Articles by Jon Gambrell

Arkansas Court: New Hospital Liability Law Is Retroactive

Charitable hospitals with self-insurance plans can be sued for incidents that occurred before their pooled liability funds were established, the Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled. The decision comes as a blow to not-for-profit hospitals like St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center …

Scientist: Fault Puts East Arkansas at Earthquake Risk

A previously unknown fault in eastern Arkansas could trigger a magnitude 7 earthquake in the cotton fields of the upper South with an epicenter near a natural gas pipeline, a scientist said. Haydar Al-Shukri, the director of the Arkansas Earthquake …

Ark. Bank Files Insurance Claim After Employee Allegedly Steals $2.1M

On July 8, Conway-based Home BancShares filed a notice with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that said a senior officer at one of its banks embezzled $2.1 million. John Allison, Home BancShares’ chairman and CEO, later declined to name …

Wal-Mart: Tests Show Traces of Melamine in Dog Treats

Tests of two Chinese brands of dog treats sold at Wal-Mart stores found traces of melamine, a chemical agent that led to another massive pet food recall in March, a spokeswoman said Aug. 21. Wal-Mart quietly stopped selling Chicken Jerky …

Arkansas Promotes Worker Health Coverage Plan

Employees of small businesses in Arkansas who have had to go without health insurance will be able to get basic coverage under a new plan underwritten by the state and federal government. As many as 50,000 Arkansans could benefit, officials …

Proposed Trauma Center Funding Fails in Ark. Legislative Committee

Another attempt to fund a statewide trauma center system in Arkansas by adding a tax to insurance policies failed to win the endorsement of a legislative conference committee April 2, effectively killing it. A proposal by Senate President Jack Critcher …

Proposal for Ark. Trauma System Could Raise Taxes on Insurance Policies

Funding for a statewide trauma system in Arkansas could end up coming from an increase in taxes placed on insurance policies in the state, members of a joint House and Senate committee heard March 30. Senate President Jack Critcher proposed …

Motorcycle Helmet Bill Fails in Ark. Senate Committee

Helmetless motorcyclists need not fear arrest in Arkansas unless the sponsor of a measure to require helmets decides he can muster the votes in the state Senate to remove his proposal from a committee that declined to endorse it. The …

Ark. Court of Appeals Sides with Truck Driver in Workers’ Comp Case

A delivery truck driver injured on his route is entitled to disability benefits, the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled on Feb. 6, 2007, overturning a state workers’ compensation commission decision. An opinion written by Judge Wendell Griffen questioned the commission’s …

Injured Ark. trucker wins court order for rehearing

The Arkansas Court of Appeals says the state Work-ers’ Compensation Commission did such a poor job of considering an injured trucker’s claim that it was “impossible” for the court to properly review the case. Chief Judge John Mauzy Pittman, wrote …