The Legal and Headline News Blog

The denial from the EPA for California to regulate their own standards of pollution has brought out all the representatives of California, Senator Barbara Boxer, Representative Henry Waxman, Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Being angered by this refusal to set their own standards they have asked for an investigation that the EPA administrator acted against recommendations from his technical and legal staff in the matter.

Administrator Stephen L. Johnson’s staff said they will turn over any requested documents having to do with the decision that was made in the request that California set the standards in their state.

Senator Barbara Boxer and Rep. Harry Waxman head a committee to oversee the EPA and did not have the documents needed in time for a meeting that took place on Thursday January 10, 2008 and the EPA administrator’s chair was empty leaving many unanswered questions about the decision that had been made.  By the way, if you are in the southern California generally and you are in need of a competent Los Angeles cruise ship accident lawyer The law offices of Steven Sweat can help you if you need competent los angeles criminal defense attorneys, a Los Angeles cruise ship accident lawyer or a dog bite attorney. Now back to the news article at hand…….

The standards that California officials want to set for the state are more aggressive than those in place in Washington, with a cut in emissions by one-third by in the manufacture of new autos coming into California by the year 2016, this would mean approximately 36.8 miles per gallon. This is higher than the national average that has been put into law in December by approximately one gallon.

    There are reports of a lawsuit against Apple over their lack of DRM-WMA files capabilities, this feature while is available on the iPod has been disabled; this type of file can be converted at iTunes.

   A woman in San Diego County California brought this lawsuit against Apple and the suit states that Apple is using unfair practices.

   This case is considered a frivolous case as there are other means of loading these types of files once converted, such as from A ripped cd using iTunes in order to transfer them to the iPod. There are also DRM free songs that can be found on several sites and be drug to iTunes to transfer them to the iPod.

   For this to be a true case that could be prosecuted and won would be if Apple were violating the antitrust laws. This would be if Apple manufactured the iPod to only be capable of loading music that is available from iTunes only and no other place.

   This is not the case, songs can be found in more places than iTunes and so Apple does not hold a monopoly on the iPod music that is available to iPod owners.

   More news about the outcome of this case will certainly be found when the case heads to court.

The suit that was filed by the State of California against the Environmental Protection Agency is continuing to grow with more states stating that they will join the suit.

   There are as many as twelve states so far that are planning to join in the lawsuit these states include Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

    There are approximately fifteen states that would like to have the power to regulate their own limits on tailpipe emissions laws and are prohibited from doing so with the current national standards in place.

   Included in the states that intend to join the lawsuit California has brought against the Environmental Protection Agency there are also at least five different environmental agencies that are also planning to join the suit.

   According to Mary Nichols who is the chairwoman for the California Air Resources Board, who stated that they do not want to give reason to the auto industry to have an excuse not to have the proper time to build these new autos, due to states waiting to breach this situation.

   The officials of California have no plans to give up the fight for control of who sets the standards of emissions and greenhouse gases any time soon. Go to Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys if you are in Southern California and you require counsel.  If you need a dui lawyer newport beach or any type of los angeles criminal defense attorneys, Ehline law can assist you.

 All in all, California and the EPA have been disagreeing on the standards of the strictness of their rules California who wanted to impose a stricter set of rules for greenhouse gas emission standards for automobiles has been denied.

   According to statements from Stephen L. Johnson who is the administrator of the EPA the reason that California along with fifteen other states is due to White House policy. This policy is to keep a national standard rather than one set by each state, this occurred in December of 2007 and there was also a bill put into law named the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 which will require auto makers to product fuel efficient autos including SUV’s and small trucks. This may not be enough for the State of California since these automakers will have until the year 2020 to produce these fuel-efficient autos that will be a required 35 per gallon.

   In answer to this refusal to regulate their own standards the California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown jr.  brought a lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency for not allowing the state of California to make their own regulations. This suit was filed January 8^th of 2008 in the United States Court of Appeals at the 9^th Circuit.

In news out of Sacramento, California sued the United States Environmental Protection Agency today for denying its first-in-the-country greenhouse gas limititations on various types of motor vehicles, challenging the Federal Government’s decision that individuals states should not be setting their own setting emission standards. Additional states such as Vermont and possibly New York are believed to be joining this suit, which was anticipated after the EPA on December 19 denied the Golden State’s request for a waiver, which is currently mandated.
The suit in question was filed in the 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson denied California a waiver which would be required under the federal Clean Air Act to move forward with regulating greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and trucks.In announcing this decision, Johnson stated that the federal government was moving onward with a wider solution and dismissed California’s arguments that it faced unusual threats from the impending climate changes.Johnson said energy legislation will help to raise fuel economy standards around the country to an average of thirty-five mpg within about tweleve years or so. He thinks it is a better idea than a lot of state regulations. Meanwhile, EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar said the federal Energy Independence and Security Act “is a more beneficial national approach…..” Meanwhile Golden State officials claim that the 2004 law is more strict than the new national standard. It would have required the auto industry to cut emissions by one-third in new vehicles by 2016 or reach an average of 36.8 mpg.   By the way, if you have been in an automobile accident and you require legal help, take a look at Los Angeles Car Crash Attorneys
and if you have been involved in a motorcycle mishap please take a look at los angeles motorcycle accident attorneys   The folks at Ehline law are quite simply some of the best los angeles criminal defense attorneys you will be able ti find and they cover a nimber of localities throughout Southern California including Burbank,Century City, Newport Beach, Redondo beach and Torrance.Incidentially 12 additional states including Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington — have adopted the California emissions standards and the governors of Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Utah have said they plan to in the near future. The rules also are under consideration in Iowa.

15 states plan to intervene on California’s behalf, including 13 of those that have either adopted or are in the process of adopting the rules. Delaware and Illinois, which have not passed the standards, also are part of the lawsuit.
The EPA’s decision was a big victory for auto manufacturers in general, which had hoped that they would not be forced to limit their selection of automobiles and raise prices in the states which adopted California’s standards.It was the first time the EPA had fully denied California a waiver under the Clean Air Act since Congress gave the state the right to obtain such waivers in 1967.
The auto regulations are an integral part of California’s global warming law, which has the goal of reducing emissions by a full quarter within the next twelve years.
 Auto emissions account for about almost twenty percent of the state’s proposed reductions.

ANDERSON (Gym Shwortz) January 1, 2008 — About one hour after the year turned to 2008, a man who was swearing abusively and who was holding a champagne bottle was arrested when he allowed his dog to attack a police officer.  The officer was hospitalized for an animal bite and the drunken man was charged with public disorderly conduct.

Police are searching for the two dogs with the owner.  Only one of the dogs went on the attack, but both left the dog attack scene that took place at approximately 1 a.m. New Year’s Day.

The facts relate that officer Jada Burgin was attacked by the dangerous animal when he was at the 200 block of F Street. Officer Burgin, a female cop, went back on duty and manned up shortly after being treated for her wounds.

The attack took place after officer Burgin responded to a report of a yelling contest between Defendants James Powell Jr., 29, and his sister, Jamie Powell.  Apparently Mr. Powell started yelling at his dogs and Officer Burgin went towards the noise, she came back into the house and stated she had been bitten by one of the dogs at the premises, according to the official police report.

“It is not known if (Mr. Powell) let the dog out or if had escaped,” Stated officer Warren.  If you were wounded by a dog in a major city it is very important to get medical care and to retain an experienced dog bite injury attorney.
Should you be in need of an excellent, aggressive lawyer and you are in the greater southern California area, you should get a no-obligation consultation with
the Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys of Ehline Law. They can help you should you need a los angeles drunk driving lawyer, Amputation and cases involving
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HENDERSON, North Carolina (H. Jardon) January 2, 2008  —  A Greyhound bus rammed into a big rig truck’s tractor-trailer today.  The bus then fell into an embankment, causing various injuries to at least 50 individuals.  It is known so far that two people have sufferred catastrophic injuries in the big righ truck accident.  They were both airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina according to the hospital officials.

The Greyhound was coming from Richmond, Virginia, on the way to Raleigh on U.S. highway 1.  Suddenly, the tractor-trailer in front of the bus attempted to make a turn, The driver of the Greyhound did not slow down according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol spokeman.

After striking the truck in question, the speeding Greyhound bus drove off the road and tumbled and flipped onto its  side.  These types of accidents also happen in Los Angeles and Orange County, California.  If you were hurt in an accident such as this, you should speak with a serious bus or truck accident attorney. By the way, if you are in the southern California area and you need a competent Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney  then

by all means call Ehline Law. This is the plcae to go for outstanding los angeles criminal defense attorneys, whether you need a dui lawyer torrance, dui lawyer newport beach,

a cruise ship attorney, or a lawyer for Train accidents, metrolinks, vehicle rollovers or other accidents involving automobiles.

OHIO, October 31, 2007 - A pickup truck slammed into a minivan killing 5.  This is one of the worst DUI car accident to result in a wrongful death in some time. The trucker was DUI and his acts of driving under the influence caused him to collide head on with the minivan. This killed a woman, her four children and caused serious injuries to at least 3 more individuals.  The truck versus passenger car head on collisions occurred around 4 miles or so from where the DUI driver drove into the highway traveling from the wrong direction.

The defendant who was driving while under the influence according to police, is named Michael Gagnon.  He is just 24 years old.  He was apparently so inebriated that he took his truck north on the southbound Interstate 280 late Sunday driving head on into highway traffic. The truck collided head on into the minivan.  The accident scene was strewn with children’s toys, wrapping paper for presents, stuffed toy animals according the police.

Defendant Gagnon, tested positive to a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .254 following his apprehension and arrest.  This is more than three (3) times the legal blood alcohol content allowed in California and many other states.  Those states have a legal BAC of .08. Defendant Gagnon was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.

At least one witness confirms that Defendant Gagnon had been drinking that night and that he took off in his truck.  Gagnon was apparently so drunk before the truck accident, employees at a fast food joint called the police on him, but the defendant fled the scene before the cops arrived.  Other vehicle driver’s called the police as well, but the deadly car crash took place before the authorities could do anything.

Many of the victims in the passenger van were ejected and thrown out according to the police.    The victims are 36 year old Bethany Griffin, 10 year old Jordan Griffin, 2 month old Vadi Griffin, 7 year old Lacie Burkman, 10 year old Haley Burkman, 10.  All of these victims suffered wrongful death.

We hope you enjoyed this press report about DUI deadly car accident results in five wrongful deaths. The other three people who were passengers in the minivan suffered catastrophic injuries, are at the hospital, and their condition is guarded.  Defendant Gagnon was not that seriously hurt and he is expected to go to jail soon. If you or someone you love was hurt in a head on car accident in Los Angeles, or Orange County, contact California car crash attorneys at 888-400-9721. Los Angeles car accident attorneys are standing by.

-Ehline Law | Los Angeles Injury Lawyer PC
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