Dallas Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

July 8, 2009

Litigation Over Johnson & Johnson Antibiotic Levaquin Designated N.J. Mass Tort

The New Jersey Supreme Court has designated mounting litigation over the Johnson & Johnson antibiotic Levaquin as a mass tort and has assigned it to an Atlantic County, N.J., judge. The suits charge that the drug, which is prescribed for bacterial infections of the lungs, urinary tract and skin, has caused Achilles’ tendon ruptures and other damage.

The plaintiffs law firm that sought mass-tort status, Douglas & London of New York, maintains that the litigation will likely involve thousands of cases with the same defendants, similar complex issues of law and fact, and plaintiffs with a high degree of commonality in their injuries and damages.

The firm, which has filed six Levaquin suits in New Jersey, also said Atlantic County is appropriate because its docket is less crowded than those in Bergen or Middlesex counties, the other venues hearing mass-tort cases.

July 7, 2009

Suicide Warnings for 2 Anti-Smoking Drugs

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Federal drug regulators warned that patients taking two popular drugs to stop smoking should be watched closely for signs of serious mental illness, as reports mount of suicides among the drugs’ users.

But officials emphasized that fear should not stop patients from taking the smoking-cessation medicines, Chantix, made by Pfizer, and Zyban, made by GlaxoSmithKline, which also sells it under the brand name Wellbutrin, for depression.

July 6, 2009

Zicam Lawsuit Filed

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Side effects of Zicam Nasal Gel and Nasal Swabs, marketed as an over-the-counter cold remedy, have been associated with the loss of sense of smell and taste, which can be an extremely devastating injury. In June 2009, the FDA required that three Zicam Cold Remedy products be pulled from the market due to reports of more than 130 users losing their sense of smell.

STATUS OF ZICAM LAWSUITS: Hundreds of Zicam lawsuits have been filed on behalf of individuals who lost their sense of taste or smell, and lawyers are continuing to review potential claims.

July 5, 2009

Defective Drugs: Chantix

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Side effects of Chantix could increase the risk of suicide or lead to a number of serious and life-threatening injuries.

The side effects of Chantix are being reviewed for potential lawsuits for individuals who suffered severe physical injury or death which may be related to the use of Chantix. The anti-smoking drug has been linked to a number of psychological side effects and other problems which could be caused by the effect the drug has on the brain.

July 5, 2009

County Settles in Cyclist’s Death After Crash

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Santa Clara County has agreed to pay $2.3 M to the parents of one of the bicyclists killed when a former sheriff’s deputy drove his patrol car into a group of cyclists.

The payment settles a lawsuit filed against both the county and the deputy by the family of cyclist Matt Peterson, 29, who was killed in the crash. Negotiations are still ongoing in civil suits filed by the family of the other cyclist who died, Kristy Gough, 30, and with Christopher Knapp, 21, who suffered two broken limbs but survived.

July 4, 2009

Jury: Home Depot Liable for $1.5 M in Accident

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A Cobb County, Georgia jury has awarded a Home Depot customer and his wife $1.5 million in a personal injury case stemming from a forklift accident inside a store.

According to the complaint, in November 2005 shopper Larry Reece fell and suffered neck and spine injuries after a pallet of plywood fell 24 feet from a forklift.

The wood hit a barricade that knocked over Reece, who wound up trapped under the plywood.

As part of the verdict, Reece’s wife was awarded $30,000 for loss of marital relations, said the couple’s attorney, Jeff Shiver. Shiver said medical expenses for Reece’s neck injuries were about $120,000, including surgery to repair herniated discs.

July 3, 2009

Texas Patient Awarded $10 M in Medical Malpractice Claim

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A Harris County Texas jury has ruled in favor of a Houston man in a medical malpractice case, awarding him $10 million in damages stemming from a lawsuit against Methodist Hospital and the doctors who treated him there.

John German developed gangrene that required the amputation of his left leg above the knee, all the toes on his right foot and all of his fingers in the aftermath of heart surgery in 2002 .

“It’s been a long time coming, but I feel vindicated,” said German, who was a 32-year-old mechanic at the time of the care.

July 2, 2009

Roche Pulls Accutane Off Market After Jury Verdicts

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Roche Holding AG, the world’s biggest maker of cancer drugs, is pulling its Accutane acne medicine from the U.S. market after juries awarded at least $33 million in damages to users who blamed the drug for bowel disease.

Roche notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today that it was withdrawing Accutane after a “reevaluation” of its product lines showed it faced serious challenges from generic competitors, company officials said in a statement.

“In addition, Roche has been faced with high costs from personal-injury lawsuits that the company continues to defend vigorously,” according to the statement.

About 13 million people have taken Accutane since it went on the market in 1982. The medication was Roche’s second-biggest selling drug before the patent expired in 2002 and rivals started selling generic versions. Roche’s prescription market share of the drug is now below 5 percent, the company said.

July 1, 2009

Texas Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma Lawsuits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

In Texas, Asbestos been used in the petroleum industry in everything from pipe insulation to gaskets to the clothes workers wore. Asbestos causes cancer when breathed into the lungs, often in the form of Mesothelioma.

The fire benefits of asbestos were such that their use in Texas did not stop with the petroleum industry. The substance was used in building materials for homes, schools and buildings.

The state of Texas is in the top 10 when it comes to asbestos claims. At last count, it was placed seventh among all the states for the highest number of asbestos lawsuits filed and that number is expected to rise dramatically as the disease progresses.

July 1, 2009

FDA: Varenicline (marketed as Chantix) and Bupropion (marketed as Zyban, Wellbutrin, and generics)

by Dr. Shezad Malik

FDA has required the manufacturers of the smoking cessation aids varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban and generics) to add new Boxed Warnings and develop patient Medication Guides highlighting the risk of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients using these products. These symptoms include changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and attempted suicide. The same changes to the prescribing information and Medication Guide for patients will also be required for bupropion products (Wellbutrin and generics)that are indicated for the treatment of depression and seasonal affective disorder.