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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.

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

High Recall Rate For Automated Defibrillators

According to a recent article by the Journal of the American Medical Association, many patients utilizing automated external defibrillators are largely unaware of the high recall rates associated with these products. An automated external defibrillator, or AED as it is commonly referred to, works by

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 11 Aug 2006

High Recall Rate For Automated Defibrillators

Overturned $105 Million Verdict Against Beer Vendor To Be Appealed

The New Jersey Court of Appeals recently overturned a $105 million dollar verdict against a beer vendor who allegedly served a patron too much alcohol at a Giants game. The drunken patron, Daniel Lanzaro, was continually served alcohol by Aramark Corp. despite obvious signs he was already heavily in

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 11 Aug 2006

Overturned $105 Million Verdict Against Beer Vendor To Be Appealed

FDA Has Concerns Over Anti-Depressants

The Food and Drug Administration has requested that manufactures of leading anti-depressants add warnings to their labels to address recently discovered risks in newborns and migraine sufferers. The FDA’s concerns stem from a life threatening condition called serotonin syndrome, which has been linke

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 10 Aug 2006

Atlanta Officer Dies In Tragic Auto Accident

Atlanta Police officer Peter Faatz, 29, has died from the injuries he sustained as a result of motor vehicle accident after colliding with a Grady Hospital ambulance. Both Faatz and the ambulance were responding to a double shooting 911 call near Turner Field when the accident occurred. Faatz sustai

By M. Brandon Smith

/ 10 Aug 2006

Atlanta Officer Dies In Tragic Auto Accident