

Levin & Perconti Represents Family Who Lost Mentally Ill Son in Deadly Encounters with Pennsylvania Law Enforcement

Princess Cruises, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean Among List of Infected Ships

Companies Can Prevent Fatal Lung Disease in Stone Fabrication Workers

Zantac and Generic Ranitidine May Be Harmful

Episiotomy Complications After Childbirth