When our clients discover that their metal-on-metal (MoM) hip has failed and never went through U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for safety and efficacy, they ask – how did that happen? Most Americans do not understand that medical devices are largely unregulated, even for those devices that are […]

Although the following was a parody published in the New York Bar Journal, it rings amazingly true for the thought process used in decisions to send products into the market place: “Remember when some bad tires exploded and killed a few people?  Lawsuits uncovered the defect.  Nobody would have known […]

New lung cancer screening “guidelines” from three medical groups recommend annual scans but only for an older group of current or former heavy smokers. The advice only applies to ages 55 to 74.  The risks of screening younger or older smokers or nonsmokers outweigh any benefits according to the guidelines.  […]

The Surgeon General today released a new report on youth smoking.  The 2012 Report, entitled Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, updates the 1994 Report, which was the first comprehensive Surgeon General’s report on youth smoking.  In ‘94, the Surgeon General concluded that if young people can remain […]

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a new rule, which includes changes to the warnings on cigarette packaging; warnings that have remained largely the same for decades. These proposed new warnings are obviously intended to be graphic motivation for smokers to quit and for those who have not yet […]

A substance that most of us cannot pronounce, has caused Kellogg’s to recall more than 28 million boxes of its popular cereals such as Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, and Honey Smacks. The recall came from consumers complaining of a funny smell, nausea and diarrhea, and a wax-like taste […]

AstraZeneca has agreed to pay fines totaling $520 million in settlement of charges made by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that AstraZeneca illegally marketed Seroquel; a prescription drug used for the treatment of schizophrenia. Although Seroquel had not been approved by the FDA, AstraZeneca marketed and continued to market […]

A recent study out of UCLA, published in the January issue of the “American Journal of Ophthalmology,” has found that Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) occurs more than five times more often among female smokers over 80-years-old compared to non-smoking women of the same age. Although this recent study was gender […]

“What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.” Henry Thoreau. Things must be tough for Big Tobacco; 8000 plaintiffs, so much truth, so little defense. As I have previously written, I felt Florida would be a little too hot for those boardroom lawyers representing Big Tobacco and it appears I may […]

Bangor, Maine’s most famous resident (no disrespect directed towards other Bangorians) is horror-writer extraordinaire Stephen King. It seems appropriate then that Bangor’s federal courthouse is the latest venue in which cigarette manufacturers’ horrific decades of long fraudulent practices will be put under the forensic microscope. In 2005, Maine residents filed […]