UPS double standard

UPS fires the driver in a case like this because their internal investigation finds him responsible for the accident. But when a jury award is involved, they deny responsibility.  Can you have it both ways?  DB

 

 

MOBILE, Alabama — A Mobile County jury granted a man a $1 million award for damages after a car accident with a UPS delivery truck two years ago.

Gerald Simoneau II was driving on Rangeline Road when a UPS truck driven by Steven A. Chestnut veered onto the street, colliding with the vehicle he was driving, according to a complaint filed in Mobile County Circuit Court.

After the February 28 crash, Simoneau, underwent multiple surgeries to repair broken bones, including his ribs and clavicle; and permanent injuries to one of his arms.  A jury awarded Simoneau compensatory damages for the incident Thursday.

“UPS’s driver chose not to follow basic safety rules. By violating the right-of-way, he caused a collision that permanently injured another person,” said Lucy Tufts, an attorney for Cunningham Bounds who represented Simoneau, the plaintiff.

Chestnut, who was then employed by UPS, attempted to cross the intersection near Todd Acres Road and pulled in front of Simoneau only seconds before they both collided.

“UPS is disappointed with the jury’s verdict and we are evaluating whether we are going to appeal,” said Susan Rosenberg, a spokesperson at the corporate office in Atlanta. “Because it’s so recent our lawyers need time to study the elements of the verdict.”

The shipping and logistics company has 30 days to file a motion for an appeal. That motion can sit before a judge as long as 90 days.

“Even after its driver admitted fault, UPS was not willing to accept responsibility. UPS spent 2 ½ years litigating the case and wanted the jury to believe that Mr. Simoneau was to blame for not seeing and avoiding its delivery truck,” Tufts said.

“The jury’s verdict sent a message that it is important for corporations like UPS to be accountable and to take responsibility for their actions when they cause harm to someone else.”

Michael Finch II

Robert Reich

Burger King is in merger talks with Canada-based Tim Hortons restaurant chain (known for its coffee and donuts) in order to become a Canadian company and thereby lower its U.S. taxes. BK’s profits have been flat, mainly because its mostly lower-income customers don’t have enough money to boost sales. So the pending deal is welcome news to investors, who today sent its stock up nearly 20 percent. But it’s a lousy deal for you and me and other Americans because we’ll have to make up for the taxes Burger King stops paying.

We’re already subsidizing Burger King because it refuses to raise the pay of its frontline workers, who are now at or near the minimum wage. So we’re paying for the food stamps, Medicaid, and wage subsidies its workers need in order to stay out of poverty. That means when BK deserts America to cut its tax bill, we’ll be paying twice. That’s a whopper of a slap at America. What should we do about it?

UPS Store data breach includes 3 Colorado stores

DENVER – Some customers of The UPS Store may have had their credit and debit card information exposed by a computer virus found on systems at 51 stores, including three in Colorado.

A spokeswoman for UPS says the information includes card numbers, postal and email addresses from about 100,000 transactions between Jan. 20 and Aug. 11.

United Parcel Service Inc. said Wednesday that it was among U.S. retailers who got a government bulletin about the malware on July 31. The malware is not identified by current anti-virus software.

UPS spokeswoman Chelsea Lee says the company is not aware of any fraud related to the attack.

Atlanta-based UPS says it hired a security firm that found the virus in systems at stores in 24 states, about 1 percent of the company’s 4,470 franchised locations.

The Colorado locations involved are:

  • Aurora – 3124 South Parker Road #A2
  • Greenwood Village – 5910 South University Boulevard Suite C-18
  • Lakewood – 12081 West Alameda Parkway

Locations in other states are listed on UPS’ website.

7NEWS

Support Unions with Your Dollars

The Definitive Union Beer List

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Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and many will be busting out the charcoal and firing up the grills. This means an ice-cold beer should be close at hand. We think it’s a great time to say cheers to all those who have fought and sacrificed in battle for the endurance of our nation. As always, drink responsibly and drink union.

1845 Pils
Alexander Keith’s
Anheuser-Busch
Bass
Beck’s
Black Eye Ale
Black Hawk Stout
Blue Heron Pale Ale
Boxer
Bud Light
Budweiser
Budweiser American Ale
Busch
Butte Creek Organic Collection
Carmel Wheat Beer
Clear Creek Ice
Czechvar
Dundee Craft Beer
Eye of the Hawk
Genesee Brewery
Goose Island
Hamm’s
Henry Weinhard’s Blue Boar
Henry Weinhard’s Private
Hoegaarden
Honey Amber Rose
Huber Bock
Huber Premium
Icehouse
Kirin
Labatt Blue
Labatt Blue Light
Landshark Lager
Lazy Mutt Farmhouse Ale
Leffe Blonde
Lionshead
Mad River Brewing Co.
Mendocino Imperial
Michelob
Miller Beer
Miller Genuine Draft
Miller High Life
Miller High Life Lite
Miller Lite
Miller Lite Ice
Milwaukee’s Best
Milwaukee’s Best Ice
Milwaukee’s Best Light
Minhas Oktoberfest
Natural Ice
Natural Light
O’Doul’s
Olde English 800
Pabst
Pale Ale
Peregrine Pilsner
Pyramid
Red Dog
Red Tail Ale
Reserve
Rolling Rock
Sam Adams
Sharp’s
Shergill IPA
Shock Top
Sparks Malt
Staropramen
Stegmaier
Stella Artois
Swiss Amber
Talon Extra Select Double IPA
White Hawk Select IPA

Southern California UPS driver arrested on gun trafficking charges

A Southern California driver for United Parcel Service was arrested Friday, accused of stealing dozens of guns bound for a Turner’s Outdoorsman store in Rancho Cucamonga.

Curtis Hays, 36, allegedly funneled 72 weapons, including 12-gauge shotguns and .45-caliber pistols, to an associate for sale on the region’s bustling black market for illegal firearms.

“This is an unusual case,” said Carlo A. DiCesare, a special assistant U.S. Attorney in Riverside who is prosecuting the case. “It was a large number of firearms that were stolen, and they were stolen from a reputable shipping company.”

Authorities learned of the scheme after Turner’s Outdoorsman management alerted authorities to the missing shipments. The store typically receives UPS shipments from out-of-state gun manufacturers through the shipping company’s Ontario hub, according to authorities.

The 16-count indictment was filed July 23. It alleges Hays, of Rancho Cucamonga, stole a series of packages containing guns in 2012. The indictment also accuses him of stealing jewelry and mobile phones that were supposed to be delivered to other retailers.

Prosecutors have named Dennis Dell White, Jr., 35, of Moreno Valley, as Hays’ co-conspirator and middleman who is accused of selling the guns on the street or to other illegal gun dealers.

“Defendants Hays and White would meet in Rancho Cucamonga, California, at which defendant Hays would give the stolen firearms or other goods to defendant White,” according to the indictment. Authorities say Hays no longer works for UPS.

“Certainly there is a huge market out there,” DiCesare said of illegal gun sales in Southern California. “What the full extent of it is – I don’t know if anyone knows.”

Hays and White are charged with conspiracy, six counts of theft of firearms, six counts of receipt and possession of stolen firearms and two counts of theft, receipt, and possession of goods in interstate commerce.

The indictment mentions two anonymous individuals involved in the deals as P.C. and L.C. They remain uncharged, according DiCesare.

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