|
Please enjoy these articles. Click on the title to read the
entire article.
Please feel free to forward these to your friends. Also, please
remember to keep us in mind should you have a friend in need
of legal counsel with an injury claim.
In
this issue:
Panel Urges Withdrawal of Pain Drug
A federal advisory panel urged the Food and Drug Administration on Friday to ban the prescription pain medication Darvon in light of its weak pain relieving properties and potential for addiction. Companies that market the drug maintained that it is a safe and effective treatment option. Darvon, primarily marketed as Darvocet, remains one of the most commonly prescribed drugs, with more than 20 million prescriptions written in 2007. Wire Services, Cleveland Plain Dealer 01/31/2009
FDA Issues Warning on Dietary Supplement
An over-the-counter dietary supplement could cause a host of cardiovascular problems, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers Tuesday. According to the FDA, the supplement known as Venom HYPERDRIVE 3.0 contains the controlled appetite suppressant sibutramine, which may cause increased blood pressure, especially for people with a history of heart problems. Applied Lifescience Research Industries Inc. recalled the product in December after it was found to contain significant doses of sibutramine. Staff, USA Today 01/28/2009
Pools Struggling to Comply with New Regulations
A new federal law to prevent swimmers from being injured or killed by underwater drains has many pool operators struggling to comply. Under the 2007 Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, pool operators must install new compliant drain covers designed to reduce the chance of swimmers becoming trapped against the drain. However, one nonprofit group estimates that as many as 80 percent of the nation’s 300,000 swimming pools have yet to comply with the regulations. Malena Ogles, Tyler Morning Telegraph 01/23/2009
Insurer to Drop Controversial Defense Tactic
Great American Insurance Company announced Wednesday that it would not pursue a controversial legal defense in a case stemming from a 2007 Houston office fire. Great American had previously argued that it should not be held liable because of a pollution exclusion in its policy. The insurer posited that the deaths of three workers were caused by smoke, fumes and other pollutants rather than by the fire. Mary Flood, Houston Chronicle 01/21/2009
Regulators Expand Warnings on Peanuts
Federal officials warned consumers on Wednesday of dangers associated with more than 125 products recalled as part of a nationwide salmonella-and-peanuts investigation. The Food and Drug Administration said products affected by the recall range from ice cream to pet foods. A fully searchable list of recalled peanut products is available at the FDA Web site. Ricardo Alonzo-Zaldivar, Yahoo News 01/21/2009
Free Cosmetics Part of a Class-Action Settlement
Consumers who purchased cosmetics from several major department stores will be eligible for free products as part of a $175 million class-action settlement. According to the lawsuit, department stores and manufacturers conspired to inflate the prices of high-end cosmetics. The lawsuit covers customers who purchased cosmetics between May 1994 and June 2003 at stores including Macy’s, Dillard’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Mary Flood, Houston Chronicle 01/20/2009
Play Yards Recalled Amid Safety Concerns Safety regulators have recalled 200,000 Fisher-Price Rainforest-themed play yards after receiving at least 1,350 consumer complaints of mild to severe injuries. Critics have questioned the timing of the recall saying that the Consumer Product Safety Commission knew of problems as early as last year but failed to initiate a recall. At least 18 children have died in the collapse of other brands of play yards, according to one consumer group. Patricia Callahan, Chicago Tribune 01/15/2009
|
