Slashed

$1.5 Million Award Slashed in Tree Branch Injury Case Due to Public Entity Liability Cap

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St. Louis, MO — A local jury recently awarded Phillip Lacey over $1.5 million after he was injured by a falling tree branch while sitting at a bus stop in Lindenwood Park. However, this figure was later adjusted to just over half a million dollars due to Missouri’s legal caps on damages against public entities. The incident, which occurred in June 2022, resulted in severe injuries for Lacey, including a fractured skull and neck, as well as fractured orbital bones and ankle. These injuries stemmed from a large branch breaking off a pin oak tree … Read more

Taiwan Faces Security Risks as Defense Budget Slashed Amid Rising Chinese Military Threats

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Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense sounded alarms this Wednesday regarding a substantial proposed budget cut that could detrimentally affect the island’s security stance amid growing military threats from China. Opposition parties, in control of the majority in Parliament, have passed a law to reallocate funds, slashing the defense budget by approximately T$80 billion ($2.45 billion) to channel more financial support to local municipalities. This decision, coinciding with regional nations bolstering their defense expenditures, could see Taiwan’s defense budget plummet to below 2% of its GDP from a previously planned 2.4%. The Ministry of … Read more