Miscellaneous

• Potential Jury Tampering Under Review After Plaintiff's Big Texas Vioxx Verdict

  Rick Shapiro | September 21, 2006 6:59 AM | 0 CommentsVirginia Beach, Chesapeake & Suffolk, VA

  A Texas jury delivered a $32 million verdict against the makers of Vioxx. Now attorneys firm Merck want to obtain bank and cell phone records because one of the juror's had just paid off a $10,000 loan from one of the plaintiffs that was a party to the case. According to an article in Lawyers Weekly USA, a school janitor jury member was earning $22,000 a year and has testified in a post-trial...

• EEOC Temporary Inventory Reduction Project

  Staff Writer | September 20, 2006 9:35 PM | 0 CommentsCheyenne, WY

  The EEOC is planning a temporary inventory reduction project for August 28, 2006 through September 29, 2006. Investigators have been asked to assess and identify those cases in their respective inventories which they believe, for a variety of reasons, do not warrant additional investigation and/or expenditure of resources. In these specific cases only, a determination letter will be sent out...

• FDA GRANTS APPROVAL OF NEW DEVICES

  Staff Writer | September 20, 2006 5:49 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted humanitarian device exemption for an implantable replacement heart in patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure who are not eligible for other treatment options; approval for an artificial intervertebral disc in the treatment of low back pain in patients who have no more than grade 1 spondylolisthesis and who have failed at least 6...

• Panel Recommends Approval For Spinal Replacement Disks

  Jamie Sheller | September 20, 2006 3:28 PM | 0 CommentsPhiladelphia, PA

  Medtronic received good news when an FDA panel voted to recommend approval for artificial upper spine disks. The stainless steel device is meant to replace degenerating disks in the back. The panel found that in clinical trials, the replacement disks performed at least as well as spinal fusion surgery. However, the panel approval carries several conditions, including more safety studies by...

• Tainted Spinach Must Not Taint Public's Confidence

  Justin Madden | September 20, 2006 9:06 AM | 0 CommentsCleveland, OH

  Every effort should be made to compensate injured consumers who feel they have been sickened by tainted spinach. It is only in this way that the consuming public will continue to have faith and confidence in the state and federal agencies that are created to protect the public. Consumers have to believe that they can trust produce and goods that they purchse in the market. Our economy is...

• Health Insurance Crisis

  Staff Writer | September 19, 2006 10:01 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  A recent article in the LA Times discussed a different type of health insurance crisis affecting small business owners and people with individual health insurance policies. The crisis is very real and not a feigned one resting on catchy slogans. In fact, the crisis relates to health insurance companies arbitrarily terminating coverage for sick people in times of need. According to insurance...

• Gerry Spence Gives Us A Book To Lean On

  Bob Carroll | September 19, 2006 7:29 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  Out of the West comes a book from a modern gunslinger for liberty and justice.Gerry Spence: Bravery PersonifiedGerry Spence is one of America's finest trial lawyers, a professional of incredible passion, eloquence, conviction and courage. His newest book, titled Bloodthirsty Bitches and Pious Pimps of Power, is a welcome rebuttal against the conservative extremists who seek to demean the legal...

• The Outrageous Conduct Of Health Insurance Carriers

  Bob Carroll | September 19, 2006 3:16 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  Blue Cross of California provides the latest evidence that trial lawyers serve as a valuable line of protection for the average citizen faced with insurance company misconduct. Tort Deform has the story - here are some excerpts:Do You Have a Blue Cross Scorched Earth Policy?For some time I have been following the corrupt business practices of Blue Cross of California and writing about what I...

• Mayor-Elect Adrian Fenty and Medical Malpractice Reform

  Mark Schofield | September 18, 2006 4:10 PM | 0 CommentsWashington, DC

  On September 12, 2006, voters in the District of Columbia headed to the polls to select a Democratic candidate to replace outgoing Mayor Anthony Williams. With 57% of the votes, former D.C. Council member Adrian Fenty defeated council Chairwoman Linda Cropp. With nearly 74 percent of the District's voters registered Democrats, Fenty's primary win virtually insures him of taking over as Mayor...

• Annual Free Credit Reports Available

  Staff Writer | September 18, 2006 2:49 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  This time each year, consumers may obtain a free copy of their credit report from any of the three credit reporting agencies according to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Today the Federal Trade Commission reminded consumers to exercise their right to obtain a credit report in part to guard against identity theft. According to the Federal Trade Commision: As mandated by...