The Injury Lawyer Directory Blog

ETHEX Corp. is recalling a lot of morphine sulfate pills due to a potential defect. Some of their morphine pills were found to be twice the proper thickness. It is very possible that these tablets contain a double dosage of morphine sulfate as a result of the increased thickness. Consumers of this tablet are at a serious risk of a morphine overdose.

The Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch Program has been collecting data on the potentially defective drug. As of now, the morphine recall is for the following tablets:

• Morphine Sulfate Extended Release 15 mg and Immediate Release 15 mg and 30 mg
  
• Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablets 10 mg
  
• Propafenone HCl Tablets 150 mg, 225 mg, 300 mg
  
• Isosorbide Mononitrate Extended Release 30 mg and 60 mg
  

ETHEX claims that the recall is limited to these tablets. However, the pharmaceutical company hasn't explained why they are certain that these quality control failures were limited to these few lots.

An overdose of morphine can have disastrous consequences for its victims. The double dosage of these pills could potentially lead to trouble breathing, stoppage of breathing, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, rapid heart rate, and death.

If you are taking any of these tablets, you should stop immediately and consult your doctor to see if they are part of the drug recall. Save all of your remaining pills, labeling them to make sure you don't accidentally take them in the future. In the event of a defective drug lawsuit, you will want to have the extra pills as evidence. You should also consult a defective drug attorney if you have been injured as a result of a morphine overdose. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against ETHEX.

If you have suffered an illness or injury from any of the recalled morphine sulfate pills in the Denver, Colorado area, please contact the law offices of Burg, Simpson, Eldredge, Hersh & Jardine, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

Victoria's Secret has already been sued by one woman over a claim that their bras are defective. They now potentially face a class action suit for the same claim.

The class action suit alleges that Victoria's Secret's Angels Secret Embrace and Very Sexy Extreme Push-Up bras are causing rashes, hives, and permanent scarring in consumers.

Roberta Ritter, a longtime Victoria's Secret customer, filed a defective product lawsuit against the company last May. She claims that their bras have given her blistery welts that keep her up itching all night.

Her lawyers indicated that many other women have been calling them to discuss similar claims regarding Victoria's Secret's bras. This has spurred the potential class action lawsuit that is currently being organized against the company.

When Ritter's lawyers sent several of these bras to a lab for analysis, they discovered that they tested positive for formaldehyde. Ritter's doctor diagnosed her with an allergic reaction that potentially could result from exposure to formaldehyde, providing further support for this claim.

Victoria's Secret vehemently denies the accusation, and has not removed the products from the market.

A judge will rule this May on whether or not to allow the class action lawsuit against Victoria's Secret. If you have suffered any injuries from one of these bras, you should consult an experienced personal injury lawyer to find out if you qualify to be part of this class action lawsuit.

If you have a defective product claim in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, please contact the law offices of Carr & Carr today to schedule a consultation.

A recent study found that babies conceived using fertility techniques are two to four times more likely to be born with birth defects than babies naturally conceived.

The increase in risk of birth defects is mainly associated with heart problems, cleft lip, cleft palate, and abnormalities in the esophagus or rectum. The majority of procedures linked to these birth defects are assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization. The study didn't examine women using fertility drugs without additional procedures requiring doctors to work with eggs and sperm outside the body.

It is still unclear whether the increased risk of birth defects was due more to the fertility procedures or to the parents' infertility. Additional studies are still needed to conclusively prove the connection between fertility techniques and birth defects.

Regardless, it is important for women to be aware of the potential risks of defects associated with these procedures.

You should consult an experienced personal injury attorney if your baby was born with a birth defect. If it was the fault of a health care professional, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to receive compensation for your damages.

If you have a birth defect injury in the Denver, Colorado area, please contact the law offices of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

Patrick Albanese, a hand model, actor, musician, and magician, has filed a defective product lawsuit against Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Kmart Corp. over injuries he suffered from using a lounge chair manufactured by Stewart's company and sold by Kmart.

Albanese was moving his Martha Stewart Everyday lounge chair when the front legs broke down, squashing his index finger between the front leg and a tubular bar on the chair's base. The pressure was great enough to sever the tip of his finger. It was eventually surgically reattached.

Albanese is suing Martha Stewart Living and Kmart for damages to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, permanent partial disfigurement, and loss of earning capacity.

Albanese's attorney claims that the defendants were negligent by failing to properly design and inspect the chair, and for not issuing a warning that the product was defective. Martha Stewart Living and Kmart have not responded to the allegations.

While Albanese will eventually be able to resume working as a hand model, he has been unable to perform his job duties while recovering from the accident. The injury has also seriously impacted his ability to work as a magician. He no longer has a fully functioning index finger, which impairs his ability to perform slight-of-hand tricks and play the banjo. Both are major parts of his magic act.

Currently, there has not been a recall issued for the chair.

It is important to consult an experienced personal injury attorney if you have been injured by a defective product. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages.

If you have a product liability claim in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, please contact the law offices of Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis LLP today to schedule an initial consultation.

Gardasil, a vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer in women, has recently been linked to outbreaks of genital warts.

Gardasil is generally given to 11 and 12 year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Women who have not yet received the vaccine are still eligible for it through age 26.

A recent study has found that Gardasil is responsible for outbreaks of genital warts in 78 girls. Worse yet, there have been growing reports of many other adverse side effects associated with the vaccine. There have been 21 deaths documented due to Gardasil, and 10 women have suffered miscarriages.

Researchers have indicated that it is still uncertain whether Gardasil actually prevents cancer. Since the vaccine is relatively new, there hasn't been enough time to conduct the long-term studies necessary to conclusively determine its effectiveness.

Furthermore, researchers are still unable to conclusively rule out other long-term side effects that might be caused by the drug. Gardasil has still yet to be evaluated for its ability to cause DNA damage, infertility, and possibly even cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not issued a recall for the vaccine at this time. However, based on the mounting evidence of adverse side effects related to Gardasil, its manufacturers may be facing quite a few defective drug lawsuits in the near future.

If you have contracted genital warts or experienced any other adverse reactions from taking Gardasil in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the law offices of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

The Indiana Organ Procurement Organization faces two medical malpractice claims after two people died from cancerous organ transplants.

Both men received organs from the same donor in October 2006. Anthony Taylor received a liver and a kidney, and James Fell received the other kidney. The organ donor had melanoma that had spread to her liver and kidneys. Both transplant recipients died within a year of the operation.

Both families have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against the organ procurement organization, claiming they were negligent in their screening of the organs. The organ group stands by its work, stating that the screening of these organs met all federal and state regulations.

The lawyer for Fell's family argues that the organ group ignored indications that the donor's organs were diseased. According to the attorney, the organ group disregarded clear signs that the donor suffered from skin cancer.

This is not the first time people have come down with diseases from an organ transplant. In 2005, four people contracted hepatitis and HIV from an organ transplant in Chicago.

While organ screening is very good, it is not perfect. Approximately one percent of organ transplants spread a disease to the recipient. Therefore, it is important to consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney if you or a loved one contracts a disease from an organ transplant. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your damages.

If you have a medical malpractice claim in the Chicago, Illinois area, please contact the law offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

Over the next year, Merck will face the first wave in a large set of defective drug lawsuits over their osteoporosis drug, Fosamax.

When the pharmaceutical company released the drug in 1995, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that they place a warning on the drug about its potential risk to cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). They also asked Merck to conduct further testing on the drug at the time it was approved. Merck has failed to comply with both requests.

ONJ, or "dead jaw syndrome," is a condition resulting in deterioration of the jaw. It leads to sores and infections on the jawbone, causing victims to lose their teeth.

There is considerable evidence linking Fosamax to development of ONJ. Furthermore, the disorder seems to be a side effect unique to this drug. The only other known way to contract ONJ is from exposure to radiation, most likely as a result of chemotherapy.

Recently, evidence has been mounting linking Fosamax to another potentially harmful side effect, an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. This disorder disrupts your heartbeat, leading to cardiac arrest and potentially death.

Currently, the FDA is reviewing the research connecting Fosamax to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. If future studies prove the connection more conclusively, more lawsuits will most likely follow.

Currently, a recall has not been issued by Merck or the FDA, and the pharmaceutical company continues to keep the drug on the market.

If you have suffered an injury or illness from taking Fosamax in the Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact the law offices of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

Covidien has issued a recall on 500,000 syringes used by diabetics. The recall is for single-use ReliOn syringes sold at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there has been a mislabeling on these syringes that can cause patients to overdose by 2.5 times the appropriate dosage. So far, only one adverse reaction has been reported.

The recall is for 31 gauge, 1 cc ReliOn syringes from lot number 81 3900. The product ID for these syringes is 38396-0403-02.

If you have been using these syringes, stop immediately, and contact your local Wal-Mart to find out what the procedure is for returning them. Receiving such a large overdose of insulin can have disastrous consequences.

You should contact an experienced defective product attorney if you have suffered any illness or injuries as a result of using these syringes. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages.

As of now, no defective product lawsuits have been filed against Covidien for the error with their syringes.

If you have a product liability claim in the Chicago, Illinois area, please contact the law offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

Federal safety regulators are investigating the Yamaha Rhino, a new off-road vehicle that has been gaining popularity in our country. There have been over 30 deaths involving the Rhino to date.

At this moment, over 200 defective product lawsuits have been filed against Yamaha, claiming that their off-road vehicle is unsafe. After settling some of these lawsuits, Yamaha has decided to litigate the rest.

Yamaha maintains that there are no safety flaws in the design of the Rhino. They claim that lawyers have been exploiting the fact that the company has made safety modifications on the vehicle in order to instigate a series of meritless lawsuits. They insist that the injuries have been caused by improper use of the vehicle and by modifications performed by vehicle owners which have compromised the safety of the Rhino.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that they commenced an investigation of the Rhino based on the large number of accident reports and lawsuits connected with the product. As of yet, there has been no recall issued for the product by the CPSC, and it appears that Yamaha has no intention of pulling their product off the market voluntarily.

It is important to consult an experienced defective product lawyer if you have been injured using the Yamaha Rhino. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. As the investigation into its safety flaws continues, there will most likely be additional lawsuits filed against Yamaha.

If you have a defective product claim in the Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact the law offices of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

An open-air burn pit at a U.S. military base in Iraq is putting our troops in danger. As a result of the pit, thousands of troops have been exposed to carcinogenic toxins and medical waste. The fumes from the burn pit create a cloud that continually covers the base headquarters, military hospital, and living quarters for the troops.

Bioenvironmental engineers who have examined the pit have declared that it poses a serious health hazard to those who are exposed to its smoke. While burn pits such as these are common near military bases, there is currently no procedure in place for ensuring that they are run properly so that our troops are not harmed by their by-products.

Some of the toxins that troops have been exposed to include benzene (which can cause leukemia), arsenic, carbon monoxide, Freon, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfuric acid.

One retired Air Force colonel has been suffering from chronic headaches as a result of his exposure to the burn pit. Many troops have been coughing up black crud and blood, and have experienced sinus problems, nasal congestion, severe coughs, and headaches. Currently, the Air Force is denying that the burn pit is responsible for these health problems among many of the troops residing in the area.

If you have suffered health problems as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals while serving overseas, you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. You may be able to recoup your medical expenses and collect damages for pain and suffering. If it can be proven that the military knowingly committed such negligence in maintaining safe conditions, you may be able to collect punitive damages as well.

If you need to file a personal injury claim in the Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact the law offices of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.

The ETHEX Corporation has recently pulled many of its pharmaceutical products off the market after it was discovered that they may lead to overdoses in patients as a result of oversized pills.

The drugs recalled by ETHEX include:

• Morphine Recall: Morphine Sulfate Extended Release Tablets, 15 mg
  
• Morphine Recall: Morphine Sulfate Immediate Release Tablets, 15 mg, 30 mg
  
• Dextroamphetamine Recall: Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablets, 10 mg
  
• Propafenone Recall: Propafenone HCl Tablets, 150 mg, 225 mg, 300 mg
  
• Isosorbide Recall: Isosorbide Mononitrate Extended Release Tablets, 30 mg, 60 mg
  

The Morphine Sulfate Extended Release pills have led to respiratory depression (in severe cases, breathing has stopped completely) and extremely low blood pressure in patients who received an overdose.

The consequences of an overdose on the Propafenone Hydrochloride pills have been life threatening. Patients have experienced heart arrhythmias and very low blood pressure. Overdosing on the Dextroamphetamine Sulfate pills has caused rapid heart rate and extremely high blood pressure. Isosorbide Mononitrate has caused fainting and low blood pressure.

If you have been taking any of these recalled drugs, stop immediately. If you have experienced any of the above-mentioned symptoms, consult your doctor at once. You should also call the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088 to speak with their MedWatch Program, which is collecting information about the side effects of these recalled drugs.

It is also important to consult an experienced defective drug attorney. If you have suffered any of these adverse side effects, you may be able to file a personal injury law suit against ETHEX to receive compensation for any unnecessary suffering you have experienced due to their defective drugs.

If you have suffered an injury or illness as a result of any of these drugs in the West Palm Beach, Florida area, please contact the law offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.

It is becoming increasingly common for high school athletes, especially football players, to suffer from brain injuries. Most of the brain injuries sustained by high school athletes are on the milder side and consist of concussions.

Many students who suffer concussions on the playing field may not even realize it until much later on, and the failure to properly diagnose the injury can have serious consequences. If athletes continue to play after a concussion, they run the risk of second-impact syndrome, where they sustain a second brain injury before their first one heals. Even a minor head injury immediately following a concussion can lead to brain swelling resulting in severe brain damage and possibly death.

A concussion poses much more serious problems for a high school student than it does for an adult. A teenager's brain is still not fully developed, and therefore any consequences from a concussion will tend to be more severe. The potential for improper brain development is much more real after a teenager suffers a concussion.

It is important for high school coaches to educate their student athletes about the dangers and symptoms of concussions so that they can communicate to their coaches and trainers when they feel they are suffering from these symptoms. It is also important for coaches to be able to identify some of the main visual indicators of concussions so that they can take the proper course of action when they notice one of their athletes exhibiting these symptoms.

Most importantly, coaches have an obligation to play it safe with athletes who have sustained concussions and hold them out from practice and games until they are 100% certain that the student has completely recovered from the injury. Allowing a student to return to action before the concussion has healed can lead to disastrous consequences that will affect the student for the rest of his life.

Headaches are the most common symptoms of concussions. Other symptoms include light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, nausea, balance problems, double vision, concentration and memory problems, and a general feeling of fogginess.

It is important to consult an experienced brain injury attorney if you have sustained a concussion or a more serious brain injury. You might be able to recover damages depending on the circumstances of your injury.

If you need to speak with a brain injury lawyer in the Palm Beach County, Florida area, please contact the law offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled this week that a Palm Beach County woman can move forward with her lawsuit against the government and a private research lab responsible for making anthrax.

The woman's husband, Bob Stevens, died after being exposed to anthrax in 2001. The anthrax spores were traced to the Ohio lab named in the lawsuit. Five people in total died from exposure to the deadly substance. Stevens' widow filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the government and the research lab responsible for releasing the anthrax. It is the first time the U.S. government has been sued in relation to liability in a biological attack.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled that a lab working with hazardous materials has an obligation to protect the general public from the release of these materials. Therefore, they are allowing Ms. Stevens to go ahead with her lawsuit.

This may have been a big step forward for Ms. Stevens, but this case most likely will not be resolved for several years. As of now, Ms. Stevens' personal injury attorney is still being denied access to the evidence of this case. The government has restricted his access, claiming national security issues are at stake.

Many people in the legal world are anxiously awaiting the resolution of this case, as it could set a new precedent for what the government will be held liable for in a court of law.

It is important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer if you have a loved one who has been the victim of wrongful death. You most likely may be eligible to collect damages to compensate you for your loss.

If you need the services of a personal injury attorney in the Boca Raton, Florida area, please contact the law offices of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.

The Ohio Supreme Court recently upheld a 2004 asbestos litigation reform law designed to enable people who have been seriously harmed by asbestos to receive fair compensation for their injuries in a timely manner.

The reform law defines the process by which asbestos claims will be prioritized in the court system. Previously, many asbestos and mesothelioma claims were filed by people who had only minimal exposure to the substance and had not suffered any serious illness or injuries at the time of their lawsuit. This new legislation requires individuals filing asbestos and mesothelioma claims to demonstrate a minimum level of medical symptoms and provide medical documentation in order to proceed with their lawsuit.

The purpose of this reform law is to enable those who are truly sick and have suffered as a result of their exposure to asbestos to have their claims heard before those who are simply clogging up the courts with bogus lawsuits. This law doesn't place a statute of limitations on mesothelioma lawsuits, so if you get sick down the road, you will still have an opportunity to have your case heard in court.

Approximately 90% of all asbestos claims over the last 20 years have been filed by people who did not suffer any injuries from exposure to asbestos. This large quantity of needless litigation has backlogged the court systems, preventing more legitimate claims from being heard. Over 80 companies across the country have gone bankrupt in the last 20 years fighting asbestos and mesothelioma litigation.

If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, you should get examined by a doctor immediately to make sure that you have not contracted mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illness. If you have become sick from your exposure to asbestos, you need to consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney who can help you receive proper compensation for your injuries.

If you have an asbestos or mesothelioma claim in the Pennsylvania area, please contact the law offices of Peter G. Angelos today to schedule an initial consultation.

Dr. Brian West, a plastic surgeon in California, is just one of many doctors who have been treating patients while battling drug and alcohol addictions. Unfortunately, due to the confidentiality of the treatment programs, the patients treated by these doctors are never informed of their doctor's substance abuse problems.

Becky Anderson went to Dr. West for a breast reconstruction in 2000. The surgery was botched and the complications from the procedure forced her to forgo her cancer treatment. She is currently losing her battle with cancer, and is not expected to live much longer.

Anderson recently discovered that Dr. West is an alcoholic and had been convicted of two DUIs, one of which occurred on the way to an appointment with her that he was forced to cancel. Anderson sued Dr. West for negligence and medical malpractice. She recovered $250,000 in damages.

Ms. Anderson isn't the only woman who has suffered greatly at the hands of Dr. West. Sharon Mikulecky received a mastectomy from Dr. West to treat her breast cancer. The incision became infected, leaving a large hole in her abdomen. As a result, she had to put off cancer treatment for over a year. She eventually died in 2003.

Neither of these women was aware that Dr. West was enrolled in the state alcohol rehabilitation program when they hired him to perform their surgery.

In the state of California alone, there are between 200 and 400 doctors who are in the state drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. On the national level, approximately 8,000 doctors are undergoing confidential treatment for drug and alcohol addictions. Unfortunately, their patients are unaware that they may be receiving treatment from a doctor under the influence.

It is important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer if you have been the victim of medical malpractice. You might be able to collect damages to compensate you for your suffering and losses.

If you have a medical malpractice claim in California, please contact the law offices of Jacoby & Meyers, LLC today to schedule an initial consultation.

A Texas couple is suing Blue Cross Blue Shield and their claims adjuster for bad faith insurance practices. They claim the insurance company wrongfully denied coverage after the woman, Gloria Landry, was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Gloria and her husband, Rodney, were issued a policy with Blue Cross on June 1, 2007. On September 4, 2007, Blue Cross canceled their policy, claiming that the Landrys failed to take recommended tests that would have led to the denial of their initial application.

In the middle of June, several weeks after their policy was issued, Gloria saw her doctor because she was suffering from abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. She was diagnosed with colon cancer. Blue Cross denied coverage to Landry after discovering that she had cancer. Gloria insists that she never misrepresented her condition on her application, since she did not know that she had cancer at the time.

The Landrys claim that Blue Cross misrepresented the terms of the coverage and the benefits offered. Blue Cross also failed to make fair and prompt payments of Gloria's claim, did not inform them of the denial of the claim within the appropriate time period, and never gave a reasonable explanation for the cancelation of their policy.

The Landrys are suing to collect damages to cover the loss of benefits, medical expenses, pain and mental anguish, and attorney's fees. Her bad faith insurance attorney is requesting damages that are punitive as well as compensatory.

If you have been the victim of insurance bad faith in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, please contact the law offices of Stipe & Belote, LLP today for an initial consultation.

The Takoma Park hospital in Maryland has been sued for wrongful death in a case involving a man who died under their care in 2006. The staff couldn't find the key to his locked bathroom, leading to his death.

Jose R. Valladares was admitted to the hospital for chest pain in the spring of 2006. Several days later, Valladares went to the bathroom in his room and locked the door. While in the bathroom, his heart monitor indicated that his heart rate was slowing. None of the staff on his floor had a key to the locked bathroom, and Valladares' condition continued to deteriorate as he remained locked inside.

A hospital employee called 911 and asked for help. Minutes later, the bathroom door was broken down by local fire and EMS crews, but Valladares had already died.

His family is suing the hospital for wrongful death. They are claiming that the staff failed to provide a safe environment for Valladares in a medical emergency. They are asking for $30,000 in damages to cover their loss.

Shortly following the incident, the hospital got rid of all the locks on bathroom doors and distributed more keys to their staff for other doors that still have locks on them.

If your loved one has been the victim of a wrongful death case, it is important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you receive proper compensation for your losses.

If you have a wrongful death claim in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the law offices of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.