San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Although many of today’s television shows and movies may explain the details of the court process, there are still some issues that are fuzzy to the general public. Take for example the concept of double jeopardy. In criminal cases, this means that if a defendant is convicted or acquitted (found not guilty) of a certain crime, then it means that the original prosecutorial agency in the case will not be able to bring the charge against him again. However, just because a person has faced criminal charges on a certain matter does not mean that he will be free of civil lawsuits. A defendant who is charged with criminal acts may be sued in civil court for damages, rather than time in jail or other forms of punishment. In fact, the plaintiffs bringing the lawsuit in civil court may use the evidence used in criminal court in their case.

On May 27, 2009, Edward John Schaefer hit and killed Melody Osheroff, a fourth grader in San Ramon, and severely injured her father, Aaron Osheroff, in Marin County while the two people were crossing the street. Police found that Schaefer’s blood alcohol level was .16, which is double the legal limit. Melody died the following day, and her father is in serious condition and has had his leg amputated. In an unrelated car accident on Monday, May 25, four people died in an alcohol related accident in Oakland. The driver of the vehicle, Tiffany Reynolds, suffered a broken neck and has been charged with four counts of vehicular manslaughter. The four people who died in the crash included her domestic partner, her brother and the couple’s three year old twins. The twins were not in car seats, and one boy was ejected from his seat while the other was found pinned under the steering column. Both Schaefer and Reynolds could face time in jail, as well as civil lawsuits from the family members of the people that they injured while they drove under the influence.

The attorneys at Greenberg & Rudman LLP represent people who have been seriously injured as well as the families of those who have been killed under wrongful death circumstances. We handle all cases on a contingency basis. We are paid a percentage of what we recover for you. This means you will pay no legal fees unless we collect money for you. Call us now at 1-800-252-9776 (1-800-ALAWPRO) for a free and confidential consultation with a knowledgeable attorney. Please also go to our website, www.alawpro.com to read more about our attorneys and wrongful death lawsuits.