M. Brandon Smith - Childers, Schlueter & Smith Newsletter

$5.6 Million Dollar Screwdriver

A jury recently awarded $5.6 million to the family of Arturo Iturralde who had a screwdriver implanted in his spine after an orthopedic surgeon misplaced two titanium rods during the surgery. After cutting off the handle and placing the shaft of a stainless steel screwdriver in his patient’s back, t

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 28 Mar 2006

Baycol Class Action Settlement Approved

A state judge in Philadelphia approved a class action settlement against Bayer, the German manufacture of Baycol, that would re-pay unions, employers and various health plans for money spent on the withdrawn drug Baycol. The national class action suit could result in a settlement that exceeds $10 mi

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 22 Mar 2006

$50 Million Tobacco Verdict Stands

The United States Supreme Court refused to review a $50 million damage award against Phillip Morris where a former 2-pack a day smoker died of cancer. The tobacco manufacture, which controls nearly half of the United States tobacco market, asked that the award be declared unconstitutionally excessiv

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 20 Mar 2006

Dietary Supplement or Illegal Steroid?

The FDA recently warned several manufactures and distributors to stop selling unapproved drugs that contain steroids promising increased muscle, strength, and weight loss. The FDA expressed concerns that products such as Anabolic Xtreme Superdrol or Methyl-1-P by Legal Gear may cause long-term healt

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 14 Mar 2006

Tips On Preventing Hospital Bed Entrapment

Each year there are number of people who become entrapped in hospital beds and suffer serious injuries as a result. Entrapments can occur when a patient’s body becomes lodged between the bed rails, the mattress or various other parts of a hospital bed. Injuries suffered in this manner can lead to br

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 14 Mar 2006

Tips On Preventing Hospital Bed Entrapment

Advair and Serevent Get New Black Box Warning

The FDA has announced that the popular asthma medications Advair and Serevent will now contain a new “black box” warning after discovering the medications may cause an increased risk of asthma-related death. Black box warnings are the most severe warnings the FDA can require of prescription drugs. A

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 8 Mar 2006

Advair and Serevent Get New Black Box Warning

New Jersey Vioxx Trial Begins Today

In the latest round of litigation surrounding the controversial drug Vioxx, jurors in New Jersey heard opening statements from both sides today in what could be the most pivotal Vioxx trial yet. Merck, the former producer of Vioxx, has received two defense verdicts involving the pain killer to date

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 6 Mar 2006

Celebrex: Not A Safe Alternative For Some

After Vioxx was removed from the market in 2004, many former Vioxx users started taking Celebrex as a safer alternative for arthritis pain. A recent study from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand has shown that Celebrex may not be as safe as once thought when compared with other arthritis

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 2 Mar 2006

Celebrex: Not A Safe Alternative For Some

Time Limits For Next Vioxx Trial Set

The next Vioxx trial, which will begin on March 6, 2006, will be on an entirely new time frame from any other one before it. Manually operated clocks, like those used in a chess game, will be utilized by both sides in order facilitate the pace of the trial. Lawyer’s for the Plaintiffs will have 40 h

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 1 Mar 2006