Jurors returned a verdict in the amount of $1,094,034.30 on Friday, February 12, 2010 for a young man tragically injured in a crash with a Palm Beach County School Bus.

The 14 year old boy, Altavious Carter, was being driven home by his basketball coach after practice. The coach made a routine stop at a red traffic light. A Palm Beach County School District bus was traveling at 45 or 50 miles per hour, approaching the unsuspecting 14 year old basketball star. For reasons still unclear, the bus failed to slow; failed to stop; and rear ended the vehicle where the 14 year old was appropriately seat belted. The 14 year old boy, who loved basketball, suffered a broken neck and other serious injuries.

Not surprisingly, the Palm Beach County School District admitted their fault in the accident and the case went to trial in Palm Beach County last week. The School District argued they should not owe the young man more than $250,000 for his very significant injuries; because they argued he had failed to suffer a permanent injury.

Searcy Denney attorneys, Brian Denney and Jack Hill, tried the case to a jury of six Palm Beach County jurors.

This young man has fought a valiant battle in coming back from his injuries. Doctors feared he would be paralyzed, but this young man has demonstrated a heroic courage. He has had very limited resources with which to rehabilitate himself and has largely been successful through sheer strength of will.

Because the School District of Palm Beach County is a “sovereign immune”, governmental entity, it is not likely they will voluntarily make payment of the verdict. It will be necessary to win a claims bill submitted to the Florida legislature before any payment will be made to Mr. Carter. Although the battle is not over Attorneys Denney and Hill are ecstatic that their client will have the funds to go forward in his life on a more positive basis than he has been able to do so far.

The federal government’s Center for Disease Control confirmed on Monday what many have believed and feared for months — the incidence of cancer among children living in the Acreage is substantially higher than would reasonably be expected based on national statistics- three times higher. The bad news is that the federal government has confirmed the existence of a “cancer cluster”. The good news is that the federal government has confirmed the existence of a “cancer cluster”.

The news is bad because behind the finding is the terrible tragedy that many Acreage families are already suffering. It is bad because of the terrible dilemma that confronts so many others faced with having to choose whether to abandon their homes to protect their family’s health. It is bad news because it reinforces the fear that already exists that leaving the Acreage now might already be too late.

However, the CDC’s “cancer cluster” confirmation is good news because it opens the door to additional federal resources essential to the welfare of the Acreage community. The need for a very careful and thorough investigation is now undeniable.

We now know for sure there is a serious health problem. The very important question of who or what has caused that problem remains unanswered, but Monday’s announcement raises the level of confidence that private and public efforts will find the answer.

Palm Beach County Health Officials plan to hold a forum:

What: Palm Beach County health officials plan to discuss their interviews and population research at a public meeting.

When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 9.

Where: Seminole Ridge High School, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Loxahatchee, FL

Down Syndrome strikes 1 in every 800 babies. Although commonly thought to predominantly afflict children of “older” mothers, the fact is that actually 80% of mothers giving birth to children with Down Syndrome are under the age of 35. At one time, Down Syndrome children had little hope and research was not being intensively done. Now, thanks to a number of groups, these children have people “opening doors to create a brighter future.

One such group is The Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization, which was started in 1980 by three mothers who had a common need to make a better life for their children with Down Syndrome.  The group first met in the home of one of the founders.  At that time, Palm Beach County had no other group dedicated to advocating specifically for persons with Down Syndrome.
On October 18th, Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization will be holding a Buddy Walk. The funds earned through this charitable donation are used as outlined in the group’s brochure, for:

… raising awareness and generating acceptance of individuals with Down syndrome. We accomplish this through our many programs: Newborn, family outreach, therapeutic playgroups, the Learning Program, school aged social and recreational activities, teen and adult dances and social activities, educational advocacy and training, parent and teacher education, conferences, healthcare conferences, informational resources to our families, and community service liaison.

Register on Line
www.goldcoastdownsyndrome.org

Walk Brochure
http://www.goldcoastdownsyndrome.org/buddywalk/2009%20brochure.pdf

Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization
15th Annual BUDDY WALK
Sunday, October 18, 2009
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Walk begins at 9:15 am