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
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
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
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
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
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
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
On December 19th the FDA identified that serious safety concerns exist with a drug administered to patients for diagnostic imaging. This drug has been approved for marketing only since June 2004 and is administered intravenously. The drug is used to detect appendicitis in patients five years of age
Lawyers for a victim of Sexual assault received a verdict before Judge Al Thompson in the amount of 9 million Dollars. The action was premised upon a claim of premises liability by a victim of sexual assault. This action as well as others exemplify that apartment complexes and management companies t
Dupont must pay $16.5 million to settle complaints that the company did not inform the EPA of health risks associated with PFOAs. The compound is used to make Teflon and is commonly found in nonstick and stain-resistant materials. Dupont said they only settled to avoid a court battle and “did not de
Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (Ten) are commonly associated with an accute drug reaction. Bextra is known to be a risk factor. Despite the drug having been pulled from the market, many patients or representatives of the patients have sought legal help in prosecuting l
In the first Federal Vioxx trial, a Houston judge was forced to declare a mistrial when the jury decided they would not be able to reach a unanimous verdict. According to abcnews.com, eight jurors decided it was not Merck’s (the maker of Vioxx) fault that Richard Irvin, Jr. died after taking the dru
