1-866-PR4LAWYERS (1-866-774-5299)

Attorney Marketing Blog

Archives: News

Aviation Safety Attorney Available for Comment on Fatal Arkansas Plane Crash Involving Tennessee Pilot

Keith Williams: Recent Crash Underscores Gaps in Pre-Flight Oversight, FAA Enforcement

NASHVILLE, TENN. (August 22, 2025) — Following the tragic plane crash in Lafayette County, Arkansas that killed a Tennessee pilot, nationally recognized aviation attorney Keith Williams is available to provide expert legal and safety insight for ongoing news coverage.

On August 17, a single-engine 2021 Lancair Super Barracuda en route from Austin, Texas to Chattanooga, Tennessee crashed near Bradley, Arkansas, killing the pilot—identified as a man from Ooltewah, Tennessee. The wreckage was located hours later by an Arkansas State Police helicopter, and the FAA and NTSB are currently investigating.

Williams regularly comments on aviation incidents and legal liability in aircraft accidents. His experience includes representing families affected by aviation disasters and advising on federal aviation regulations and investigative procedures.

He is available for interviews on:

  • Aviation safety and risk factors in small aircraft
  • FAA/NTSB investigation protocols
  • Legal implications for victims’ families following a crash
  • Trends in general aviation accident rates

Williams is also a member of the ABA’s Aviation and Space Law Committee and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

###

* Photo is attached.

About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

Attorney Files Claims Against NYC and HHC for Causing Deadly Legionnaires’ Outbreak in Central Harlem

HHC and City-Owned Buildings Among Those Linked to Unchecked Contamination

NEW YORK, NY — August 21, 2025 — Following a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem that has claimed five lives and sickened over 100, New York attorney Ronald J. Katter has filed Notices of Claim against NYC and the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation’s Harlem Hospital alleging negligence and systemic failures in their buildings’ water system management.

Katter represents two Harlem residents who contracted the disease during the outbreak, which health officials traced to unsafe levels of Legionella bacteria in cooling towers at 12 buildings — including multiple city-run facilities that include the City University of New York building, a NYC Department of Health clinic and HHC’s Harlem Hospital.

According to the city’s own findings, nine of the 12 buildings either failed to conduct required Legionella testing or had not been inspected by the city in the past year, in clear violation of public health laws enacted after prior outbreaks.

“Because of the city’s willful negligence, five New Yorkers are dead,” said Katter, who has earned national recognition for his work in Legionnaires’ litigation. “My clients were infected by bacteria growing unchecked in city-owned buildings that ignored basic safety regulations. This outbreak was not an accident — it was entirely preventable.”

The Notice of Claim, which is the precondition to filing a lawsuit against the City and HHC, alleges the City and HHC violated New York State and City laws, which were specifically enacted to prevent fatal Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.

Katter first made headlines in 2015 when he sued on behalf of a Bronx man infected in the Opera House Hotel outbreak, which led to sweeping reforms in Legionella control. Yet, as this latest tragedy shows, oversight remains dangerously inconsistent.

The Central Harlem outbreak was detected by the Department of Health in July and has sent dozens to the hospital. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe pneumonia caused by inhaling water vapor containing Legionella bacteria. It poses the greatest risk to older adults and those with weakened immune systems. The CDC reports that fatality rates can reach 10% even with treatment.

For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

###

* Notice of claim is available upon request.

About The Katter Law Firm

The Katter Law Firm represents clients throughout New York City in personal injury cases including those who have suffered injuries as a result of construction accidents, Legionnaires’ disease, motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian knockdowns, bicycle crashes, slip/trip and falls, assaults, workplace accidents, professional malpractice, nursing home negligence, hospital mistreatment, police abuse, accidental death, pet attacks and cemetery and funeral negligence.  The firm aggressively represents injured victims through New York’s five boroughs, as well as the surrounding counties. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

Amid Latest Legionnaires’ Outbreak, Veteran Attorney Urges Public to Learn the Risks—and Their Rights

Ronald J. Katter, “The Legionnaires’ Lawyer,” available for interviews on disease prevention, legal accountability, and what victims need to know

NEW YORK, NY — In the wake of a recent Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem that killed five and sickened more than 100 people, prominent attorney Ronald J. Katter is available for expert commentary on the public health risks of Legionnaires’ disease and how legal action can help drive accountability.

Known as “The Legionnaires’ Lawyer” for his work representing victims of past outbreaks, Katter has been at the forefront of holding building owners responsible for failing to maintain safe water systems — often the root cause of these preventable tragedies.

“These outbreaks don’t happen in a vacuum,” said Katter. “They’re typically the result of building owners neglecting basic safety — failing to clean and maintain cooling towers, water tanks, and plumbing systems where Legionella bacteria thrive.”

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water vapor contaminated with Legionella bacteria, typically found in warm water environments like cooling towers, according to the CDC. It is not spread person-to-person, but rather through mist or vapor.

Symptoms include high fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, and headaches. The disease disproportionately affects adults over 50 and those with compromised immune systems — often leading to hospitalization or death.

Katter first gained national attention in 2015, when he filed suit on behalf of a 54-year-old man sickened in a major outbreak linked to contaminated cooling towers at the Opera House Hotel in the Bronx. He has since continued to advocate for victims, including those affected by the recent Central Harlem outbreak.

“People contract this disease through no fault of their own,” said Katter. “When building owners ignore public health laws, people die—and they must be held accountable.”

“Since the Opera House Legionnaires’ outbreak in 2015, the City has mandated that the owners of buildings with cooling towers, regularly test them for high Legionella bacteria levels, treat them as required, and file quarterly reports with the city,” Katter continued. “Fines were to be imposed for noncompliance. Why hasn’t the city enforced this law to prevent this outbreak?”

Ronald J. Katter is available for interviews to discuss:

  • What is Legionnaires’ disease, what causes it, how it is contracted, how it is treated —and how it can be prevented
  • What legal options are available for victims and their families
  • What this latest outbreak reveals about infrastructure and oversight in New York City

For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

###

About The Katter Law Firm

The Katter Law Firm represents clients throughout New York City in personal injury cases including those who have suffered injuries as a result of construction accidents, Legionnaires ‘disease, motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian knockdowns, bicycle crashes, slip/trip and falls,  assaults, workplace accidents, professional malpractice, nursing home negligence, hospital mistreatment, police abuse, accidental death, pet attacks and cemetery and funeral negligence.  The firm aggressively represents injured victims through New York’s five boroughs, as well as the surrounding counties. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

Ronald Katter Says City Should Properly Maintain Its Own Buildings to Prevent Future Legionnaires’ Outbreaks

NEW YORK, NY — Ronald J. Katter, “The Legionnaires’ Lawyer,” urges the City of New York to be thorough and vigilant when it comes to inspecting cooling towers located on the roofs of its own buildings to prevent Legionnaires’ disease.

On August 15, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced that four people had died and 101 people were sickened from the disease. This announcement came after city officials counted 12 buildings with water cooling towers that had unsafe levels of Legionella bacteria. Nine of the buildings either had failed to perform mandatory Legionella testing, or were not inspected by the city in the past year. The buildings identified include a City University of New York building, a City Economic Development office, a City Health Clinic and HHC’s Harlem Hospital

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria, which are usually found in water. The bacteria can grow in warm water found in cooling towers. People can contract the disease when they breathe in water vapor, which is invisible, containing the bacteria. Symptoms include pneumonia with other signs, such as cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle aches and headaches.

“The city has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of its citizens, and they failed,” Mr. Katter says. “To wait a year or more to inspect a water tower is inexcusable. The city must clean up its own buildings’ water systems and make sure that private building owners have clean water systems, immediately.”

Mr. Katter has a proven track record of handling Legionnaires’-related lawsuits, including those against landlords and corporations who failed to properly maintain their water systems. He has represented clients who were sickened during an earlier Legionnaires outbreak at the HHC Harlem Hospital.

Mr. Katter is available for interviews on this matter. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

###

About Katter Law Firm

The Katter Law Firm represents clients throughout New York City in personal injury cases including those who have suffered injuries in automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, truck accidents, slip/trip and falls, hotel accidents, assaults, workplace accidents, construction accidents, professional malpractice, nursing home negligence, hospital mistreatment, police abuse, accidental deaths and pet attacks. The firm aggressively represents injured victims through the five boroughs, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens as well as Westchester County. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

STATE’S GUARDIANSHIP SYSTEM IN CRISIS, SAYS LEGAL EXPERT — CALLS FOR URGENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION

JAMAICA ESTATES, NY — August 15, 2025 — Amid growing reports of abuse and neglect in New York’s guardianship system, legal expert and elder law attorney Tanya Hobson-Williams is urging state lawmakers to go beyond recent recommendations from a gubernatorial task force and enact sweeping legislative reforms.

“The system is broken — and without new laws to strengthen oversight and accountability, the most vulnerable New Yorkers will continue to fall through the cracks,” said Hobson-Williams, who has represented dozens of individuals in guardianship cases across the state.

A task force appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul recently called for a $15 million investment and the transfer of guardianship oversight to state courts — a major shift from the current decentralized system with almost no regulation of the private and nonprofit entities entrusted with care of some 30,000 residents.

But Hobson-Williams warns that funding and administrative changes alone won’t fix a system plagued by exploitation. “There needs to be legislative changes to Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law,” she said. “There should be changes in who can commence a guardianship proceeding because now just about anyone can, which includes banks and nursing homes, which, on occasion, use the proceeding to collect nursing home debts.”

The need for reform is urgent. A recent ProPublica investigation uncovered widespread neglect and alleged financial abuse by guardianship companies, triggering a probe by New York Attorney General Letitia James and raising alarms across the judicial system.

While the task force’s recommendations have been submitted, Governor Hochul has not yet announced any action.

“The state can’t wait,” Hobson-Williams said. “These are people’s lives, and the failure to act is costing them their dignity — and in some cases, their safety.”

For more information, call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

 

###

About Hobson-Williams, P.C.
With offices located in Jamaica Estates and Brooklyn, New York, the law firm of Hobson-Williams, P.C. is comprised of a highly knowledgeable and diligent staff. With over 28 years of experience, the firm’s skilled attorneys are dedicated to protecting and serving their clients’ needs and legal interests, and are committed to providing unparalleled client service. Practice areas include elder law and estate planning, Guardianships, Medicaid, real estate, landlord/tenant and business law. For more information, call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

EMPLOYMENT LAW EXPERT WARNS: COMPANIES MUST BALANCE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS WITH WORKPLACE RESPECT

NEW YORK, NY — August 13, 2025 — With religious expression becoming a flashpoint in today’s politically charged workplace, nationally recognized employment attorney and author Steven Mitchell Sack, known as “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” is urging employers to walk a legal and ethical tightrope to protect religious freedom while preventing harassment and division among employees.

Sack, host of the podcast “Know Your Job Rights with Attorney Steven Sack” and author of the bestselling book “FIRED! Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK,” says the stakes have never been higher for companies navigating how much religious expression is too much — and when silence becomes discrimination.

“Respecting a worker’s faith is critical,” Sack says. “But when an employee crosses the line — telling others their religion is wrong or threatening eternal damnation — that’s no longer religious freedom. That’s harassment. And employers need to step in before it turns into a lawsuit.”

His comments follow recent high-profile legal developments, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Groff v. DeJoy, which expanded the obligation of employers to accommodate religious practices under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act — unless such accommodation imposes an undue hardship on the business or creates a hostile work environment. Multiple federal appeals courts have agreed: religious rights are not a license to disrupt or intimidate in the workplace.

Under new federal guidelines and in light of increasing polarization around faith in public life, employers are now under pressure to get this right. As debates rage from the boardroom to the breakroom, Sack offers practical, legally sound advice to avoid costly missteps.

Steven Mitchell Sack is available for interviews on navigating religion in the workplace, employee rights, and best practices for HR and leadership teams.

For more information, call (917) 371-8000 or visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

###

About Steven Mitchell Sack

Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” has been enforcing the workplace rights of employees, executives, and sales representatives for more than 45 years. He is a practicing labor and employment attorney, author of 20 books, a lecturer, syndicated radio talk show host, and host of the podcast “Know Your Job Rights with Attorney Steven Sack.” With attorney Scott A. Lucas, he obtained a $6.2 million jury verdict in 2015 on behalf of three pregnant employees and a favorable New York Court of Appeals decision for a group of waiters who were denied their fair share of tips that a caterer withheld. For more information, visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

Tragedy Sparks Call for Reform: NY Attorney Urges Passage of Kyra’s Law to Protect Children in Custody Cases

Mount Vernon, NY — New York attorney Lauren P. Raysor is calling on the State Assembly to immediately pass Kyra’s Law, a life-saving child custody reform bill that has already cleared the Senate. The bill would make child safety the top priority in family court decisions and require judges to receive specialized training in domestic violence, child abuse, and trauma.

The legislation is named after Kyra Franchetti, a two-year-old girl who was murdered by her father during a court-approved visit, despite her mother’s repeated warnings about his violent behavior.

“This was a preventable tragedy,” said Ms. Raysor. “Kyra’s mother did everything right — she told the court her child was in danger, and she was ignored. We can’t let this happen again.”

Introduced by Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi (D–Forest Hills) and Senator James Skoufis (D–Cornwall), Kyra’s Law (A.3315/S.3170) would:

  • Require judges in custody and visitation cases to undergo intensive training in child abuse, trauma, and family violence
  • Mandate that child safety takes precedence over parental rights in court decisions
  • Curb the misuse of “parental alienation” claims, which can silence abuse survivors
  • Call for mandatory evidentiary hearings in high-risk custody cases

In Kyra’s case, a court-appointed forensic evaluator recommended joint custody, and a judge dismissed the mother’s fears, saying, “this is not a life-or-death situation.” Days later, Kyra was shot to death in her sleep. Her father then set the house on fire and took his own life.

“Judges are making decisions without the tools or understanding they need to protect children,” Ms. Raysor said. “This bill gives them the training and the mandate to put safety first. The Assembly must act now — every day they wait, children remain at risk.”

Kyra’s Law passed the New York State Senate unanimously. It now sits in the Assembly, awaiting action.

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

###

About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

 

Tennessee Aviation Attorney: Injured Delta Passengers May Be Entitled to Compensation Under International Law

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 4, 2025) — A prominent Tennessee aviation attorney says passengers injured aboard a Delta flight diverted after severe turbulence may have legal grounds for compensation under international air travel law.

Delta Air Lines Flight DL56, en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, experienced violent turbulence shortly after reaching cruising altitude late Tuesday night. According to flight data, the Airbus A330 suddenly climbed 1,000 feet before descending sharply over Aspen, Wyoming, prompting an emergency diversion to Minneapolis. Twenty-five passengers were taken to local hospitals for injuries upon landing.

“The turbulence was significant enough to almost certainly qualify as an accident under the international aviation convention that applied to the flight,” said Keith Williams, an aviation attorney with the Keith Williams Law Group in Nashville. “Under the Montreal Convention, airlines can be held liable up to a certain amount for injuries that occur onboard international flights, even if the airline did not cause the accident, and they can be held liable for even higher amounts where the airline was negligent in causing what happened.”

The Montreal Convention, a binding treaty signed by more than 130 countries—including the U.S. and the Netherlands—requires airlines to compensate injured passengers on international flights under specific circumstances.

Williams, who has handled numerous airline injury cases, including under the Montreal Convention, says passengers should consider acting quickly. “It’s unclear if passengers were warned about the turbulence or if protocol was followed in the cockpit. What is clear is that as an international flight, any claims will certainly fall under the Montreal Convention,” he said.

“When turbulence rises to this level, passengers can experience emotional trauma and serious physical injuries, as well, and passengers may have real legal rights,” Williams added.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

###

About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

 

Aviation Safety Attorney Calls on U.S. Army to Ground Helicopters with Outdated Altimeters After Deadly D.C. Crash

NASHVILLE, TENN. (July 31, 2025) — Following the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) initial hearings into the January 29 mid-air collision that killed 67 people over Washington, D.C., aviation safety attorney Keith Williams is urging the U.S. Army to immediately retire helicopters equipped with outdated altimeters.

At the July 30 hearing, NTSB investigators revealed that the Army helicopter involved in the crash was flying well above its approved altitude. Tests showed its older barometric altimeter significantly misreported its true height—by as much as 130 feet—compared to newer, more accurate radio altimeters.

“This wasn’t pilot error. This was predictable—and preventable—equipment failure,” said Williams, founder of The Keith Williams Law Group and a nationally recognized aviation safety advocate. “Outdated technology in military aircraft doesn’t just endanger soldiers. It puts civilian lives at risk when flight paths overlap.”

The fatal collision occurred over the Potomac River when a military helicopter intersected the path of an American Airlines jet during final approach to Reagan National Airport. The crash has renewed scrutiny of how military and commercial aircraft share airspace near major cities.

“The military has a responsibility to modernize its fleet—not just for combat readiness, but for public safety,” Williams said. “Retiring these helicopters isn’t just the right call—it’s long overdue.”

Williams is also calling for stricter airspace separation protocols between military and commercial aircraft, pointing to a growing number of near-miss incidents tracked by the FAA in recent years.

In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

###

* Photo is attached.

About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

Court Rules State Cannabis Laws Preempt Town of Riverhead Regulations in Landmark Decision

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK — A significant legal decision was handed down today in the case of Tink & E, et al. v. Town of Riverhead, et al., where the court ruled that New York State’s cannabis laws preempt certain local zoning regulations imposed by the Town of Riverhead. The ruling marks a crucial development in the ongoing debate over cannabis regulation and zoning authority within the state.

 

Representing the intervening respondents 1086 OCR LLC, Brian Stark Enterprises LLC and Brian Stark—whose interests were aligned with the petitioners on the preemption issue — Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo LLP Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Land Use Practice Group Martha Reichert successfully argued alongside the petitioners that Riverhead’s cannabis regulations were preempted by state law. The court also found that the town’s regulations violated the uniformity requirements for zoning laws set forth in Town Law 262.

 

“This ruling is a major victory not only for our clients but for cannabis businesses throughout the entire state and especially here on Long Island, where restrictive zoning laws have slowed the rollout of legal cannabis businesses,” said Ms. Reichert, lead counsel for the intervening respondents. “It clarifies the boundaries between state and local authority on cannabis regulation and sets a precedent that will influence similar disputes across New York. We are proud to have played a pivotal role in this case.

 

The case is considered one of first impression in New York, as it directly addresses state preemption over local zoning laws related to cannabis. The outcome is expected to have wide-reaching implications for municipalities attempting to regulate cannabis businesses within their borders.

 

In a related matter, Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo LLP, Barclay Damon LLP, and Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC are currently representing 1086 OCR LLC, Brian Stark Enterprises LLC, and Brian Stark in a separate Article 78 proceeding challenging another section of Riverhead’s Town Code involving the distance between dispensaries and schools on the same legal grounds.  With the same judge assigned to that case, a similar ruling is expected.

 

For more information on Twomey Latham, call (631)727-2180 or visit www.suffolklaw.com.

 

*Photo of Ms. Reichert is attached.

 

About Twomey Latham

Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP is a full-service law firm with five offices across Long Island. The firm’s practice areas include Business and Corporate Law, Labor and Employment, Insurance, Banking, Commercial Litigation, Taxation, Trademark and Copyright, Environmental Law, Real Estate Development and Transactions, Construction, Land Use and Zoning, Municipal Law, Personal Injury, Arts and Entertainment, Wills Trusts and Estates, Estate Litigation, Elder Law, Family and Matrimonial Law, and Not-For-Profit Law.

 

What’s Happening at PR4Lawyers

  • Advertisements were created for McGuire Pelaez & Bennet PC, Neil H Greenberg & Associates, Frederick K. Brewington, Sakkas Cahn & Weiss, The Margolis Law Firm and Lauren P. Raysor

Contact Us

For more information about our services or to find out how we can help you attain your marketing goals, click here to email us, or call:
Toll Free: 866-PR4LAWYERS .: Phone: 631-207-1057

Contact Our New York City Office

New York City Office

Contact Our Long Island Office

Long Island Office

Contact Our Hawley, PA Office

Hawley Office

REQUEST A QUOTE

Request a Quote

Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch soon.

    Skip to content