Houston Personal Injury Lawyer

J & J Fighting Levaquin Bellwether Consolidation

Scott Kappes — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:04:14 GMT

Levaquin maker Johnson & Johnson is fighting attempts by plaintiffs to consolidate the first three bellwether levaquin lawsuits in to one trial.

The company is facing hundreds of levaquin lawsuits that have been filed in both state and federal courts. The lawsuits allege that the company’s popular antibiotic medication, Levaquin, is the cause of tendon ruptures, tendonitis, and other tendon problems that have been suffered by patients who have taken the medication.

Levaquin lawsuits filed in federal court have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District court of Minnesota.

The first cases selected for trial are known as Bellwether cases. Bellwether trials play an important role in determining how a jury will react to the issues of that are present throughout the MDL and potentially laying the groundwork for a possible settlement.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys have proposed to consolidate the first three Bellwether cases into a single trial, claiming that the cases have similar injuries, claims, and situations and that would be more efficient for the court to handle them as a single trial.

Attorneys for the Johnson & Johnson, and it subsidiary Ortho-McNeil, disagree and argue that the potential differences in plaintiffs’ medical history and unique injuries suffered by each plaintiff may confuse the jury.

After years of pressure from the consumer advocates group Public Citizen, in July of 2008 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally required the makers of Levaquin and other similar medications to update the warning labels for the class of antibiotics known as floroquinoles. The updated label now carries the FDA’s strongest available warning, the infamous black box warning, for an increased risk of tendon problems including tendon rupture in users of Levaquin and other flouroquinolone antibiotics.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Mover Sues Former Employer Over Neck Injury

Scott Kappes — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:25:52 GMT

A former employee of Burris Transfer and Storage Co. has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, claiming that he severely injured his neck while working for the company. Gary Crissman claims that on Dec. 19 he sustained a severe neck injury while lifting and carrying heavy pieces of furniture.

According to the complaint Crissman has suffered from severe physical pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and physical disfigurement due to the incident. Crissman has also incurred medical costs and lost wages as a result of the injury.

The suit claims that Burris transfer failed to properly train Crissman on how to properly perform the duties associated with his job. The suit also claims that Burris Transfer failed to provide Crissman with the proper tools to safely perform his job duties, failed to properly surpervise Crissman, and failed to provide an adequate number of co-workers to perform his duties.

Crissman is seeking actual damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Levaquin: A Prescription for Tendon Trouble

Scott Kappes — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:00:16 GMT

Thousands of people suffer tendon injuries each and every year. Many of these injuries are sustained as a result of strenuous physical activity or certain ailments that increase the likelihood of tendon injuries; however, many Americans are now suffering from tendonitis, tendon ruptures, and other tendon related injuries as a side effect of prescription antibiotic medications, like Levaquin.

Levaquin is a prescription antibiotic medication in a class of antibiotics known as flouroquinolones. In July of 2008 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added their highest available warning, the “black box” warning, to the label of Levaquin and other flouroquinolone medications due to a disproportionate number of tendon ruptures and tendonitis among flouroquinolone users.

The data the FDA looked at when deciding to issue the black box warning suggests that Achilles tendon ruptures occur 3 to 4 more times more frequently in patients treated with flouroquinolones than in the general public.

Flouroquinolones, like Levaquin, are commonly used to treat serious infections like pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, sinus infections, chronic prostate infection, acute kidney infection, and various types of skin infections. Levaquin has been linked to numerous serious side effects including tendonitis, tendon injury, tendon rupture, renal failure, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and many other side effects.

Adverse events associated with use of Levaquin and other flouroquinolone antibiotics should be reported to the FDA through the MedWatch reporting program, which and be reached by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Experienced Injuryboard attorneys may be able to help those who have suffered debilitating injuries as a result of taking Levaquin. Victims of this dangerous medication may have the ability to recover compensation for medical expenses and other economic and compensatory damages that have been incurred due to their taking of Levaquin.

If you or a loved one have suffered a tendon rupture or tendonitis and have taken Levaquin, Injuryboard can help.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Consumer Product Safety Commission Launches “CPSC 2.0”

Scott Kappes — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:47:34 GMT

This week the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the launch of what they are calling “CPSC 2.0.” CPSC 2.0 is aimed at allowing consumers to get updated information about product recalls and other important information more quickly through the use of web 2.0 applications. CPSC 2.0 utilizes a variety of innovative technologies, including social media, which will hopefully extend the reach of the CPSC to millions of additional consumers.

Through social media, CPSC can directly reach millions of the moms, dads and others who need our safety information the most,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

The CPSC has launched their “On Saftey” blog, which is full of articles, videos, and podcast that can provide potentially life-saving information to consumers. The new website also includes a “Recall Widget” that can easily be added to other websites. To add the recall widget to your website click here.

As part of their CPSC 2.0 plan the agency will also have an official presence on YouTube, FlickR, and of course Twitter.

Hopefully the CPSC new technological efforts will bring their message to more consumers more quickly and provide consumers with the valuable knowledge the CPSC provides.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Six Year Old Girl Hit After Exiting School Bus

Scott Kappes — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:44:51 GMT

Yesterday in northwest Harris County a six year old girl was struck by a car shortly after exiting a school bus. According to the Click2houston.com story the six-year-old was struck when a driver lost control of the vehicle, striking a mailbox and then striking the child.

Officials said the girl received cuts and scrapes, and was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Thankfully the girl suffered minor injuries and will likley make a full recovery.

Authorities are still investigating the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

New Study Links Levaquin to Double Vision

Scott Kappes — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:48:00 GMT

According to a recent L.A. times blog post a new study has linked Levaquin, Cipro, and drugs in a group of antibiotics known as flouroquinolones, to the onset of double vision. When reviewing hundreds of reports of eye problems in people taking flouroquinolones researchers at the Casey Eye Institute at the Oregon Health and Science University discovered a disproportionate number of double vision occurrences.

Researched found 171 reports of double vision associated with the use of flouroquinolones, like Levaquin and Cipro. Flouroquinolones have previously been linked to tendon ruptures, tendinitis, liver damage, and other complications.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed throughout the nation on behalf of individuals who have suffered from tendinitis and extremely painful tendon ruptures associated with the use of flouroquinolones.

Luckily it appears that double vision symptoms associated with these medications are reversible. The study found that in 53 reported cases double vision symptoms subsided shortly after the antibiotics were discontinued.

It is unclear exactly why Levaquin and other similar medications appear to cause double vision; however, researchers speculate that the drugs may affect the tendons which control the eyes, leading to an inability to focus properly.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Florida’s Lt. Governor is Suing for Chinese Drywall Damages

Scott Kappes — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:50:25 GMT

The Chinese drywall debacle is gaining more momentum each and every day. Thousands of homeowners in Florida and across the nation are being affected by toxic drywall, and Monday the fight got a new unsuspected poster boy, Florida’s own Lt. Governor Jeffrey Kottkamp. Kottkamp and his wife have filed a federal lawsuit seeking over $75,000 in damages resulting from toxic drywall in their home. See the News-Press story here.

The suit alleges that defective Chinese drywall has caused the Lt. Governor’s air conditioning coils and internal wiring to become corroded and family members have suffered numerous physical ailments.

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has received over 1,200 complaints in from two dozen states to date, and this number is expected to continue to increase in coming months.

The first of thousands of Chinese drywall lawsuits are expected to hit the court room early next year, but there may be it may be much longer before all of the claims have been settled or had their day in court.

The Law Firm of Reich & Binstock represents homeowners affected by Chinese drywall nationwide. If you suspect that your home may contain toxic Chinese drywall please contact us for a free claim evaluation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

One Developer is Replacing Chinese Drywall in Homes They Built

Scott Kappes — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:47:28 GMT

A very interesting Chinese drywall story aired last night on ABC’s Norfolk, Virginia affiliate (WVEC). According to the report, some local homeowners are having their prayers answered by the developer that built their homes with allegedly defective Chinese drywall.

Dragas Company was one of the only Virginia developers that admitted they had built homes using the allegedly defective Chinese import, and now they are doing something about it.

Dragas is replacing the drywall in at least 70 homes that they have been confirmed to contain Chinese drywall.

Tom Ridenhour lives in a Dragas townhome community in Greenbrier. He says the first clue he had about a problem in his home was when the air conditioner failed three years ago.

In March he learned that his new townhome and 70 other in their neighborhood were built with defective Chinese drywall. In April, his developer, Dragas Company, agreed to replace the drywall in his home.

“They stripped this house right down to the studs and the concrete floors. They replaced all of the light switches and all the receptacles and all the lighting fixtures, replaced the air conditioning ducting, the ceiling insulation, new carpet, drywall, everything,” said Ridenhour.

Ridenhour is pleased with the action taken by his developer and feels for the thousands of homeowners who have not seen the same type of response from their builders.

Dragas Company is working in phases to have all 70 of their affected homes in the neighborhood completely repaired by early 2010, a scenario that thousands of affected homeowners throughout the United States can only dream of at this point.

Dragas Company is paying for the repairs out of their own pocket and working through the legal system to obtain compensation for their expenses.

Watch the broadcast video here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds Recalled for Strangulation Hazard

Scott Kappes — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:50:39 GMT

Yesterday the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of Roman style shades and roll-up blinds made by Lewis Hyman Inc. for strangulation risks associated with the products. The CPSC is aware of two strangulation deaths of small children associated with the recalled window dressings.

In November 2007, a 1-year-old boy from Norridgewock, Maine became entangled and strangled in the lift cord loop of a roll-up blind that had fallen into his portable crib. In October 2008, a 13-month-old boy from Conway, Ark. was found with his head between the exposed inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a Roman shade. The cord was not looped around the boy’s neck but rather ran from ear to ear and strangled the child.

Roman shades were sold exclusivley at Target stores and Target.com between March of 2006 and December of 2008. The roll-up blinds were sold from January of 1999 through December 2003 at various retail stores.

Consumers with small children should carefully inspect the window dressings in their home to determine if their window coverings may be affected, by this recall or any other recent window shade recalls here, here, here, here, and here.

For more information and pictures of the recently recalled products please visit the CPSC website.

Lewis Hyman Inc can be reached through their website at www.lewishymaninc.com/recall or by calling their toll free hotline at 877-354-5457 during normal business hours.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

CPSC Issues Safety Alert for Stadium Light Poles

Scott Kappes — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:02:21 GMT

Yesterday the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission issued a safety alert to warn the public and safety officials of the possibility that certain steel stadium light poles can fracture or crack causing them come crashing down. This failure poses a significant risk to bystanders of being crushed and/or killed by the enormous falling poles.

The poles in question are manufactured by Whitco Co. of Ft. Worth, Texas. The CPSC is aware of nin incidents in poles manufactured by Whitco and installed between 2000 and 2006 have fallen. In one of the confirmed incidents the pole fell through the roof of the gymnasium, and in two other cases the pole fell onto outdoor bleachers, all causing extensive damage.

The CPSC has also confirmed that another 50 Whitco poles that have not fallen did show evidence of cracking and fractures in the welds joining the pole to its stable base plate.

Almost all of the incidents have occurred in Whitco’s home state of Texas. The poles can commonly be found at outdoor stadiums and recreation parks.

The CPSC recommends that all Whitco Co. LP stadium poles be inspected immediately by a qualified professional to reduce the risk of additional falling poles.

The CPSC is continuing their investigation into this matter to determine if other similar outdoor stadium poles may pose similar fall risks.

For more information and stunning pictures of falled stadium poles visit the CPSC website here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes