November 21, 2024
Fighting For Justice: Cravens & Noll P.C. Demands Settlement for Desmond Johnson – Altria Theater Graduation Day Shooting Victim
Fighting For Justice: Cravens & Noll P.C. Demands Settlement for Desmond Johnson – Altria Theater Graduation Day Shooting Victim
In a press conference held on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024 Cravens & Noll, PC, representing client Desmond Johnson, updated the media on the traumatic shooting incident that occurred during the Huguenot High School graduation on June 6, 2023, and called for accountability from the City of Richmond.
Legal Demands and Allegations
Lead counsel and partners at Cravens & Noll, P.C., Tameka Robinson and David Noll, delivered a powerful statement, asserting that the City of Richmond bears direct responsibility for the incident. The key allegations include:
- Gross negligence in allowing an at-risk student to attend the event
- Failure to follow established safety protocols
- Systemic breakdown in school safety management
Our legal team made it clear that their settlement demand extends beyond the school system, targeting the entire City of Richmond. The message was unequivocal: either reach a fair settlement or we will move forward in court to allow a jury to determine fair compensation.
Recordings and media coverage from the press conference are linked below:
- https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/i-was-just-waiting-to-take-my-last-breath-huguenot-high-school-graduation-shooting-victim-takes-legal-action-against-city-of-richmond/
- https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/11/20/graduation-shooting-survivor-asks-city-compensation/
- https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/graduation-day-survivor-lawsuit-nov-19-2024
What’s Next
Cravens & Noll has made their position clear: we are committed to fighting for justice for Desmond Johnson and his family while holding the City of Richmond accountable for what they describe as preventable circumstances.
For more information on this case please contact our legal team at Cravens & Noll, P.C.
Phone: 804-330-9220 or click here.
July 15, 2016
Pokemon and Distracted Driving
Being an attorney with one of Richmond’s leading law firms, I am well aware of both distracted driving accidents and how it relates to the new Pokemon Go craze! As a father of two and as a personal injury lawyer, the potential for catastrophic accidents of the target generation of this game is downright scary. Of course, teens, and all drivers should never text and drive. However, the lure of “catching” a rare Pokemon to a target driver may be overwhelming!
Nintendo recently launched its Pokemon Go application and has created an obsession with some. For those not aware, app users can now look through the camera of their handheld device and spot these adorable and interesting Pokemon creatures virtually luring around the real world! Players (trainers) can point and click their way to capturing these creatures. Do you remember the slogan “Got to Catch Them All?”
Sharing Pokemon with my kids about 15 years ago was a lovely and engaging pastime. I loved bringing home Pokemon cards on a Friday afternoon and preparing for the discussion of whether a Bulbasour could defeat an electric Pokemon! Now—– my kids are driving! The lure of these sentimental creatures nearby must be exciting and overwhelming.
We hope that Nintendo can disable the app while “trainers” are driving. Further, we can hope that the location of truly “rare” Pokemon will not create a rush on the roads that may cause needless accidents, injuries and death. It remains to be seen whether the app is sensitive to real life— not virtual— concerns.
August 6, 2012
Traumatic Brain Injuries – VA Funds Development of Self-Care Assessment Tool
Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced high numbers of traumatic brain injuries from the intense nature of explosive warfare in those conflicts. The Indiana University School of Medicine reports about 180,000 such vets received “mild to moderate brain injury” and continue to suffer from:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Depression
- Attention deficits
- Reliving trauma
Other mild TBI symptoms can include memory loss, balance problems and light sensitivity.
Dr. Jacob Kean at IU says that perceptions of brain injuries are changing in that it really is a chronic, degenerative and lifelong problem. To improve ongoing TBI treatment and patient support, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a “telehealth” research grant to Dr. Kean that began July 1.
The project seeks to develop information technology that can assess how well veterans are taking care of their mild TBI conditions at home. As it is difficult for some vets to travel regularly to VA medical facilities, TBI self-management is important and logical.
The new assessment tool could help doctors better instruct their TBI patients in individualized self-care plans and ultimately improve remote treatment. This research expands the practice of telehealth from remote measurement of objective symptoms like blood pressure or pulse into remote assessment of “symptoms related to symptoms and emotions,” according to Dr. Kean.
Five VA hospitals will be used for system testing.
Source: FierceHealthIT, “VA, Indiana University to study telehealth impact on brain injuries,” Dan Bowman, June 29, 2012
October 31, 2011
October and Halloween Night Are Particularly Dangerous for Virginia Motorcyclists
A Richmond police communications officer was fatally injured in a motorcycle crash at the beginning of October when he collided with a school bus while riding his motorcycle just west of Jefferson Davis Highway. Another motorcyclist was sent to the hospital with critical injuries after colliding with an SUV in Chesterfield County about a week ago. The cyclist later died from his injuries has well.
To top it all off, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that almost half of all fatal accidents on Halloween night in 2009 involved a motorcycle driver with a blood-alcohol-concentration above 0.08. To say that October is a dangerous month for Virginia motorcycle accidents may be an understatement. October has proven to be even worse: a deadly month for motorcyclists in Virginia and throughout the country.
How Can Richmond Motorcyclists Better Protect Themselves?
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles requires all cyclists on Virginia roadways to first obtain a motorcycle license or a Class M designation on your Virginia driver’s license. Virginia also requires that cyclists and their passengers wear a helmet that either complies with or exceeds the standards set forth by the federal Department of Transportation, the Snell Memorial Foundation or the American National Standards Institute, Inc.
In addition to helmets, motorcyclists are encouraged to wear protective eyewear such as a helmet with a face shield or protective goggles, long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect arms and legs from scrapes and abrasions, non-slip gloves that allow for a firm grip on the handlebars and appropriate footwear that covers the ankles. Leather boots are highly recommended.
While it’s every driver’s responsibility to keep an eye out for others on the road and to follow traffic rules to protect each other’s safety, motorcyclists must be aware that they often go unseen by others on the road. Whether it’s because drivers are not looking for their smaller motor vehicles or whether the motorcyclist is not taking steps to drive in his or her lane so as to be visible to other drivers, lane positioning is very important for motorcycle safety. If you’re riding a motorcycle, make sure to give yourself enough space to avoid traffic hazards as well as to brake appropriately in emergency situations.
August 29, 2011
Richmond, Virginia’s Dangerous I-95 Claims Two Lives in Multi-Vehicle Crash
A disabled Ford Taurus in the left-hand lane of Interstate 95 in Richmond lead to a three-vehicle crash last Thursday, fatally injuring two motorcyclists. The Taurus attempted to get off the highway, but could not entirely get out of the left lane of traffic. A Chevrolet Impala, also in the left lane, was able to stop behind the Taurus, but the third vehicle, a Harley motorcycle was not. The motorcycle rear-ended the Impala, ejecting both the driver of the motorcycle and his passenger.
In 2010, Virginia roadways, including I-95, saw over 700 Virginians killed in motor vehicle accidents, including drivers, passengers and pedestrians according to the Virginia Highway Safety Office. Over 4500 car crashes occurred in Richmond alone, resulting in 15 deaths and over 2500 injuries.
Common Causes of Virginia Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are among the top 15 most common causes of death in Virginia. Although there is no indication that alcohol was a factor in the fatal motorcycle crash on I-95, alcohol played a role in over 37 percent of all crash-related fatalities in Virginia last year.
Other common causes of Virginia motor vehicle accidents include:
- Distracted or inattentive driving
- Exceeding the posted speed limit
- Failing to obey traffic signals, including stop signs and red lights
- Poor weather conditions
- Defective vehicle parts
- Inexperienced/teen drivers
- Driver fatigue
Regardless of the cause of the crash, motor vehicle accidents can have devastating consequences. The sudden impact of one vehicle hitting another can cause bruising, broken bones, spinal cord and head injury, burns and even death. The steps you take after being injured in a car accident should include moving to a safe place if possible, calling for emergency assistance and seeking necessary medical treatment.