Legal News

California Labor Law: "At Will" Employee at a Loss

Posted on July 14, 2009
Downey, CA: If you are employed "at will" as most employees in California are, you can be fired for almost any reason such as bad attitude, chronic lateness, failing to follow company policy, or simply because your employer doesn't like you-as long as it isn't based on discrimination...

JBS Beef Recall Expanded - Now 23 E. coli Victims in 9 States

Posted on July 13, 2009
Washington, DC: On June 24, 2009, JBS Swift Beef Company recalled 41,280 pounds of assorted pieces of beef (beef primal products) because of potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The CDC, FDA, and state health departments are continuing their investigation of a multi-state foodborne illness outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 that has sickened 23 persons in 9 states.

Federal OSP Lawsuits Consolidated to Northern Ohio

Posted on July 13, 2009
Lynchburg, VA: While a multidistrict order has been issued for 38 oral sodium phosphate (OSP) lawsuits for centralization to Northern Ohio, the manufacturer of phospho soda that has been linked to osp kidney damage in the context of colonoscopy maintains its product is safe.

Plaintiff Awarded $3 Million-Plus in Bad Faith Insurance Claim

Posted on July 13, 2009
Louisville, KY: It's a case of bad faith insurance as remarkable as the deed that triggered the claim in the first place. Imagine the reaction of the insurance bad faith attorney upon learning that a doctor performed a procedure he was not trained to do...

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Allegedly Defective Baby Floats Recalled for Drowning Risk

Posted on July 13, 2009
Washington, DC: A baby float that was recalled in the interests of consumer protection and product liability has been cited for 31 incidents where infants have suddenly fallen into, or under the water. So far there have been no deaths or injuries reported from the defective products ...

New Jersey-based Levaquin Lawsuits May Be Consolidated

Posted on July 13, 2009
Trenton, NJ: The various Levaquin antibiotic lawsuits that have been filed in the state of New Jersey due to Levaquin side effects may be consolidated before a single judge, according to a recent posting on AboutLawsuits.com. The alleged problems associated with Levaquin medicine and the resulting adverse affects are prompting many plaintiffs towards legal action.

Former Mechanic Awarded $10 Million in Medical Malpractice Case

Posted on July 12, 2009
Houston, TX: A man who entered hospital for a heart operation and came out without his fingers, toes and minus his left leg has been awarded $10 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Under medical malpractice law, plaintiffs can pursue damages if medical malpractice negligence can be alleged.

Ohio Shippers Seek Class Action Status in Overtime Pay Lawsuit

Posted on July 12, 2009
Columbus, OH: A class-action lawsuit alleging failure to compensate workers with overtime pay has been filed in Columbus, Ohio against a major international shipper. The action alleges a dropping of the ball where it comes to overtime laws and overtime rules...

Paxil Warnings For Pregnant Women

Posted on July 12, 2009
South Beach, FL: Women who believe their babies were affected by Paxil side effects involving serious birth defects are expressing concern that the antidepressant they took may have caused their child's health problems. Their concerns may be based on warnings released by both the Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists about possible Paxil birth defects...

Plane Crash Lawsuit Settled for $4.5 Million

Posted on July 11, 2009
Daytona Beach, FL: The children of a man who died in a plane crash will receive $4.5 million after a judge approved the settlement. The man, who was 29 years old when the plane crash occurred, was 1 of 4 people who died in the accident. Also killed were the man's mother, his sister and her husband, who was the plane's pilot.

Ohio Drivers Miffed by Sale of Private Info

Posted on July 11, 2009
Cincinnati, OH: The Ohio Department of Public Safety and Bureau of Motor Vehicles has been hit with a potentially costly class action lawsuit alleging that two senior employees contravened federal privacy laws when they authorized the sale of information in the state's databanks...

Man Concerned About Use of Denture Cream

Posted on July 11, 2009
Las, Vegas, NV: Michael F. says he has been using Fixodent denture adhesive ever since he first got his dentures. Although he did not notice problems right away, he says he has noticed possible signs of reported Fixodent denture cream side effects in the past few months...

Firefighters Sue New Haven Over Tossing of Test Results

Posted on July 11, 2009
Washington, DC: Employment discrimination exists in many forms and some employment discrimination is surprising. However just when you think you have heard it all, an employee racial discrimination case comes along that tests levels of tolerance on both sides.

Chantix Black Box Warning Too Late for Some

Posted on July 11, 2009
Okalona, MS : On July 1, 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Boxed Warning on the prescribing information for the smoking cessation drug Chantix (varenicline). Sadly, the warning came too late for Dean Perry's son, Hansel, who took his own life on September 29, 2008...

Shoulder Replacement Surgery Follows Use of the Shoulder Pain Pump for Patient

Posted on July 10, 2009
Los Angeles, CA: Sarah P. has had a shoulder pain pump used in 2 separate shoulder surgeries. Since the use of the pain pump, she has endured a third shoulder surgery-this one to replace her shoulder. Despite the shoulder replacement surgery, Sarah (not her real name) still suffers from shoulder pain, has been diagnosed with a serious shoulder condition and may face a lifetime of dealing with her shoulder injury.

Texas Billionaire Roped in Mexican Clients

Posted on July 10, 2009
San Antonio, TX: Hundreds of people in Mexico and Latin America are suing UK insurance broker Willis Group International, alleging it knowingly provided them with false information about the stability of Stanford Financial Bank (SFI). According to the documents filed on behalf of investors from Mexico and Latin America, the UK insurance company engaged with Stanford Financial to provide potential customers with written statements promoting the bank as safe, sound, and fully insured.

Is Avandia Worth the Risk?

Posted on July 10, 2009
Washington, DC: The alleged relationship between Avandia and heart attack remains a concern for Type 2 diabetes patients who, while pleased with Avandia's capacity for controlling their diabetes symptoms are nonetheless worried about various side effects associated with Avandia.

Attorney Gives Levaquin Lawsuit Advice

Posted on July 10, 2009
Kansas City, KS: Attorney Michael Hodges anticipates many Levaquin lawsuits now that the word is out regarding Levaquin and its association with adverse side effects, namely tendon tears and ruptures. "I think the vast majority of users have no idea that their injuries were caused by an antibiotic," says Hodges," but the fact that there is a black box warning indicates the drug manufacturer knew of these problems and did nothing about it...

PPH and Fen-Phen Lawsuits: Round Two

Posted on July 09, 2009
Fort Myers, FL: Joe D. took Fen-phen in the mid-90s and chose to opt out of American Home Products $3.75 billion class action settlement in 1999-thus allowing him to pursue a lawsuit later. Ten years after taking the diet drugs, Joe has been diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and says that in retrospect, it's a good thing he didn't join the class action...

New Auto Defect Report Spells Gloom for Owners of GM and Chrysler Vehicles

Posted on July 09, 2009
Rehoboth, MA: The new era emerging in the automotive industry will have an impact on issues surrounding auto defects and those encumbered with a defective car. Thanks to a loophole built into the US auto industry rescue package, liability for the defective auto no longer appears to be a worry for the newly-reborn General Motors and Chrysler.

Rite Aid Faced Previous Overtime Lawsuit

Posted on July 09, 2009
Washington, DC: Assistant store managers say they are not being properly paid Rite Aid overtime for work they do over 40 hours a week. And this is not the first time Rite Aid pharmacy stores have faced allegations that they did not properly pay employees for overtime hours...

Hydroxycut Patient Says Supplements Changed Her Life

Posted on July 09, 2009
Vancouver, BC: Jo C. says she has been taking Hydroxycut supplements on and off for approximately 10 years. After she started taking Hydroxycut Max, about 2 years ago, Jo says her health went downhill. However, she did not link her health problems to the Hydroxycut diet supplements until the supplements were recalled.

Just Go Ahead and Try to Sue the Coast Guard

Posted on July 08, 2009
Baltimore, MD: What happens if the Coast Guard miscalculates a critical piece of safety information and that miscalculation is implicated in an accident that resulted in the death of five people? According to a June 2009 decision by the Federal Court, the Coast Guard is immune from any financial liability...

Chinese Drywall Assessment Determined "High Risk"

Posted on July 08, 2009
North Port FL: "My fiancé and I found a house to rent, lease or sell on craigslist," says Carolyn, "and the owner agreed on $700 per month with a $5,000 deposit so we could buy the house. But after only one month we found so many things wrong, because of Chinese drywall"...

What Role Did Antiquated FDA Computers Play in Heparin Deaths?

Posted on July 08, 2009
Washington, DC: The roots of the heparin contamination which allegedly contributed to the deaths of up to 246 people since 2007 run a little deeper than the importation of tainted heparin from China and the availability of tainted heparin syringes. According to the Drug Industry Daily (DID) newsletter, part of the blame with regard to the heparin injection debacle lay with an antiquated IT structure residing at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Avelox and Cipro "Did Me In"

Posted on July 08, 2009
Whitehall, PA: Bob Grozier lost a 20-year career as a computer programmer and became disabled shortly after taking the fluoroquinolones Avelox and Cipro. Grozier says that even his doctor took Avelox and had adverse side effects similar to his…

Advocate for Levaquin Adverse Events

Posted on July 07, 2009
Hummelstown, PA: John Fratti has been working on Levaquin advocacy and awareness for the last few years. "After taking Levaquin, I have suffered from Levaquin-induced central nervous system damage,and damage to my nerves and tendons," says Fratti.

California Labor Law Turns Up the Heat on California Farm Labor Contractors

Posted on July 07, 2009
San Francisco, CA: The tenets of California labor laws are designed to protect the health of workers in a number of different sectors. Thus, the recent sanctions under California State labor law against the operator of a farming enterprise following accusations of violations under California labor employment law.

Zicam Patient Diagnosed with Nerve Damage

Posted on July 07, 2009
Boston, MA: Pam O. used Zicam twice before she experienced reported Zicam side effects. She is now worried that she will never fully recover from the Zicam smell loss, and will suffer without a sense of smell or taste for the rest of her life.

Airlines Fined for Antitrust, US Laws Remain Tough

Posted on July 06, 2009
Washington, DC: An alleged violation of antitrust laws by a major international airline is testament to the need for an update to the Antitrust Act and antitrust policy. According to the June 27th edition of the Vancouver Sun, Air France, KLM and Martinair were fined a total of $10 million for communicating with competitors with regard to the amount and the timing of fuel surcharges on air cargo exported from Canada.

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