Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer

Toro Turn Mowers Too Hot to Handle, Result in Burn Injuries

Paul Thomson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:01:00 GMT

Liquid-cooled models of Toro Z Master ZRT Mowers were recently recalled. There have been six burn reports thus far, caused by the coolant overflow container becoming over-pressurized and spraying hot coolant on the mower's operator. About 4,100 defective mowers have been produced, including models Z580, Z580-D, Z593-D and Z595-D, all of which use fuel-injected, liquid-cooled Kawasaki gas or liquid-cooled Kubota diesel engines. Review a complete list of recalled models, via the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Stop using these mowers at once in order to avoid getting serious burns! Consumers may also contact Toro for a free repair kit.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Thomson

AstraZeneca’s Seroquel Subject of $520 Million Settlement

Greg Webb — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:58:05 GMT

AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company, has reached a $520 million agreement to settle two federal investigations and two whistle-blower lawsuits over the sale and marketing of its best-selling psychiatric drug Seroquel. According to research firm IMS Health, Seroquel was the top selling anti-psychotic medication in 2004 with about $17 billion in sales. AstraZeneca joins a list of drug manufacturers forced to pay billions of dollars to settle inquiries filed by former company insiders.

AstraZeneca disclosed one of the investigations related to physicians who participated in clinical trials involving Seroquel and another related to off-label promotion of the drug. However, a company spokesman refused to give more specifics about the physicians or clinical trials under investigation. He also said the company was in final negotiations to settle the whistle-blower lawsuits and reach a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Justice Department.

As a result to the company’s aggressive marketing campaign, Seroquel has been used for children and elderly patients for indications not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); doctors are allowed to prescribe any approved medication for off-label uses. AstraZeneca has also said that as of October 9, it has been served with 14,444 civil lawsuits over Seroquel’s misleading marketing because many of the patients using the drug have developed diabetes and other health problems.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb

Toyota Unintended Acceleration Incidents

Paul Thomson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:58:32 GMT

For those interested in hearing an analysis of the Toyota Unintended Acceleration incidents, from the perspective of a vehicle defect expert, you may want to read this.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Thomson

Big Lots Bunk Beds Result in Child Injuries

Paul Thomson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:37:14 GMT

Big Lots has recalled about 20,000 wooden bunk beds because the slats supporting the mattress and the side supports can break, causing the bed to collapse. This is clearly dangerous because children or adults could fall or be crushed during a collapse! The wooden bunk beds have a three step ladder and can be viewed here

. The beds at issue are model numbers WP-9108-1 and WP-9108-2. Model numbers can be found on a sticker on the inside panel of the bunk bed headboard or footboard. There already have been 14 injuries reported, so don't become another number! Stop using the bed and contact Big Lots at (866) 244-5687 to return defective parts and receive a free repair kit.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Thomson

FDA Slow In Banning Fraudulent Drug Researchers

Greg Webb — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:52:38 GMT

In a report scheduled for release on Thursday, Congressional investigators say the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pays little attention to its duty to ban investigators that are convicted of fraud; it is so disorganized that it takes an average of four years to complete its actions. For example, Delfina Hernandez helped to implement one of the most audacious drug research frauds in American history. Hernandez was a study coordinator at the Southern California Research Institute, a drug testing operation in Whittier, California that federal agents raided in 1997. The institute conducted more than 170 drug studies for almost every major drug manufacturer in the world and regularly falsified patient records and data while doing so. Hernandez plead guilty to fraud, thus requiring the FDA to ban her from participating in further drug research. The agency had five years after her conviction to act, however, because regulators sent her a legal notice years late and to the wrong address, she can legally continue to conduct research. When the agency finally learned of its mistake, it was too late for the ban to take affect.

In a review of eighteen proceedings, investigators from the Government Accountability Office ("GAO") found it took anywhere between one to eleven years to complete its ban on fraudulent researchers. This means the researchers were able to conduct experiments for years following their supposed ban. The FDA has claimed it has corrected this problem with increased staffing and centralized coordination. House Representative Joe Barton, the senior Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, criticized the FDA’s slowness in banning fraudulent investigators and has promised to introduce legislation to give the agency more power to ban researchers convicted of fraud from later participating in any kind of human research.

Congress needs to act quickly and decisively to correct this "loophole". This type of governmental oversight is unacceptable.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb

Botulism Fear Shelves Plum Organics’ Baby Food

Greg Webb — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:36:02 GMT

Plum Organics, a California-based company, recently announced that it is recalling its apple and carrot flavored baby food for fear of botulism poisoning. The company stated its product does not meet FDA requirements. While there have been no illnesses reported, the possibility is not taken likely; botulism is a rare, serious paralytic illness. The baby food packages in question are 4.22 ounce pouches with a sell by date of May 21, 2010; their UPC code is 890180001221. They were sold at Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us stores nationwide.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb

John Deere Compact Tractors May Cause Injury

Paul Thomson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:24:02 GMT

About 90 John Deere Compact Utility Tractors have been recalled because the differential that was installed is the wrong size. This causes the tractor to veer left when the brakes are applied. Clearly, this is a hazard to operators and bystanders. Although there have been no injuries reported, customers should stop using the tractor immediately to prevent any from happening. The recalled tractors are models 3032E and 3038E. Model numbers are painted on the side of the tractor. Find a complete list of serial numbers and other relevant information here. Contact a John Deere dealer for a free repair if you are the owner of a recalled tractor. Don't risk threatening the safety of others by using a defective tractor!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Thomson

Exxon Contaminates NYC Water

Paul Thomson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:30:00 GMT

Exxon Mobil was found guilty of contaminating groundwater in New York City with M.T.B.E., a substance that makes gas burn cleaner, but also dissolves easily into water. Although health risks from consuming M.T.B.E. are unclear, it causes the water to have an odor and taste so bad that the water is not drinkable! NYC asked for compensation for construction of several water treatment plants to make well water in Queens drinkable. The city was awarded $105 million. A New York Times article quotes the city's head lawyer, Vic Sher, who said the decision "sends a clear signal that juries have no tolerance for big oil companies whose products pollute drinking water and that these companies have an obligation to take steps to make sure this kind of pollution doesn’t happen."

Unfortunately, Exxon refuses to take responsibility for the pollution. They continue to deny that the M.T.B.E. contamination was caused by them, regardless of the fact that 23 other oil companies have made settlements with the city. Although the money will help prevent citizens from having to pay for the water treatment, it's too bad that Exxon disregards our environment and the health of their customers. Water is a precious resource and we--including Exxon--must take care of it!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Thomson

A Delayed Response to Off-Road Dangers

Paul Thomson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:27:54 GMT

The Associated Press reports that the government is finally taking action in regulating the use of dangerous off-road recreational vehicles, known as ROVs or side-by-sides. The vehicles have a roll cage and look like a mix between a golf cart and a mini Jeep. Despite the roll cage and seatbelts, ROVs have been the cause of 116 deaths since 2003 and over 150 injuries! Talk about dangerous!

Regardless of the clear proof in numbers, ROV makers will not admit that the vehicles are unsafe, blaming the deaths and injuries on improper use. There are currently no restrictions for the use of side-by-sides, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to create rules. Thank goodness someone is finally taking initiative to protect our safety! For those who own ROVs, look for the upcoming regulations. Use caution and think about the potential outcomes before purchasing or using these products!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Thomson

Studies Show E. coli In Ground Beef Not Ceasing

Greg Webb — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Studies show that more than 70,000 Americans become sick each year due to E. coli bacterial infections. Most of these infections come from contaminated beef made into the most “American” of foods, the hamburger. Of the 70,000 infected, about 2,000 are sick enough to be hospitalized and in some extreme cases, victims become paralyzed or die; death happens in about 60 patients annually. Although the government does post regulations in order to keep the contamination at a minimum, many feel this is not enough; even the best precautions can only do so much. In a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, for example, the E. coli bacteria contaminated one of every 200 samples of ground beef.

While companies and government inspectors backstop safety procedures by testing sample meat products for E. coli contamination, a procedure that usually takes at least a couple of days to show results, there are still problems. The first is that companies do not want testing conducted unless they do it themselves. According to a recent article published in the New York Times, many meat producers will not sell to processing companies who test the meat upon the delivery’s arrival, before it is mixed with meat from other companies. Producers are worried a positive E. coli test would force them to recall their entire product, including the meat they sold to other processors. Instead, meat companies require the processors only test the finished hamburger so if there is a contamination, it is impossible to trace it back to a single slaughterhouse. The second problem is that it is physically unfeasible and economically unrealistic to test every ounce of meat; it takes only a little E. coli bacteria to make someone sick. Only irradiation, in which meat is treated with a low dose of radiation, kills all of the bacteria. Though this process is deemed safe and effective, public speculation has helped prevent its spread. Many believe the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) should help to change people’s minds about irradiation in order to ensure the process is more widely used.

Because the producers, processors and government cannot guarantee the safety of meat, they ask consumers to cook it to 160 degrees to kill most of the bacteria.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb