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Alleged drunk driver crashes into Orange County home, kills man

As if the freeways in Southern California weren't dangerous enough, sometimes you don't even have to be on the road to be injured or killed by a drunk driver. On Dec. 29, a 60-year old Mission Viejo man was killed in his bed when a driver allegedly ran his Cadillac into the house. According to authorities, the driver, whom they say was under the influence of alcohol, was driving at more than twice the posted...
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‘Affluenza’ teen and family facing multiple civil suits

People nationwide have been outraged by the case of the 16-year-old who received 10 years probation for a drunk driving accident that killed four people and injured nine others in June. That outrage hit home for residents of Orange County when it was reported in the Dallas Star-Telegram and other media sources that the teen's parents would pay $450,000 per year for him to serve his probation in a rehabilitation facility near Newport Beach. As...
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Study shows link between brain injuries and post-traumatic stress

We have discussed here on multiple occasions the long-term effects of concussions and other brain injuries. A number of former professional football players have come forward recently with their own stories of memory loss, depression and host of neurological conditions. Concussions and brain injuries are increasingly common in members of the military as well. Most brain injuries to military members who have served in war zones in recent years are caused by bomb blasts. Some...
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Appeals court: Daughter’s wrongful death claim can go forward

In a split opinion, a federal appeals court determined that a wrongful death suit filed by a girl whose father was killed by San Diego sheriff's deputies can proceed. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the case against San Diego County can be heard by a jury. The girl's father was shot to death by sheriff's deputies who responded to a domestic disturbance call. Reportedly, the man's girlfriend told the first deputy on...
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Newly-discovered crime lab error could lead to more DUI charges

The saga of the Orange County Crime Lab and mistakes that could affect the cases of drivers charged with driving under the influence continues. Recently the lab admitted that results of blood-alcohol tests in 2,200 cases involving DUIs were incorrect. Reportedly, 900 people already convicted of DUIs were impacted by the findings. Now, an audit being conducted as a result of the initial problems has discovered inaccuracies in the other direction. Auditors found that one...
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