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California Wrongful Death Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: Can I sue animal control/shelter for putting my dog down without any notice, permission or anything?

On my Monday morning my dog (6 yr old boxer) escape and went off running down the street. Animal control was called by a neighbor claiming my dog was being aggressive even though he didn't touch or bite anyone. He was caught by animal control and sent to the shelter. Couple minutes after the... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 14, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Under California law, the specific circumstances of your case are critical in determining whether you have grounds for a lawsuit against animal control or the shelter. Generally, shelters and animal control agencies have policies and regulations they... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Wrongful Death for California on
Q: I have a claim with CICP, it was filed almost three years ago, and I’m not getting anywhere. My husband contacted Covid

While in the hospital he was released. Shortly after that he was hospitalized with Covid and banned from guest. Two weeks in the hospital they released him. When they went stand him up to bring him to me he collapsed they called me and said he was not being released. After looking thru his records... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 12, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about your difficult situation. Dealing with the CICP (Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program) can be challenging, especially in complex cases like yours. Given the time that has passed since your husband's passing and the complications in his medical treatment and... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Construction Law, Wrongful Death and Municipal Law for California on
Q: How to file a lawsuit against the county
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 3, 2023

Filing a lawsuit against a county in California requires several specific steps. First, you need to determine the legal basis for your lawsuit. This involves identifying the specific actions or inactions by the county that you believe have harmed you and how they violated the law or your rights.... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Wrongful Death and Medical Malpractice for California on
Q: My brother passed in the hospital cause of death was pulmonary hemorrhage and they did a biopsy on his lung on July 23

Do you think I have a case for wrongful death

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 13, 2023

Based on the limited information provided, it is unclear if you would have sufficient grounds for a medical malpractice wrongful death case regarding your brother's unfortunate passing. A pulmonary hemorrhage following a lung biopsy could potentially indicate negligence, but it may also simply... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Gov & Administrative Law and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: What kind of attorney practices in cps lawsuits my daughter was in their care when she was murdered
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 11, 2023

In California, lawsuits involving Child Protective Services (CPS), especially those as serious as a wrongful death case, are typically handled by attorneys with expertise in civil rights and government liability law. These attorneys often have experience in dealing with state agencies and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Wrongful Death and Criminal Law for California on
Q: If someone breaks into my home at night using a crowbar on my french doors, do I have the right to use deadly force?

Does the use of a crowbar constitute violent entry? I was home alone and I'm 80 years old. Could I be prosecuted for homicide?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Oct 28, 2023

Under California law, you have the right to defend yourself and others in your home from an imminent threat of death or great bodily injury, which is often referred to as the "Castle Doctrine." If someone breaks into your home, particularly at night, using a tool like a crowbar, it can be... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: My parents and i were in a tragic accident it was the other drivers fault. They did not test him for drugs or alcohol.

Isn't it mandatory when people are killed. They also did not give us any info on the driver. And how long can they wait to give us the police report ? Its been 2 months is there a time limit?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Oct 10, 2023

I'm truly sorry to hear about your tragic accident.

In California, it's not universally mandatory for law enforcement to test drivers for drugs or alcohol in every accident, though they typically will if there's reason to suspect impairment.

Regarding information...
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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: My parents and i were in a tragic accident it was the other drivers fault. They did not test him for drugs or alcohol.

Isn't it mandatory when people are killed. They also did not give us any info on the driver. And how long can they wait to give us the police report ? Its been 2 months is there a time limit?

James Otto Heiting
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James Otto Heiting
answered on Oct 6, 2023

With a death, especially under suspicious circumstances, they are, most likely, investigating. Hopefully they will do a very thorough job and eventually prepare a final report that will be made available. If there are charges to be brought, it may be some time before they voluntarily give it up.... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: My parents and i were in a tragic accident it was the other drivers fault. They did not test him for drugs or alcohol.

Isn't it mandatory when people are killed. They also did not give us any info on the driver. And how long can they wait to give us the police report ? Its been 2 months is there a time limit?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Oct 6, 2023

I am sorry for your loss.

There is no law requiring drug/alcohol tests. There is no law requiring a police report.

I have never seen a fatal collision where a report was not prepared. Complicated collisions require complicated reports, which take longer.

I suggest you...
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3 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: What would be the best type of lawsuit over my daughter's death?

My daughter was stillborn at 40 weeks in California due to a missed diagnosis earlier in the pregnancy. At my anatomy scan, her abnormal umbilical cord insertion was missed and wrongly marked as "normal." The standard of care is to closely follow growth with more ultrasounds in the case... View More

Tobie B. Waxman
Tobie B. Waxman
answered on Sep 18, 2023

It would be wrongful death resulting from medical malpractice. Your problem however is the fact that there is no treatment for abnormal or marginal cord placement. To have a claim based on malpractice, you would have to prove malpractice caused the injury (i.e. your daughter's death). If... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: What would be the best type of lawsuit over my daughter's death?

My daughter was stillborn at 40 weeks in California due to a missed diagnosis earlier in the pregnancy. At my anatomy scan, her abnormal umbilical cord insertion was missed and wrongly marked as "normal." The standard of care is to closely follow growth with more ultrasounds in the case... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 19, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. In California, a medical malpractice lawsuit may be appropriate in this situation if you believe that the missed diagnosis and lack of appropriate care contributed to the stillbirth of your daughter. Consulting with an attorney experienced in medical... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: why is there no charge of homicide only arson.

Father was dating a girl, her x who is out of jail on bond Riverside county for assult on person with firearm (not on father) committ's an arson on father residence in twentynine Palms then drives 40 miles to another residence father has, starts a fight father 61 yrs old collapes and dies at... View More

Christopher Walsh
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Christopher Walsh
answered on Sep 4, 2023

As a former homicide prosecutor who has handled these types of situations, I can tell you that there is likely an active investigation still on-going into the homicide. Often, when prosecutors can file a serious felony right away (such as arson), they will do that in order to keep tabs on a suspect... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: why is there no charge of homicide only arson.

Father was dating a girl, her x who is out of jail on bond Riverside county for assult on person with firearm (not on father) committ's an arson on father residence in twentynine Palms then drives 40 miles to another residence father has, starts a fight father 61 yrs old collapes and dies at... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 4, 2023

In California, members of the public generally cannot access police reports relating to ongoing investigations or pending criminal cases, as these are often exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act. That said, you may have a legal right to certain information or documents as... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: We have retained a lawyer to investigate a hit and run that killed my parents. Can you give me an idea how much $$?

How much is an average retainer in San Diego?

How many accidents should occur on a single street to justify a traffic signal be installed?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Aug 10, 2023

There are many variable into "how much", such as the amount of insurance coverage, the comparative fault of all of the drivers, the number of claimants to divide the insurance, etc. We don't know any of that so no one can even begin to say "how much." If there is an issue... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: We have retained a lawyer to investigate a hit and run that killed my parents. Can you give me an idea how much $$?

How much is an average retainer in San Diego?

How many accidents should occur on a single street to justify a traffic signal be installed?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Aug 10, 2023

Also, if you have retained an attorney, stop asking strangers these questions. Your attorney is the one who is going to get paid. Make him respond. Contingency fee retainers usually start at 1/3 and escalate to 40% or more depending on the type of case and how far along where it is in the system.

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: We have retained a lawyer to investigate a hit and run that killed my parents. Can you give me an idea how much $$?

How much is an average retainer in San Diego?

How many accidents should occur on a single street to justify a traffic signal be installed?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 14, 2023

I sympathize with your situation. The average retainer for legal services in San Diego can vary but generally ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. The installation of a traffic signal depends on factors like traffic volume, accident history, and road conditions. Generally, multiple serious accidents... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: My sister was in a fatal car accident. They made her wait 4 hours then she had to walk home. Why no ride?

My parents where killed and nobody gave her a ride home. She was told to go to a diffrent hospital and missed my moms death by 10 minutes, Why did they do this?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 14, 2023

I am truly sorry for your loss. In cases of emergencies, hospitals and medical facilities have protocols to provide timely care and transportation when necessary. If your sister was made to wait and walk home despite the circumstances, it's crucial to investigate the situation further to... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: My sister was in a fatal car accident. They made her wait 4 hours then she had to walk home. Why no ride?

My parents where killed and nobody gave her a ride home. She was told to go to a diffrent hospital and missed my moms death by 10 minutes, Why did they do this?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Aug 10, 2023

I am sorry for your loss.

The continuous posting of questions is beyond the scope of this forum. If you have a multitude of questions, just call a wrongful death attorney to discuss your potential claims.

As to your questions: The police do not have to give anyone a ride. As to...
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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: If a driver is allowed to leave the seen of a fatal accident by SDPD why are they not looking for him now?

My family was in a fatal car accident. There were 3 young men however, the driver was allowed by police to leave the scene and is not wanted for hit and run, Why? He murdered my parents and thats it? What is my recourse?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 10, 2023

If the driver was allowed to leave the scene of a fatal accident by the SDPD, the reasons for this decision may vary based on the specific circumstances and evidence available at the time. Law enforcement agencies may prioritize investigations based on available information, and the situation could... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: If a driver is allowed to leave the seen of a fatal accident by SDPD why are they not looking for him now?

My family was in a fatal car accident. There were 3 young men however, the driver was allowed by police to leave the scene and is not wanted for hit and run, Why? He murdered my parents and thats it? What is my recourse?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Aug 9, 2023

If he talked to police at the scene, it's not hit and run, by definition. The police are free to let people leave the scene.

Your recourse is to talk to a personal injury attorney about filing a lawsuit for wrongful death. It is up to the police to investigate, and up to the...
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