Product Liability

October 17, 2011

Alabama man awarded $1.5 million for electrical shock

An Alabama jury awarded $1.5 million to a man shocked by low-hanging power lines. The Plaintiff was paving a road in Alabama when his vehicle struck Black Warrior Electric power lines, sending 7,600 volts of electricity through his right arm.

Suffice to say, that is a lot of electricity, although voltage alone is cause for injury, it is the voltage multiplied by the current. Obviously, his insulation in the vehicle would be important. Still, it has to affect a jury to learn that the guy got shocked by an amount of voltage that is substantially less than the voltage given in the electric chair (about 2000 volts).

Plaintiff’s successfully argued at trial that this accident would not have happened if the power company had complied with national codes require that power lines that carry that amount of voltage be placed a certain height above the ground. The jury apparently agreed.

October 11, 2011

Tamoxifen and Diabetes

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Researchers have uncovered a link between breast cancer treatment and type 2 diabetes. According to a study conducted by The University of Toronto, it has been discovered that therapy with the drug Tamoxifen has been linked to a significant increase in the development of diabetes in older survivors of breast cancer.

Tamoxifen, an oral medication used in women with breast cancer, is one of the most widely prescribed drugs to prevent a recurrence in women who have been treated for the condition. Tamoxifen disrupts the female body’s production of estrogen, which promotes breast cancer in women. Research now suggests that the drug may contribute to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers state that no one taking Tamoxifen should discontinue their use of the medication, but they and their doctors should know the association.

For the study, the researchers examined the medical records of 14,360 women over the age of 65 who had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, and had survived. The results, which were published in the journal “Cancer”, showed that Tamoxifen patients are 25 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

July 26, 2011

Aluminum Bat Wrongful Death Verdict Affirmed

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed an $850,000 award to the parents of a baseball player who tragically died after being struck by a ball hit with an aluminum baseball bat.

If your kids are playing baseball – particularly if they are pitching – you have thought about these facts. An 18-year-old boy is pitching in an American Legion baseball game and gets hit in the head. Just an awful case that makes you question whether or not your kids should be playing any sport. There is no completely safe game.

July 12, 2010

Accutane Lawsuit

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Accutane lawsuits arise out of the allegation that Accutane, an acne medication that has been available for almost 30 years, causes serious bowel problems, Crohn’s Disease, and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Our lawyers are reviewing these claims. For a free consultation, call 800-553-8082 or get more information online.

Accutane lawsuits have been going on for some time now. But interest in these lawsuits rose dramatically after a $25 million verdict against the manufacturer of Accutane earlier this year. The lawsuit played out like a novel. The Plaintiff got a $2.62 million verdict only to have an appellate court take away the verdict. A new jury heard the case and tacked on an additional $23 million. That is a strong message.

There are over 1,000 Accutane lawsuits now pending. If you think you may have a claim, find out if we can help you. Get a free online no obligation consultation.

October 3, 2008

Spiriva Side Effects Lawsuit

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that Spiriva HandiHaler patients may face an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes and other cardiac problems.

Concerns with Spiriva

The Spiriva HandiHaler (generic: tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) is an inhaler for long-term treatment of bronchospasm linked with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This disease is commonly described as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

August 7, 2008

Topamax Birth Defects

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

There has been an increased concern over the use of Topamax – a treatment for migraine headaches and for epilepsy – during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of birth defects. There have been reports of birth defects like cleft palates, cleft lips, genital defects.

Besides the anecdotal reports, the respected medical journal Neurology published an article—albeit with a small cohort—that found that women who used Topamax to prevent seizures associated with epilepsy had a much higher incidence of delivering babies with birth defects.

While the study included only 203 pregnancies (178 children), the data found that women who used Topamax while pregnant had babies born with cleft lips or palates 11 times more frequently than you would otherwise expect. These children had genital defects at a rate 14 times higher than would be expected. Of the 178 babies, 16 had major birth defects.