Wrongful Death

August 5, 2014

25% of Fatal Auto Accidents Linked to Sleepy Drivers

According to a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 25% of fatal automobile accidents are associated with drivers who were tired or fell asleep behind the wheel. There are significant and deadly risks associated with drowsy driving.

In the most recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a study demonstrated that at least one out of every 25 drivers admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel over the last month.

Binge Drinking Risk

August 4, 2014

Takeda Seeks New Trial After Losing Actos Bladder Cancer Trial

by Dr. Shezad Malik

After a record breaking pharmaceutical $9 billion jury verdict involving Actos bladder cancer lawsuit, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, Actos manufacturers, have filed for a new trial. Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, claim that the massive award shows that the jury acted with “passion and prejudice”.

Actos Record $9B Verdict

In April, a federal jury in Louisiana hammered Takeda with $1.5 million in compensatory damages and a whopping $9 billion in punitive damages. Terrance Allen and his wife’s claim, was the first out of several thousand Actos lawsuits in the federal court system to go to trial.

March 25, 2014

GM Facing Ignition Switch Cobalt Deaths Lawsuit

by Dr. Shezad Malik

General Motors (GM) Co., is exposed to a barrage of lawsuits in the U.S. and Canada over faulty ignition switches. According to sources, GM was served with the first wrongful-death suit involving two fatalities in a 2006 car crash. GM recalled 1.6 million vehicles in February.

Plaintiff Cobalt Death Claims

Megan Phillips, aged 17, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt with two friends in Wisconsin when the ignition switch moved to the “accessory” position and cut power to the car. The Cobalt hit a telephone junction box and two trees and the air bags didn’t deploy. Phillips was seriously injured and her two passengers were killed.

February 8, 2014

Pradaxa Key Bleeding Report Unsealed by Court

by Dr. Shezad Malik

According to newly unsealed legal documents, Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of the blood-thinning drug Pradaxa were anxious that an internal research paper would damage drug sales and they suggested it should be suppressed.

Key Documents Unsealed

The key documents were recently made public by Chief Judge David Herndon in Illinois who is overseeing thousands of lawsuits filed by patients, who claim that the German company Boehringer Ingelheim, failed to properly warn them about the risks of taking the drug.

January 23, 2014

St. Jude Riata & Riata ST Lead Injury Lawsuits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A federal judge has opened the way for St. Jude Riata defibrillator lead lawsuits to move ahead, after rejecting the manufacturer’s claim of federal preemption protection.

U.S. District Judge Selna, in the Central District of California, denied a motion to dismiss filed in five product liability lawsuits from folks who experienced injuries from St. Jude Riata leads. St. Jude Riata leads were recalled after reports that the wire insulation may fail after implantation.

St. Jude Tried to use the Federal Preemption Defense

July 30, 2013

Fresenius Dialysis Granuflo Lawsuits Update

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Fresenius Medical Care’s Granuflo and NaturaLyte dialysis lawsuits in the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL), are beginning to make progress. Recently in April, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that all Fresenius dialysis lawsuits will be consolidated for coordinated management, as part of an MDL.

Approximately 188 complaints filed in the federal court system have been transferred to U.S. District Judge Woodlock in the District of Massachusetts.

Plaintiff Fresenius Allegations

November 3, 2011

NuvaRing Risks Raises Venous Thromboembolic Events 56%

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Medical data from a new FDA funded study indicates that the NuvaRing birth control may cause women to face a 56% higher risk of blood clots than those who take older birth control pills.

NuvaRing is a female birth control device consisting of a medicated flexible ring. NuvaRing releases a combination of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol through a ring that is inserted into the vagina once a month. The drugs are a combination of ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel, which is known as a “third generation” progestin.

NuvaRing is a form of birth control that releases a combination of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol through a ring that is inserted into the vagina once a month.

November 1, 2011

Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants Risks Outweigh Benefits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A group of medical researchers and scientists have determined that the potential risks from metal-on-metal hip implants may outweigh any health benefits provided by these devices.

This is because of higher revision rates are linked to the newer hip replacement designs and the mounting and growing concerns about metal ion blood poisoning, known as metallosis.

The California Technology Assessment Forum (CTAF) has released an assessment of the benefits and effectiveness of using metal on metal hip replacements as an alternative to total hip arthroplasty, and they concluded that the relatively new metal hip implants may not be worth the risk.

October 28, 2011

Yaz, Yasmin & Ocella Pulmonary Embolism Lawsuits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

As a Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella Pulmonary Embolism attorney and Texas Medical doctor, I am providing this blood clot side effect update.

Women taking pills containing the hormone drospirenone were 74 percent more likely to experience clots than those on low- estrogen pills, according to the latest Food and Drug Administration report.

There is an FDA conference in December that is going to examine and address the health risks associated with birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin. Thousands of patients have already filed a Yaz or Yasmin lawsuits against pharmaceutical manufacturer Bayer Corporation. The injured plaintiffs claim that the drugmaker aggressively highlighted the birth control pills benefits while minimizing the serious side effects such as Yaz deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke and death.

October 26, 2011

Yaz, Yasmin & Ocella: Higher Risk of Blood Clots

by Dr. Shezad Malik

As a Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism and Stroke Attorney, we are providing this timely update. Watch the old Yasmin advertisement here.

According to a recent population-based study, newer forms of progesterone in contraceptives result in higher venous thromboembolic (VTE) risk than older drugs.

According to Ojvind Lidegaard, MD, of Rigshospitalet at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, an international expert, women on the pill with the older, levonorgestrel version were at three times the risk of VTE as those not on any hormonal contraception.