We want to look at any case involving serious injury or death.  Below is a list of cases we are concentrating on: 

 

v   Product Liability – We continue to focus on accident cases involving automobiles, heavy equipment and consumer products.  Some of these auto cases involve single-vehicle crashes, while others involve multiple-vehicle accidents.  We would like to review any case involving catastrophic injury or death.

 
Heavy Trucks – We are handling a lot of these cases, including 18-wheeler cases.  There are significant differences between handling an interstate trucking case and other car wreck cases. It is imperative to have knowledge of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, technology, business practices, insurance coverage, and to have the ability to discover written and electronic records.  Expert testimony is of the utmost importance.
 
Defective Tires – Tire failure can result in a serious car crash and even a vehicle rollover accident, causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants.  Air, heat and sunlight can cause the rubber in tires to break down.  When a tire is defective, potentially serious problems like detreads and blowouts can occur long before the tire would be expected to wear out.  If the tire failure is the result of design or manufacturing defects, and the manufacturer is aware of the problem, they have an obligation to alert consumers to the potential danger.
 
Mesothelioma – Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive and rare form of cancer usually affecting the lining of the lungs (pleural) or abdominal cavity (peritoneal).  Occasionally, it also may affect the lining of the heart (pericardial). The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.  About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United State each year. For years, asbestos was widely used in many industrial products and in building construction for insulation and fire protection.  When asbestos is broken or disturbed it can release microscopic fibers that can be inhaled or ingested, posing a health risk, including the development of asbestos disease and mesothelioma.
 
Transvaginal Mesh – The FDA has issued an updated safety communication warning doctors and patients that the placement of surgical mesh through the vagina to treat pelvic organ prolapse may present greater risk for the patient than other options.  This is also called transvaginal mesh.  According to the FDA, reported complications from using the mesh include the mesh becoming exposed or protruding out of the vaginal tissue, pain, infection, organ perforation and urinary problems.
 
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) – Products for mean have been linked to an increased risk of death, heart attack and stroke.  Researchers found men who used testosterone therapy were 30 percent more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die after three year of use. Furthermore, men who started the study with clear, unobstructed coronary arteries were just as likely to have a heart attack, stroke or die as men who entered the sturdy with established coronary artery disease.  Testosterone therapy, such as the prescription topical treatments Androgel, Testim and Axiron, are used to help boost testosterone levels in men who have a deficiency of the male hormone.  Symptoms of low testosterone include decreased libido and low energy.
 
Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer – As many as 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed each year may have been caused by regular use of talcum powder.  Talc is a mineral made up of various elements including magnesium, silicon and oxygen.  Talc is ground to make talcum powder which is used to absorb moisture and is widely available in various products including baby powder and adult products including body and facial powder.  Talc products used regularly in the genital area could increase the risk of ovarian cancer if the powder were to travel through the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes to the ovaries.  A jury recently found consumer health care products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson knew of the cancer risks associated with its talc products but failed to warn consumers.
 
Risperdal – An atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and certain problems caused by bipolar disorder, has been linked to the development of gynecomastia in boys and young men. Gynecomastia is a condition that causes boys to grow breasts. The drug is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.
 
Actos – The FDA has approved updated drug labels for Actos, usually prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes.  The new label states that the use of the drug for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
 
Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Parts – The FDA has ordered a review of all metal-on-metal hip implants due to mounting patient complaints. Problems with the metal-on-metal devices include loosening, fracturing and dislocating of the device caused by inflammation in the joint space.  We are investigating all cases involving metal-on-metal hop implants, including the DePuy Orthopaedics ASR XL Acetabular System, recalled in June 2012; the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck stems, recalled in July 2012; the DePuy Pinnacle, the Zimmer Durom Cup, the Wright Conserve, and the Biomet M2A and M2A-Magnum hip replacement systems, which have not been recalled. Reported problems include pain, swelling and problems walking.

 

GranuFlo – GranuFlo and NaturaLyte are products used in the dialysis process.  On June 27, 2012, the FDA issued a Class 1 recall of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. A Class 1 recall is the most serious FDA recall, reserved for situations in which the FDA deems “there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.  Use of these dialysis products has been linked to an increased risk of cardiopulmonary arrest and sudden cardiac death. The manufacturer, Fresenius Medical Care, was aware of the dangers and injuries associated with these products but failed to warn patients and doctors until 2012.  We are currently investigating death claims as well as claims of heart attack, cardiopulmonary arrest or any other serious injury.

 

Paxil, Zoloft and other SSRI Antidepressants – Paxil (paroxetine) is an anti-depressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.  Recently, Public Health Advisories have been issued for Paxil regarding an increased risk of heart birth defects, persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), omphalocele (an abnormality in newborns in which the infant’s intestine or other abdominal organs protrude from the navel) or craniosynostosis (connections between sutures-skull bones prematurely close during the first year of life, which causes an abnormally shaped skull) in children born to mothers exposed to Paxil.  We are also looking into other antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which include the brand-name drugs Zoloft, Lexapro and Prozac, which also are linked to birth defects including heart and lung defects.

 

 

NOTE:  Listing of these previously mentioned areas of practice does not indicate any certification or expertise therein.