June 29, 2008

South Carolina Man Life-Flighted To Hospital After Jet Ski Accident In Georgia

A South Carolina man suffered serious head injuries on Saturday at Wildwood Park in Columbia County, Georgia after falling off a jet ski while a passenger. The victim, 21 year old Joel David McClennen, was airlifted to Medical College of Georgia for treatment following the jet ski accident.

While it is unknown what caused the jet ski accident, jet ski's have been the subject of wide-scale litigation involving allegations of defective design, some of which have been resolved in favor of the jet ski victim.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a jet ski, boating or any other type of watercraft accident, I would invite you to please visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

June 23, 2008

Class Action Status Affirmed By Arkansas State Supreme Court In GM Brakes Lawsuit

The Arkansas Supreme Court has given the green light to plaintiffs to move forward as a class in a pending product liability lawsuit against General Motors over allegedly defectively designed brakes.

The class representative is Boyd Bryant, a previous buyer of the defective brakes that he purchased from GM in September 2006.

In the product liability lawsuit, Bryant alleges that between 1999 and 2002, General Motors sold pickups and SUV's with parking brakes that were defectively designed. What is of an aggravating nature and what has given rise to a claim of punitive damages is that GM is believed to have known about the defective brakes as far back as 2000, but failed to notify dealerships until 2003, so that corrective action could be taken.

If you or a loved one has been affected, including injured or killed by defective brakes made by General Motors, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

June 7, 2008

California Jury Awards 6.2 Million In Taser Wrongful Death Case

A San Jose jury recently awarded $6.2 million in a wrongful death case of a 40 year old man killed by a taser made by Taser International, Inc. Salinas area police were called to a domestic disturbance at the Heston home at which point they tasered Heston, who later died over what is suspected of being overexposure to the electric shock.

The wrongful death lawsuit, included the standard allegations, including failure to warn. This is the first loss for Taser International in a product liability lawsuit involving a wrongful death.

If you or a loved has been seriously injured or killed by a taser or any other type of defective or dangerous device or product, I would invite you visit my website www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

May 26, 2008

ABC's 20/20 Sheds Spotlight on Tire Retailers Selling Defective Tires As New

The TV Program, 20/20 recently did a story on retailers of tires selling their inventory believed to be deteriorating, as new. While the tires may be technically unused or "new", the lengthy amount of time that the tires sit on the shelf awaiting sale leads to decay, drying out and deterioration of various tires components, including the threads, making the tires as a whole, unsafe.

The most disturbing part of the story is that over a hundred people have died as a result accidents involving tires that appeared to be new and in good condition, but in actuality, were unsafe. Consumer Experts have advised consumers to exercise extreme caution using any tires older than six years and to look at the "cryptic code" engraved in the sidewall of the tire to determine the exact year the tire was made.

On a positive note, big tire makers such as Michelin, Bridegstone/Firestone and Continental recommend that consumers not use tires older than ten years even if the tires look like they are in good shape.

In an effort to make a profit, it is believed by Consumer Experts that some of the big tire-makers are selling tires older than that recommended by consumer groups. Goodyear is believed to be one of the tire retailers selling aged tires as new to consumers according KGO-TV in San Francisco. Wal-Mart and Sears are also believed to be included as retailers selling older than recommended tires.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of an aged tire, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at law.



May 18, 2008

Trasylol Maker, Bayer, Recalls Blood Clotting Med From US Market

Bayer, the maker of blood clotting drug, Trasylol, announced that it plans to recall what is left of the allegedly defective medication from the US Markets - this, according to the FDA. In November of 2007, Trasylol was suspended for use in heart surgery by the FDA after a Canadian clinical study showed a heightened risk of death versus too other drugs that are used to manage blood loss during surgery.

Trasylol was previously used by patients who were at a higher risk of blood loss during coronary artery bypass surgery.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by Trasylol or any other defective drug, I would invite you to visit my website www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.


May 11, 2008

Heart Drug, Digitek, Recalled by Icelandic Drug Maker, Actavis

A drug known as Digitek administered to patients with heart problems, has been recalled by drug manufacturer, Actavis. The crux of the drug recall is that the medication itself is said to be double the thickness and strength of the normal dosage. It is believed that the consumption of this medication may lead to complications, including arrhythmia, decreased blood pressure and death.

The generic version, Digoxin, can cause a heightened risk of toxicity in patients who have or continue to experience renal failure. The proper amount of the Digoxin, notwithstanding the defective nature of the drug, is supposed to help strengthen a weak heart and suppress fluttering and erratic heartbeats. Some patients are alleging personal injuries related to the drug, including liver failure.

FDA warnings about the defective drug go back to 1999, so Actavis has got some explaining to do, especially as Digitek patients continue to claim personal injuries from the defective drug.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by this or any other defective drug, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

April 30, 2008

Celebrex And Bextra Maker, Pfizer, Looking to Settle Injury Lawsuits

Drug maker giant, Pfizer, the maker of Celebrex and Bextra, have already reached settlements with hundreds of claimants and plaintiffs who maintain that the defective drugs caused them to have heart attacks and strokes.

Pfizer has been actively trying to settle the defective drug lawsuits involving Celebrex and Bextra and has set aside a half a billion dollars to do so. Vioxx maker Merck on the other hand is resigned to litigate the suits to trial.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by Celebrex, Bextra, Vioxx any other defective drug, I would invite you to please visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law

April 22, 2008

Trasylol Maker, Bayer, Faces Numerous Injury & Wrongful Death Claims

Following multiple studies and the recall of Trasylol, Bayer, the drug maker, is now facing a multitude of injury and wrongful death claims. The blood thinning medication was expected to be a huge money maker for Bayer, but as complications during and after surgery occurred, including amputation of limbs, kidney failure and death, Bayer under internal and FDA pressure, yanked the medicine.

The unfortunate thing is that there were other blood thinning medications besides Trasylol that could have been used during open heart surgeries that were much cheaper and safer. It is estimated that over 1,000 people per month have died as a direct result of complications brought on by Trasylol.

If you or a loved one has been injured or died as a result of Trasylol, I would encourage you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.



April 15, 2008

Teenager's Family Files Wrongful Dealth Lawsuit Against Toyota Over Defective Side Airbags

The family of a 19 year old man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Toyota claiming their son's side impact airbags failed during a collision. The car accident occurred when the driver of a Ford truck ran a stop sign while drunk and crashed into the Toyota Prius that the 19 year old man was driving. The collision resulted in the the young man's car falling into a ditch.

The wrongful death lawsuit against Toyota asserts that the side airbags were defective because they did not inflate upon impact. Three hours after the car accident, the young man, Mr. Tovar, died.

Toyota had issued a voluntary recall on some of its cars telling consumers that the airbags might not deploy. According to reports, the 2005 Toyota Prius that Tovar was driving was not on the recall list of cars with possibly defective airbags, side or otherwise.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a defective airbag or any other defective component of your car, I would invite you to please visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

April 6, 2008

Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court Against Heparin Maker Baxter Healthcare

A defective drug lawsuit has been filed in Federal Court in Illinois against Heparin maker Baxter Healthcare in the wake of a near fatal adverse reaction experienced by the user. The defective drug lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for pain and suffering as well as punitive damages as the Plaintiff asserts that Baxter knew that the Heparin was contaminated.

In March of this year, the FDA announced that the active ingredient in Heparin was contaminated at some of its manufacturing plants in China. A month prior, in February, Baxter came out and said that they voluntarily recalled its defective drug Heparin sodium injection.

If you or a loved one has been injured or died as a result of this or any other defective drug, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

March 29, 2008

Lawsuit Against Nissan Claims Defective Seatbelts Resulted In Injuries

Back in in 1997, Michael Guillory was hit by another driver causing a car accident when, Jeffrey Moon, while going through a stop sign in rural Texas, failed to stop and struck his Nissan Pathfinder. The rub is that while Guillory was wearing his seatbelt as required by law, he claims that he was unnecessarily injured when his seatbelt, which he maintains was defective, came unlatched and failed to restrain him. Eleven years later, on March 10, 2008, Guillory filed a product liability lawsuit against car maker giant, Nissan in Federal Court in Eastern Texas.

In the lawsuit, Guillory is pushing for all damages available under the law in this product liability lawsuit, including for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, physical impairment, disfigurement, extreme emotional distress, mental anguish, medical expenses, lost wages, pre and post-judgment interest, and court costs. Guillory is also strongly contending in the product liability lawsuit that the Nissan Pathfinder was not "reasonably crashworthy" and not reasonably fit for unintended, but clearly foreseeable, accidents." The suit also states that the Pathfinder's seatbelt was defective due to the buckle releasing during the accident, the restraint system not being crashworthy, and the buckle not providing adequate restraint.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a defective seatbelt or any other defective product, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.


March 18, 2008

Wrongful Death lawsuit Filed Against Toyota Over Defective Airbag

The family of a Houston area teenager has recently filed a Wrongful Death lawsuit against Toyota over claims of defective side impact airbags. The wrongful death lawsuit came in the wake of a serious car accident where another driver in a pick-up truck ran a stop sign and crashed into the driver side of the Toyota Prius driven, by the now deceased, teenager. The Toyota Prius, which was equipped with side impact airbags, failed to deploy, according to the family.

What will support the family in their wrongful death lawsuit is the fact that Toyota had previously issued a voluntary recall on some of its vehicles, thereby alerting consumers that the airbags may not work in the event of a collision.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because an airbag did not deploy when you were in a high impact accident, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

March 11, 2008

Link between Childhood Vaccines and Autism To Be Tested At Trial

In what is believed to be a unprecedented class action suit against the maker of childhood vaccines, some 5,000 families will be in court over the next few weeks contending that mercury contained in defective vaccine, caused autism in their children.

The families, many of whom have been waiting for close to five years for their day in court, will be making their way shortly to the "federal vaccine court", which is a special court that hears and rules on the defective vaccine suits. If the court, based upon the evidence and testimony, renders a decision in favor the the claimants, all awards will be paid out of a designated federal fund.

One family that is at the forefront of the Vaccine-Autism Claim is a family in Atlanta, Georgia, the Polings, who settled out of court, will receive money from the federal fund for people harmed by vaccine. In the lawsuit, the Polings claimed that their daughter, who was a year and a half, was administered five vaccines back in July of 2000.

The burden of proof in the federal vaccine court is identical to civil court - by a preponderance of the evidence. That is, the parents will need to prove that it is more likely than not that the vaccines caused the autism and autism-like symptoms, which should not be too difficult, given the direct and circumstantial evidence at the disposal of the Plaintiffs.

If you have any children that have been harmed or adversely effected, I would invite you to please visit my website www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.



March 5, 2008

Maker Of Botox, Allergan, Subpoenaed By FDA

The FDA has just issued a subpoena to Botox maker, Allergan Inc., to obtain marketing related documents from the company about the use of the defective drug for headaches. Botox is generally used to relax wrinkles. Here, however, FDA suspects that the Botox maker is attempting to promote the defective product to relieve pain from headaches, which, no pun intended, FDA is frowning upon.

FDA is presently looking at Botox and similar defective drugs in the wake of reported adverse reactions experienced by numerous people using the drug for headaches resulting in hospitalization, muscle spasm and even death.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by this or a similar defective drug, I would invite you to please visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.

February 12, 2008

FDA Warns That Baxter's Heparin Should Not Be Used

The FDA just warned consumers and the health care community that Heparin, made by Baxter Health Care, should not be used. Heparin has been linked to numerous illnesses and the deaths of at least a handful of people.

Before FDA issued this warning, Baxter asserted that it would stop making the defective medicine after it was reported that people were experiencing allergic reactions, which occurred within minutes after ingestion and included rapid heartbeat, nausea and swelling.

If you or a loved one has been adversely affected by this or any other defective or recalled medicine, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.


February 2, 2008

Deadly Cordis Balloon Catheters Recalled by Johnson & Johnson

In the wake of injuries to two people, Johnson & Johnson has recalled defective balloon catheters utilized by surgeons during angioplasties. The injuries occurred because the balloons did not deflate as they should have and therefore, they have been recalled as a Class 1 Recall, which is the highest level of recall. What this means is that there is a fair likelihood that use of this defective medical device could lead to serious complications, like injury or death.

The real danger of the defective Cordis Balloon Catheters is that they have a tendency to slowly deflate when they are inserted into an artery during the angioplasty procedure. The obvious complication is that the use of this defective medical device this could lead to a partial or total blockage of the artery causing a heart attack.

In mid January 2008, Johnson & Johnson sent customers in the United States a letter about the recall with a directive to consult with their respective doctors.

If you or a loved one has been injured by this or any other defective product, I would invite you to visit my website, www.samlevine.com or contact my office, Sam Levine, Attorney at Law.