Defective & Dangerous Products

• Kids II Inc. Teethers Recalled

  Christina Cole | January 06, 2007 3:38 PM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  Kids II Inc. has recalled 375,000 Bright Starts Star Teether Beads and Bright Starts Teether Beads. The flexible plastic rings that hold the teether beads in place can break or crack which can cause the beads to detach, posing a choking hazard to babies and toddlers. Kids II Inc. has received 24 reports of the plastic rings breaking or cracking and the beads detaching from the ring, but no...

• Heart attack victim loses suit over Vioxx

  Dan Friedman | December 15, 2006 4:39 PM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  A federal jury has rejected a Tennessee man's claim against Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx. Merck has consistently maintained that they are going to defend each lawsuit individually. One unique factor in this case was that the plaintiff had used illegal drugs and had written bad checks, thus putting his credibility on the line. http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1166004319457

• New allegations against Fen-Phen

  Dan Friedman | December 10, 2006 3:03 PM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  Five women in Chicago have sued Wyeth, the manufacturer of the recalled diet drug Fen-Phen, alleging that their use of the drug caused them to develope a serious lung condition which often results in death.

• Merck continues to fight Vioxx lawsuits

  Dan Friedman | November 29, 2006 3:34 PM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  The pharmeceutical giant Merck is, for the time being, continuing to litigate each individual Vioxx claims. The company, having had some recent success, is intent on defending each case on the merits. Merck's strategy, thus far, has been to question the relatedness of each Plaintiff's injury with his or her use of Vioxx. In the months since, however, the great Vioxx turkey shoot has not...

• Judge grants new trial in Vioxx case

  Dan Friedman | August 30, 2006 1:03 PM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon has ruled that Merck is entitled to a new trial on the question of damages for a retired F.B.I. agent that had a heart attack after taking their pain killer, Vioxx. A jury had previously awarded $50 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages. Judge Fallon ruled that the compensatory award was "grossly excessive."

• Effectiveness of artificial discs have been questioned

  Dan Friedman | August 02, 2006 4:18 PM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  Although approved by the FDA, dozens of recipients of artificial discs are claiming that the discs are defective. Used in Europe since the 1980s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004, the Charite disc is marketed as an alternative to spinal fusion and is part of the growing and sometimes controversial use of spinal surgery.The disc's maker says the product is safe and has...

• Medication errors injure millions

  Dan Friedman | July 25, 2006 2:35 PM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  According to a new study by the Institute of Medicine, 1.5 million Americans are injured, killed or sickened every year by errors in prescribing, administering or taking medications.Medication Errors

• Pressure Cookers Recalled Due to Burn Hazard

  Staff Writer | June 15, 2006 9:45 AM | 0 CommentsLincoln, NE

  QVC is recalling approximately 900 pressure cookers sold on the home shopping channel in 200 and 2001 because the products present a burn hazard to consumers. While QVC has not received any reports of injuries, another retailer that sold the same model - Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers - has received 43 reports of product failure, 37 of which involved burn injuries.According to the Consumer...