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The Atlanta Legal Examiner provides coverage of personal injury, mass torts, and safety issues making headlines in Atlanta and across the country. Our Latest News section brings together breaking stories and legal insights that matter to individuals, families, and communities.

New Legislation To Aid Ground Zero Heroes And Victims

The smoke and dust resulting from the fall of the World Trade Center towers affected thousands of New Yorkers and their families as well. To address this issue Gov. George Pataki signed legislation Monday that will benefit workers who have died or become sick in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 16 Aug 2006

New Legislation To Aid Ground Zero Heroes And Victims

Truck Drivers Skipping Sleep Time Can Be Deadly

In a recent study published by WebMD, 1 in every 10 truck drivers may be skipping sleep time to get to their destinations quicker. That means nearly 10% of truck drivers are putting ordinary motorists at risk for serious injuires or death. If that is not enough, according to the study, approximately

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 16 Aug 2006

Truck Drivers Skipping Sleep Time Can Be Deadly

Two Workers Killed On The Job From Falling Debris

In Dallas, two men were recently killed after falling debris fell on them from 19 floors above. The authorities says a front end loader was moving concrete above where the men were positioned and caused it to fall directly on top of them. The men were preparing to haul off the debris as the debris f

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 15 Aug 2006

Two Workers Killed On The Job From Falling Debris

Abusing A Nursing Home Resident Is Never Okay

In a recent occurrence, a Greenwood caregiver at Emerald Gardens in South Carolina has been charged with physically abusing nursing home residents under her care. Lizette Henderson now faces six felony charges of abuse involving three men and three women between the ages of 69 and 94. Cases like thi

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 15 Aug 2006

Abusing A Nursing Home Resident Is Never Okay

Drug Manufactures And The Tricks They Employ To Earn A Profit

In a follow up to my recent posts invloving free lunches and biased reports concerning the measures drug manufactures go to push their products on doctors and the medical industry as a whole, a new report by the Annals of Internal Medicine shows some of the more subtle and less discussed measures th

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 15 Aug 2006

Drug Manufactures And The Tricks They Employ To Earn A Profit

Depakote (Valproate) Linked To Birth Defects And Fetal Death

In a recent study, one in five women who took the epilepsy drug Valproate during pregnancy resulted in birth defects or fetal death. The drug, sold by Abbott Laboratories, Inc., under the brand name Depakote, was found to be substantially riskier than any of the other three main epilepsy available o

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 14 Aug 2006

Depakote (Valproate) Linked To Birth Defects And Fetal Death

Single Car Crash Leaves Two Teens Dead

Two teenagers who were in a single car crash died earlier this morning in Lexington, South Carolina. Sixteen-year-old Donald Schwartz, was driving a 1985 Silverado when he lost control of the vehicle and it subsequently struck a tree. Schwartz was pronounced dead at the scene while his passenger, Ja

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 14 Aug 2006

Hit And Run Accident Leaves One Dead And Other Seriously Injured

Last night around 11 p.m. a hit and run vehicle struck and killed a 22 year-old Spartanburg man and seriously injured his friend. The police think Paul Sok, deceased, lost control of his motorcycle on U.S. 123 and a friend came to his aid. Shortly thereafter the hit and run vehicle stuck both of the

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 14 Aug 2006

Hit And Run Accident Leaves One Dead And Other Seriously Injured

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Sufferer To Have Sight Restored

The Federal Government recently broadened the eligibility criteria for its overseas medical treatment program by allowing a woman who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) to seek treatment in Singapore for her sight related injuries. The deadly allergic reaction is commonly associated with cau

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 14 Aug 2006

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Sufferer To Have Sight Restored

Big Tobacco Wins This Battle But Will They Win The War?

The Florida Supreme Court recently over turned a $145 billion verdict rendered against big tobacco in a class action suit. The court in its 79 page decision held that the case should not have been certified as a class action suit on behalf of hundreds of thousands sick Florida smokers. The ruling ho

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 13 Aug 2006

Big Tobacco Wins This Battle But Will They Win The War?

Researchers And The Products They Review-Too Closely Connected?

Over the last year or so the connection between so called “independent” researchers and the pharmaceutical companies they review have drawn a lot of attention and criticism. The main reason for this is because of the fear of biased reports and reviews from well known researchers who receive benefits

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 13 Aug 2006

Researchers And The Products They Review-Too Closely Connected?

Litigation Begins Over Pedicure Blamed For Death

In San Jose, California, a mother has initiated a lawsuit against a nail salon on behalf of her deceased daughter after a serious infection contributed to her death in June of 2004. Jessica Mears, 43, developed a bacterial infection after receiving a pedicure at a nail salon. The infection developed

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 11 Aug 2006

Litigation Begins Over Pedicure Blamed For Death