Legal Question in Personal Injury in Nevada

Third degree burns from spilled coffee/medical release forms

On a recent trip to Las Vegas, the mother of my two children received third degree burns from a cup of coffee that spilled in her lap on the second day of our 4 day trip. The Casino that it happened at wants her to sign a medical release form so they can get her medical records and is persistant to get it signed. We have offered to forward the medical records to them but they want this form signed. Should this form be signed without the reveiw of an attorney, and if we retain an attorney which state should the attorney be retained from, Michigan where we live or Nevada where the incident happened?


Asked on 12/16/01, 4:14 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Jeffrey Cogan Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Cogan, Chartered

Re: Third degree burns from spilled coffee/medical release forms

I would not sign the release. They are eventually entitled to their own copies but it is always better to have an attorney review the medical records before they are released. You may have said something that could hurt your case and attorneys like to put their own "spin" on the medical records, subject to your doctor's approval.

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Answered on 12/17/01, 7:32 pm
Rick Williams Law Offices of Frederick D. (Rick) Williams, Chtd.

Re: Third degree burns from spilled coffee/medical release forms

The incident occurred in Nevada, so a Nevada licensee should represent you in this claim. The medical release generally is a pretty simple thing that just gives the hotel/casino the opportunity to obtain their OWN originals of all the medical records, without risking that you are filtering out something that might be detrimental to the claim. That said, though, it probably would be prudent to have an attorney familiar with Nevada law review it to ensure it dooes not release any other rights than simple permission to obtain the records.

Please let me know if I can offer some assistance. An initial consultation is free, and I can be reached at 775-358-1958 or email at [email protected]

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Answered on 12/16/01, 6:39 pm


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