Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

As Maryland automobile accident attorney, I respect the dedication of our state and the local municipalities in their ongoing fight to reduce traffic fatalities. And as a Baltimore injury attorney, I know that declining accident rates and motor vehicle deaths is a good thing even when the headlines don’t always indicate the progress of our traffic safety authorities.

According to a study lately from Washington, D.C., law enforcement departments from across the country definitely have some good news to boast about: Based on the latest data highway fatalities have dropped to one the lowest levels in more than half a century.

According to a recent article, law enforcement officials here and across the nation credit the reduction in car and truck accident deaths to a variety of enforcement technologies, coupled with strict drunk driving and drug DUI patrols and checkpoints. The news out of D.C. shows that deadly auto accidents along our public roads have drastically fallen to a level not seen since the 1950s.

Of course, much of the improvement in traffic safety has been driven, so to speak, by new technology and much improved safety-consciousness on the part of car, truck and motorcycle drivers. There is no doubt that a lot of the credit also goes to the much tougher stance that state and local police departments have when it comes to drinking and driving.

According to the U.S. Transportation Department, traffic deaths dropped almost 10 percent in 2009 to just under 39,000 -- that's the lowest since 1950. Deaths related to motorcycle accidents were also down by a full 16 percent, which reportedly was the first actual decline in biker fatalities in the past 11 years.

Here in Maryland the picture was a bit mixed, though encouraging with the total number of fatalities being lower overall; and the same could also be said for that of the District. In fact, all but nine states reported a drop in highway fatalities according to the report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

While Maryland reportedly had a seven-percent decrease in traffic deaths, there was an increase in fatal drunk driving accidents of nearly 12 percent; and while Washington, D.C., reported a 15-percent decrease in fatalities, deaths from drunk drivers increased by one from that of the previous year, for a total of nine deaths.

Finally, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated that even though the possibility of an economic recovery apparently led to an slight increase in drivers on the road in 2009 over the previous year, fatalities continued to decrease -- a promising sign one would hope.

Deaths on U.S. highways are at their lowest level in 60 years, WashingtonPost.com, September 10, 2010

Rear-end traffic accidents can cause multiple injuries to the occupants of the vehicles involved in the crash. The effects of these injuries, which can include neck and spinal trauma, can linger for months in not years following the initial car wreck. As a Maryland auto accident attorney representing individuals across the state, as well as in Washington, D.C., I understand the pain and discomfort that can haunt automobile accident victims throughout their lives.

A recent news article illustrated one of the more frequent causes of traffic accidents -- a drunken driver. Driving while intoxicated is not a safe way to operate a motor vehicle. In fact, as many people know, the Maryland State Police, local law enforcement agencies and the state’s court system all take a dim view of individuals who drive under the influence of alcohol, much less cause injury accidents when inebriated.

According to news reports, a traffic accident along Route 90 near Ocean City was apparently caused by a man accused of driving drunk. Based on police reports, a vehicle operated by a 19-year-old motorist collided with second car on a Thursday morning resulting in minor injuries to the driver of the other vehicle.

According to the news, the wreck occurred at about 8am when Zachary Wagner’s 1998 Honda Accord rear-ended another car driven by 55-year-old Cathy Peacher of Hebron, MD. Police said that Peacher was in an eastbound lane of Rte. 90 apparently waiting at the traffic signal at St. Martins Neck Road. Police reports indicate that Wagner collided with the woman’s 2007 Chevrolet Malibu.

Wagner, a resident of Timonium, MD, failed to reduce his speed and reportedly hit the Chevy from behind. The force of the crash pushed Peacher's car into an electrical box causing a local power outage, according to State Police. Emergency responders arriving on the scene likely treated Preacher after which she was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Wagner, who is a student at Salisbury University, was arrested by police and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

911 REPORT: Crash closes Route 90 during morning rush, DelmarvaNow.com, August 26, 2010

On Friday, September 24, 2010, the highest court in Maryland issued an opinion regarding the state’s statutory cap on noneconomic damages. In DRD Pool Service, Inc. v. Freed, et al., the Maryland Court of Appeals held that the state of Maryland may constitutionally cap the damages an injured person may receive even when a jury returns a verdict in excess of the statutory limit. As we discussed in an earlier post, the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC believe that this cap disproportionately hurts individuals who are the most severely injured.

In 1986, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation (currently codified at Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 11-108) that limits the amount of noneconomic damages an injured person can receive. By imposing this limitation, Maryland law makers intended to reduce the medical malpractice insurance premiums paid by physicians.

We believe that the cap had unfortunate consequences to people who suffer extreme losses, pain, suffering, or disfigurement. As of October 1, 2010, the statutory cap is set at $725,000 for an injured victim, or the estate of a decedent whose death was caused by the negligence of another person or corporation. While this may seem like a substantial sum of money, it leaves seriously injured people without just compensation for the harms inflicted by the negligent acts of others. Consider whether this amount would be sufficient to compensate for the loss suffered by the parents involved in DRD Pool Service, Inc. v. Freed.

On June 26, 2006, five year old Connor Freed went to the Crofton Country Club swimming pool in Anne Arundel County with a family friend and their two children. At some time during their visit, Connor had his life jacket removed so that he could go to the restroom. Unfortunately, Connor returned to the pool without putting the life jacket back on, and the little boy was subsequently found floating face down in the water. Conner’s parents brought suit against the operators of the pool, DRD Pool Service, alleging that DRD was negligent in failing to properly train its life guards. After hearing evidence during trial, a jury found that DRD was negligent, that the negligence was a proximate cause of Connor’s death, and awarded the Freeds $4,006,442 in damages for the wrongful death of their son. Pursuant to Maryland law, the trial judge reduced the verdict to $1,002,500.

On appeal, the parents asked the appellate courts to find that the 25 year old cap is in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the Maryland Declaration of Rights. Relying upon the principle of stare decisis (meaning “to stand by decisions”), the Court of Appeals refused to find that prior decisions upholding the legislation were wrong and upheld the limit on damages.

In his dissent, Judge Joseph Murphy adopted an earlier dissenting opinion issued by Judge Howard Chasanow. In that opinion, Judge Chasanow noted the following:

"There is a sad, even tragic, aspect of the class of tort victims who will be most significantly affected by the cap. It is obvious that those whose noneconomic damages will be greatest and who will lose the most by the cap will be those who must endure their injuries for the longest period of time. Infants with paralyzed or severed arms or legs, young children, hideously and permanently scarred or disfigured, youngsters with injuries that will cause them permanent excruciating and unremitting pain and who can be expected to suffer from these injuries over the full seventy-plus years of their probable lifetimes will be the ones with the highest noneconomic damages and, therefore, the ones most affected by the cap."

Murphy v. Edmonds, 325 Md. 342, 378, 601 A.2d 102, 119 (J. Chasanow, dissenting).

While no amount of money can ever fully compensate a parent for the loss of a child, we believe that the jury who listens to evidence, hears the physical and emotional impact such a loss inflicts is in the best position to render a fair judgment--not the legislature.

Continue reading " Maryland Court of Appeals Upholds Cap on Damages for Pain and Suffering " »

Single-vehicle accidents number in thousands across the country every year. As a Baltimore and Washington, D.C., automobile accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I have seen, up close, the aftermath of multi-vehicle and single-car wrecks. Just because there is no other vehicle involved, such as a semi tractor-trailer or other large vehicle, many people could be excused for thinking that these kinds of one-car accidents are less serious -- they would often be wrong.

Serious bodily injury and even death can occur as a result of a single-vehicle accident. Not long ago, a Boonsboro, MD, driver was charged in connection with SUV accident that sent him and two passengers to the hospital. According to news articles, the crash happened just before midnight on a Saturday along a stretch of Alternate U.S. 40, just east of Maryland Avenue.

Police reports indicate that the accident, which occurred between Middletown and Frederick, Maryland, was possibly the result of reckless driving. Although details were sketchy, police statements indicate that the driver, 19-year-old Job Smith, may have ignored traffic signs in the area prior to his SUV leaving the roadway and colliding with a tree.

Following the traffic accident, police and other emergency responders found the vehicle and three occupants near the roadway. Smith and one of his two passengers, Ashleigh Shepherd, also of Boonsboro, were helicoptered out to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. A third occupant, Lucas White of Frederick, was taken to Washington County Hospital. He was subsequently discharged.

Smith was reportedly released from Shock Trauma a couple days after the accident, while Shepherd was released several days after that. The third person also left the hospital not long after. According to the news, Maryland State Police have charged Smith with a number of violations, including reckless driving, negligent driving, failure to obey a traffic control device and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Boonsboro man charged in connection with SUV accident, Herald-Mail.com, August 26, 2010

A rollover accident, no matter what the circumstances, adds an extra level of danger and potential injury for the occupants of that vehicle. While minivans, SUVs and pickup trucks are prime candidates for rollover accidents due to their inherently higher center of gravity, even passenger sedans and other relatively short vehicles have been known to roll over during a traffic accident.

When a rollover crash occurs, the relatively weak roof supporting structure of some vehicles can collapse, causing injury to the driver and other occupants of the car or truck. Traumatic head and neck injuries can be sustained in such wrecks, both of which can cause life-threatening or life-altering medical conditions. Fatalities are quite common in such accidents.

As a Maryland auto accident lawyer, I and my staff have the skills to represent victims of such accidents who wish to recover costs such as medical expenses, lost wages and other financial troubles caused as a result of this kind of horrendous crash.

Based on news reports, a single-vehicle rollover accident happened along Rte. 50 in Anne Arundel County near Annapolis, MD, injuring a number of the vehicle’s occupants. According to the Anne Arundel Co. Fire Department, a total of seven persons were hurt as a result of the incident.

Reports indicate that the accident happened in the early afternoon on a Saturday. After apparently receiving word of a car wreck, emergency responders arriving on the scene found a rolled over white sedan near the northbound lane of Route 50. Fire department officials stated that all seven passengers sustained some kind of injury as a result of the crash.

Five adults -- from 20 to 41 years old -- were treated and then taken to Shock Trauma either by ambulance or helicopter. All had what authorities described as serious but non-life threatening injuries. Medics on the scene also treated two young children -- perhaps only two- and 5-years old. Those kids were taken to the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore with minor injuries.

Although the reason for this rollover was not immediately known, police were still investigating the cause at the time so of the news article.

Vehicle rollerover sends seven to the hospital, ABC2news.com, August 21, 2010

Drinking and driving subjects everyone on the road to potential danger involving traffic accidents with injuries or even fatal car crashes. As Maryland personal injury attorneys and automobile accident lawyers, I and my colleagues work to help the victims of car accidents caused by another individual’s negligent behavior. Getting behind the wheel when intoxicated is one way to kill or hurt other drivers and passengers on the road.

According to a recent article, a 43-year-old alcoholic will get another six years in prison for taking a drink at a local gas station. Whether or not this was a so-called “moment of weakness,” the description would mean very little to a person injured by this man, should he not have been caught by police. According to news reports, the man was on probation after being convicted for automobile manslaughter back in 2005, but even that episode in his life didn’t seem to make enough of an impression to keep him from taking a sip of an alcoholic beverage.

Based on reports, Michael Thomas Spears pled guilty to violating his probation, which in this man’s case was spelled out as abstaining from alcohol. In his original vehicular manslaughter trial, it was argued that Spears’ negligence resulted in the death of 92-year-old Berkman Gatton and the partial blinding James Nichols, son of the elderly man.

At the time of his death, Gatton, who was a great-grandfather of 19, and his son were taken by helicopter to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Gatton died as a result of injuries sustained in the wreck while Nichols lost sight in one of his eyes.

Spears, reportedly a career criminal, had received probation on nine separate occasions over the years for various crimes only to violate that probation 11 times -- according to court records those violations happened multiple times in more than one case.

1 drink yields 6 years in prison, HometownAnnapolis.com, September 14, 2010

A tragic automobile accident took the life of a Maryland resident not long ago along a stretch of Interstate 70. As a Baltimore personal injury attorney and auto accident lawyer, I know that many dozens of people are killed every year riding as passengers in another individual’s car, pickup truck or SUV.

Motor vehicle accidents, both passenger car and commercial truck crashes, take the lives of thousands of people every year in this country Maryland. The result of this crash is sadly typical of many traffic collisions. In addition to the person who was killed, three others where taken to area hospitals for medical treatment.

According to news reports, the accident happened a little after 2am when a Nissan Altima, driven by 51-year-old Terrance Goode, hit a Volkswagen Jetta on I-70. Based on Maryland State Police reports, the Jetta was being driven by 24-year-old Ashley Gilbert of Monrovia, MD.

As a result of the crash, 61-year-old Barbara Tarver died after being transported by helicopter to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Goode, a Glen Burnie resident, was also flown to Shock Trauma where he was listed in critical condition at the time of the news article.

Gilbert and a second occupant of Goode’s vehicle, 61-year-old Sylvia Hall, were both transported to Washington County Hospital. According to reports, Gilbert was listed in serious condition at the time of the article.

Maryland State Police troopers stated that the accident caused some other vehicles to be damaged from the debris of the initial crash. In all, 10 people were send to local medical centers, six of whom only needed routine check ups to assure they were uninjured.

Baltimore woman killed in weekend accident on I-70, Herald-Mail.com, August 23, 2010

Rollover accidents can result in rather serious, if not life-threatening injuries. As Maryland personal injury lawyers and car accident attorneys, I and my staff have seen dozens of automobile, motorcycle and trucking accident victims throughout our careers.

Most traffic accidents result in some kind of bodily injury, but when it comes to rollovers, head and neck injuries are much more common. Depending on the circumstances, an occupant who is not belted-in can occasionally be ejected from the vehicle during the crash, which usually means severe injuries and many times can result in an untimely death.

It’s a sad fact that a family who loses a bread-winner -- such as a single working mom or a father who is trying to hold down multiple jobs to support the family -- has a much harder time of it when a motor vehicle fatality takes a life. That moment can come quickly and unexpectedly -- there is never a good time for any life altering car accident to happen, especially to the survivors.

Not long ago, a Hagerstown resident was critically injured during a single-vehicle accident along Burnside Bridge Road. According to police, 45-year-old Jeffrey Rehfeld was driving his pickup truck in Sharpsburg near the 18300 block of Burnside Bridge Rd in the late afternoon. Just after 4pm, the man apparently lost control of the truck, which went off the right side of the road, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Based on police reports, Rehfeld must have overcorrected, causing the truck to skid across the road, then after hitting an embankment it rolled at least one time. Emergency responders arriving at the scene of the crash apparently provided medical aid to the motorist before transporting him to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

At the time of the news report, the victim was listed in critical condition. Washington County Sheriff's Office will likely investigate the causes of the crash, although no mention was made as to whether defective vehicle equipment was to blame for the driver initially losing control of the truck.

Hagerstown man critically injured in crash, HeraldMail.com, August 31, 2010

Depending on the circumstances a seemingly simple error in judgment or apparently minor mechanical problem with a vehicle’s suspension or steering systems can lead to a serious crash and subsequent injuries to a car’s occupants. Occasionally, a traffic accident may involve fatalities as a result of a collision with a stationary object or another motor vehicle, such as another passenger car or, worse, a large semi tractor-trailer like a Peterbilt 18-wheeler or Kenworth big rig hauling dangerous or flammable cargo, such as heating oil or gasoline.

Serving the citizens of Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington, D.C., and other Maryland-area communities, I and my staff of experienced automobile accident and personal injury attorneys understand the pain and suffering that victims of traffic accidents may suffer from. I know that it only takes a moment of indecision, or a brief lapse in concentration to turn a pleasant ride into a deadly, life-altering episode.

A recent news report illustrated the potential of a single-car crash and how it affected a handful of people riding together in a vehicle. According to police, seven persons, all believed to be related, were sent to local hospitals following a crash on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County. Based on news reports, the crash occurred on a Saturday afternoon when the driver of a ’96 Mercedes-Benz for some reason lost control of the vehicle.

The car was holding more than a dozen individuals when it went out of control, stuck a guardrail and then flipped over onto the eastbound lanes of Rte 50 around 2:30pm in the afternoon. No mention was made as to whether or not the accident was caused by possibly defective or poorly maintained vehicle equipment, however the results were significant.

Based on a news article, the driver and one of the other occupants were trapped inside the wrecked Mercedes prior to being extricated by rescue personnel arriving at the scene. Emergency responders treated those two people, a 31- and 41-year-old woman. According to reports, both women had serious injuries and were flown by helicopter to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Two men, 22 and 23, reportedly had serious yet non-life-threatening injuries; they were also taken by ambulance to shock trauma.

Two young children were hurt in the crash as well. Aged 5 and 2, the kids were taken to University of Maryland Hospital with minor injuries; as was a 20-year-old man who reportedly had serious but not life-threatening injuries.

According to officials, the other, less seriously injured occupants of the car were taken to the university hospital in an effort to keep the group together.

7 hospitalized in Route 50 wreck, HometownAnnapolis.com, August 22, 2010

Motor vehicle accidents happen for a variety of reasons, some more unusual than others. The common thread is that any car, minivan or SUV collision can be serious, or even fatal to the occupants of the vehicles involved. As a Maryland personal injury attorney serving Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas, I have seen what can happen even under the most normal of circumstances.

Sometimes a third party can be named in a personal injury suit. The conditions must warrant such an action, but it is certainly not unheard of. Not long ago, a city council member was injured when the vehicle in which she was riding was struck by another car at an intersection that had no stop sign.

According to news reports, three persons were hurt during a rather severe accident in Severna Park. Based on police reports, councilwoman Cathy Vitale was one of three individuals injured in the car crash, which occurred around 2pm at the intersection of Arundel Beach Rd. and Sunset Dr.

One person, a 49-year-old woman, received serious injuries that required her to be choppered out to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Vitale and a third woman in her 30s suffered only minor injuries. Each was taken by ambulance to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie.

According to police, an eye witness said that Vitale's vehicle was traveling west on Arundel Beach Road when the second vehicle turned right from Sunset Drive onto Arundel Beach Road without stopping. The two cars crashed, with Vitale's car pushing the other car through a nearby fence.

Police reports show that was no stop sign at the intersection of Sunset Drive and Arundel Beach Road. County records indicate that there was a stop sign at that intersection back in 1995, but officials were not sure where it was at the time of the crash. Apparently a new stop sign was installed following the accident.

Vitale, 2 others hurt in crash, HometownAnnapolis.com, August 14, 2010

Well, it’s happened once again. Baltimore, MD, and Washington, D.C., have both made the very bottom of the Allstate insurance company’s “Best Drivers Report.” As a Maryland auto accident lawyer and personal injury attorney, I won’t say that I expected this, but the statistics show what many people probably already know -- that car, truck and motorcycle accidents do seem to happen with alarming frequency in and around the state.

The Allstate report lists nearly 200 cities across the country, all of which fared better than our nation’s capital, which is why I always suggest to friends and associates to be extremely careful when traveling on our publics roadways. Single- and multiple-vehicle collisions are not uncommon in cities such as Annapolis, the District, Owning Mills and Columbia, among others, which makes defensive driving a necessary pastime here in Maryland.

According to the report, Baltimore was right behind D.C. in the poorest showing for 2010 -- just like in 2009. Allstate ranked the metropolitan areas using insurance claim data from the 2007 and 2008 calendar years. The result of those findings showed that the average driver living in the Washington area is involved in a traffic accident once ever 5.1 years. What this also means is that D.C. drivers are, amazingly, 96 percent more likely to have an accident than an average driver anywhere else in the U.S.

According to Allstate, the average Baltimore driver can expect to be involved in an automobile collision every 5.6 years, which translates to an 80 percent greater chance of a Baltimore driver crashing his or her car when compared to the average American.

With all the injuries and fatalities that happen annually, it’s not too comforting to know that our own backyard is more dangerous than most of the nation. All I can say is, take care, use safe driving techniques and don’t assume that a serious accident can never happen to you or your family. Serious as well as deadly car and truck accidents can and do happen, and the statistics bear it out.

Sixth Annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report" Reveals New Safest Driving City, AllstateNewsroom.com, September 2, 2010

Vacations and holidays are a great opportunity to take the family out for a drive to a favorite beach, campground or picnic location. Unfortunately, holiday traffic throughout Maryland can be frought with potential accidents which can complicate a normally fun and carefree excursion. As a Baltimore and Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyer, I know how certain factors can result in an unforeseen automobile or commercial truck accident.

Whether vacationers are driving a passenger car, minivan or going solo on their motorcycle, danger on the roadways is still present regardless of the occasion. And injuries caused by careless or drunken drivers can ruin a family outing, not to mention a family’s future happiness and security. We’ve seen too many husbands, wives, children and grandparents hurt unnecessarily as a result of a tragic motor vehicle collision.

During Labor Day weekend there were numerous traffic accidents across the state of Maryland. According to a report out of Ocean County, MD, half a dozen people alone were injured in several different traffic accidents on Labor Day itself. Based on reports, car crashes in the resort town included pedestrian-auto accident and a hit-and-run crash.

While none of the injuries were believed to be life threatening, the weekend in Ocean County saw six people hospitalized due to accidents. Based on news reports, a string of crashes began around 12pm with a two-vehicle collision along the Route 90 bridge. That head-on crash resulted in four individuals -- two from each vehicle -- being sent to area hospitals, according to officials.

Later, just after 3pm a motor vehicle hit a motorcycle in what was described as a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Seventh and Baltimore streets. The collision resulted in the rider of the bike being hospitalized. According to news reports, the passenger on that bike was lucky uninjured.

Not long after that motorcycle-car accident, a pedestrian was reportedly struck by a vehicle along Second Street. The accident, which occurred around 5pm on Monday, was still under investigation by the Ocean City Police Department, which was handling investigation of all of those incidents due to their having occurred with municipal limits.

6 injured in separate OC crashes, DelmarvaNow.com, September 6, 2010

Seatbelts have been a hot topic over the years with Maryland and other states promoting increased safety belt usage through public service campaigns, traffic safety legislation and enhanced police enforcement. While it could be said that most drivers understand the benefit of seat belt use as it applies to preventing or reducing serious injury or death as a result of a car crash or truck accident, there remains a portion of the driving public that ignore the safety aspect of these simple yet highly effective devices.

Some of the blame for non-use of safety belts has been placed on the effectiveness of air bags in helping passenger car occupants avoid serious or life-threatening injuries in the case of traffic collisions. And although some airbags are meant to reduce the chance of a person being ejected from a vehicle during a minivan, light truck or car crash, many experts would likely agree that seat belts are better at keeping a person from being thrown from a motor vehicle.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer and automobile accident attorney, I understand the tragic results of single- and multi-car traffic accidents. Single-vehicle crashes can be just as serious as those involving more than one car, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle hitting another car or commercial truck. And, being ejected from a vehicle as part of a serious crash can be much worse for an individual than the initial collision might have been.

A recent news article shows that this indeed can happen to even a driver of a crashing car or truck. According to the news report, three Maryland residents were hospitalized when the SUV in which they were traveling hit a tree late on a Saturday evening.

According to Frederick County officials, the accident happened on Alternate US 40 between Middletown and Frederick just before midnight. Police reports show that a Mercury Mountaineer with three occupants was traveling eastbound when for some reason the driver apparently lost control and the vehicle veered off the roadway and struck a nearby tree.

The force of the crash reportedly caused the driver, Job Smith, to be thrown from the vehicle and back onto the roadway. Emergency responders treated smith and the other occupants and then transported them to local medical facilities. Smith and one passenger were taken by helicopter to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where they were listed in serious condition a couple days later.

A third passenger was taken via ambulance to Washington County Hospital and was listed in fair condition on the following Monday evening, according to hospital officials. According to reports, Alternate US 40 was shut down for about 45 minutes after the crash to allow police to investigate the accident scene. No mention of defective equipment was given as a potential reason for the accident.

Three remain in hospital following SUV crash, Herald-Mail.com, August 15, 2010