Actos Lawsuit

The FDA has approved updated drug labels for Actos, the prescription medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. The new description states that if a patient uses Actos for more than one year, it may cause bladder cancer.

Actos, manufactured by Takeda, has been under review by the Food and Drug Administration since September 2010. In June 2011, the FDA issued a warning for Actos, while at the same time drug regulators in France and Germany suspended use of the drug.

Actos Lawyers

The Strom Law Firm is now accepting product liability and personal injury cases on behalf of patients who have developed bladder cancer after taking Actos. Call us today to schedule a free consultation. 803.252.4800

According to an article in the Bloomberg News, all lawsuits filed in federal court against Actos for possible links to bladder cancer have been consolidated into the Western District of Louisiana.  The experienced Honorable Judge Rebecca Doherty will be presiding over this multi-district litigation.

Actos is the world’s most popular drug used to control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes.

There are several side effects associated with Actos.  You should seek medical attention if you experience:

• shortness of breath or trouble breathing,
• chest pain,
• extreme fatigue,
• irregular heartbeat,
• dilated neck veins,
• swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs,
• decreased urine output, and
• weight gain

Actos Lawsuit in South Carolina

It is believed that there are currently over 100 Actos lawsuits in federal courts, and dozens more are expected to be filed. The panel that decided to combine these lawsuits released a statement saying,

“Centralization in the Western District of Louisiana will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation.” It also allowed them to “assign the litigation to an experienced judge who sits in a district in which no other multi district litigation is pending.”

Call our Actos Lawyers for a free consultation right now. 803.252.4800

Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit

In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued a public notice regarding transvaginal mesh to doctors  after 2,875 injuries relating to pelvic mesh were reported between 2008 and 2010.  Right now, cases are being filed individually and no nationwide transvaginal mesh class action lawsuit has been filed.

Click here to review the most frequently asked transvaginal mesh questions.

These reported complications include transvaginal mesh devices from nine different companies. Many complications have led to pelvic mesh removal or bladder sling removal.

The transvaginal mesh attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today can offer help and support to those who received a transvaginal mesh sling, or transvaginal tape system and as a result have sustained injuries including mesh erosion, infections, pain, and even reoccurrence of urinary incontinence.  We also accept attorney referrals and look forward to working with you on your case.

Many TVM implant patients experience mesh erosion within one year of surgery and more than half of these patients need further surgery to remove the mesh following complications.  For the most recent transvaginal news and updates on filing a transvaginal mesh lawsuit claim please call or e-mail us today. 803.252.4800.

Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit Claims

In 2010, manufacturers estimate more than 75,000 women had TVM surgery to repair pelvic organ prolapse.

According to the FDA, reported complications from the transvaginal placement of the mesh include erosion of the mesh into the vaginal tissue, organ perforation, pain, infection, painful intercourse, and urinary and fecal incontinence. Often women require surgery to remove the mesh.

Transvaginal mesh has been linked to a number of dangerous problems, including:

• reports of infection
• pain
• urinary problems
• and bowel, bladder or blood-vessel perforations.

In some cases, this can require multiple procedures without successfully getting rid of all the mesh. Currently, we are investigating cases involving mesh manufactured by American Medical Systems, Bard, Boston Scientific, Caldera, and Johnson & Johnson.

Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit Help

If you or a loved one may have been affected by transvaginal mesh side effects, please fill out the form on the right or give us a call at 803.252.4800 to receive a free initial consultation from a transvaginal mesh lawyer.

If you suffered from serious side effects, you are not alone, but you need to act now.  The law limits the amount of time pelvic mesh victims have to file a lawsuit.

Let us help you. A member of our team will contact you as soon as possible and help you explore your legal rights and potential legal options.

South Carolina Gardasil Lawyers

The much hyped HPV vaccine, Gardasil, may have more side effects than initially reported.

Gardasil was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June of 2006. It is made by Merck Inc. and has been aggressively marketed to families of young females. Gardasil’s clinical trials reportedly concluded that the vaccine is 90-100 percent effective in preventing the transmission of some strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which is known to cause cervical cancer.

Despite these trials, more recent investigations are revealing that the FDA rushed to approve and market Gardasil without studying all of the potential side effects of the drug.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommend that the vaccine be administered to girls  between the ages of 11 and 12. Twenty states are now pushing for a federal mandate which may require that the Gardasil vaccine be administered to all sixth-grade girls.

Merck applauded the CDC’s recommendation and has begun an intensive lobbying effort to convince state health authorities to formally mandate that young girls receive the Gardasil vaccination. An approval of the mandate will mean more money for Merck who made an estimated $1.4 billion from Gardasil the first year it was on the market.  But administration of the vaccine may carry undisclosed risks as recent investigations  have linked the Gardasil vaccination to bloodclots, miscarriages, and even death.

The only side effect Merck has associated with Gardasil is pain at the injection site.  Despite this claim, a 2007 Judical Watch analysis of the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) claimed that pain at the injection was not the only side effect that could be linked to the vaccine.

Since Gardasil was approved by the FDA in 2006 there have been reports of at least 3,461 complaints of adverse reactions. As of January 31, 2010 there have been 49 reported U.S. deaths among Gardasil vaccination recipients, as reported by the “Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System”. Several instances of blood clots were also reported, according to Judicial Watch.

Other side effects of the Gardasil vaccination are

• Paralysis,
• Bells Palsy,
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome,
• Fainting,
• Miscarriages,
• Seizures, and
• Death.

It is now believed that adverse events as the result of Gardasil could be an underestimation of the true number of serious side effects that may occur after taking the vaccine.

Miscarriages are also being investigated as to their link with Gardasil. The Gardasil side effect reports states 28 women miscarried after receiving the Gardasil vaccination. One the miscarriages involved a 24-year-old woman who received the vaccination within 30 days of pregnancy, according to a report issued by the federal government.

The most disturbing side effect now being linked to the Gardasil vaccination is death. Three young women died in the US shortly after receiving the vaccination and two European females also died after the vaccination was administered.

Despite links to miscarriage, death, and other potential side effects, Merck still markets its product as side-effect free. We are actively investigating whether Merck is misleading the public about the potential dangers surrounding the Gardasil vaccination.

If you or someone you know has received the Gardasil vaccination and experienced severe side effects, contact the Strom Law Firm at 803-252-4800 to speak with one of our defective drug lawyers.

South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers

One million packages of  Lo/Ovral-28 tablets, Norgestrel, and Ethinyl Estradoil birth control pills are now being recalled due to a packaging error.

Pfizer, Inc. is recalling 14 lots Lo/Ovral-28 tablets and 14 lots of the generic Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets after find that packaging error could leave woman with a greater risk of getting pregnant accidently. Both the generic product and Lo/Ovral-28 are manufactured and marketed by Akrimax Rx Products under the Akrimax Pharmaceuticals brand.

Oral birth control products contain 21 active day tablets and 7 inactive sugar tablets to regulate the menstrual period while providing contraception. Pfizer found that some packets of the drugs had too many active tablets while others had too few.

A company spokeswoman said the problem was due to inspection failures, both visual and mechanical. The spokeswoman said the problem has been corrected.

Pfizer is advising patients with the packets of the product with expiration dates ranging between July 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014 to return their medicine to the pharmacy. The recall is not a safety recall, but advisement of the increased risk of an unintended pregnancy.

For more details visit: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm289770.htm

By: South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Pete Strom

A new group of Americans are stockpiling food and other products fearing the end of the world.

These people call themselves, “preppers”. They are a new subculture to recently emerge, following in the footsteps of the hippies in the 1960s and the survivalists in the 1990s. Preppers are not as worried about government as they are about imminent societal collapse, terrorism, or natural disasters leading to some form of environmental cataclysm.

Patty Tegeler, 57 of Virginia, has made her home in rural Virginia into a “survival center”. It has a large generator, portable heaters, water tanks, and a two-year supply of freeze-dried food. She hopes that if there is ever an emergency she can survive indefinitely in her home. She foresees that emergency happening soon.

“I think this economy is about to fall apart,” Tegler said.

Click here to see pictures.

The internet has only fueled talks of the world ending. Online vendors sell a variety of products ranging from water tanks to guns. Attorney Michael T. Snider, of northern Idaho, posts information about the world ending on his blog, The Economic Collapse.

“You could be living next door to a prepper and never even know it. Many suburbanites are turning spare rooms into food pantries and are going for survival training on the weekends,“ says Snider.

Snider is worried about the end of a functioning U.S. economy. He states that tens of millions of Americans, including children, are living on food stamps and in poverty.

Even conservative talk show radio host Glenn Beck is preaching preppers’ messages. “It’s never too late to prepare for the end of the world as we know,” states Beck.

The difference between these preppers and other groups believing the world is ending is these preppers don’t have an exact date for the end.

Cathy Gutierrez, end-times belief expert at Sweet Briar College in Virginia states, “The minute you set a date, you are courting disconfirmation.”

In the eyes of many preppers, it is not too early to prepare.

“After all, anything can happen,” states Tegler.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers

South Carolina Drivers with suspended license may be able to reduce or clear remaining time off of their suspension during the 2012 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week.

The 2012 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week will be held March 5-9, 2012 in all DMV offices across the state. Drivers may also visit one of six DMV offices open on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

Drivers with the following types of suspensions may be able to reinstate their licenses:

• Drivers who are under 18 years of age and have excessive points
• Drivers who have suspensions for operating an unlicensed taxi or vehicle
• Drivers who have suspensions for operating an uninsured vehicle that was not owned by them
• Drivers who have suspensions for operating or allowing operation of an uninsured vehicle
• Drivers who have suspensions for driving under suspension

Those  suspended due to alcohol or drug related convictions are not eligible for amnesty.

To qualify for amnesty or reduction one must meet all of the conditions of their suspensions. Also, all fees must be paid and any required insurance must be filed. If a driver has more than one suspension, the DMV will recalculate the suspension time. If a driver has a suspension not covered by the program, they will have to serve out the remaining time on their suspension.

Drivers need to come to the DMV with a completed Driver Suspension Eligibility Application (Form DL-601). They will then apply for a driver’s license and may be required to take the vision, knowledge, or road skills test before getting a new license. Drivers are advised that wait times at many DMV’s may be longer due to the increased number of customers.

All DMV branches are open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with the exception of Wednesdays. All branches are closed from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays for training. The following branches are open on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

-Aiken, 1775 Richland Avenue East
-Charleston, 3790 Leeds Avenue
-Florence, 3102 East Palmetto Street
-Greenville, 15 Saluda Dam Road
-Lexington, 122 Park Road
-Rock Hill, 305 Hands Mill Road

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

Craigslist has become a popular spot for buying, selling, and trading goods or services.

Whether you are looking for furniture, car, or even a job, Craigslist is the website that many frequent on a regular basis.

With the rising popularity in Craigslist, comes a rising rate in crime occurring related to a Craigslist purchase.

One of the most prominent Craigslist crimes occurred in 2009 when a man lured a masseuse into a hotel room and then murdered her. This man was dubbed the “Craigslist Killer”. Just recently three job seekers in Ohio were murdered. These job seekers all responded to a post they saw on Craigslist.
Murder is not the only crime occurring due to Craigslist. Robberies are also on the rise. Last month in Milwaukee’s District 7 six Craigslist-related robberies occurred. This lead police to issue heightened warnings for those conducting business on Craigslist.

Police are now telling people to conduct their Craigslist business at police stations around the country. Police hope by offering a safe place to do business, crimes can be prevented.

“If they don’t want to meet you at a police district, that should be a red flag, an indicator: Don’t do business with that individual” said police officer, Lisa Staffold.

“This is nothing new. It’s happening all over the country,” she said in the Journal Sentinel. “The media has deemed it ‘robbery by appointment’ because you’re posting ads, you’re selling your iPhones, your iPads, your vehicles, and when you go to a meeting location, you’re being robbed.”

Cops are now issuing tips to prevent Craigslist-related crimes. These tips include:

• Using eBay instead of Craigslist for items that can be shipped. The online auction site, eBay, requires no personal contact. Transactions can be made using Paypal, a third-party business.
• If something on Craigslist sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The item may be stolen or a potential setup.
• Meet all potential buyers and sellers during daylight hours. If you are unable to meet during the day, then find a well-lit public location.
• Always bring someone else along with you. Also, always bring your cell phone and arrive early.
• You do not have to contact police in order to business on their premises.
• You can meet in front of police station or even in the lobby without contacting police prior.
• Lastly, don’t give out your personal information. If you are able to, try to find out as much about the other person before doing business with them.

By adhering to these tips you can have a safe and successful Craigslist transaction.

By: South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

Homicide is no longer one of the top 15 causes of death, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”).

Homicide fell off the list for the first time since 1965. The number of deaths resulting from pneumonitis, an illness seen primarily in the elderly, have surpassed the number of deaths resulting from homicide. Pneumonitis occurs when food or vomit goes down the windpipe causing damage to the lungs. It is not related to pneumonia.

The list, released on January 11, shows two major trends worth noting. First, the murder rate is down, and second, deaths from certain diseases are on the rise as the age of the population increases.

Other trends worth noting include:

• A drop in the infant mortality rate, from 6.39 deaths per 1,000 births to 6.14,
• An increase in life expectancy for a child born in 2010 to 78 years and 8 months (an increase of a little more than a month from the previous year),
• Both heart disease and cancer still remain the leading cause of death accounting for nearly 1.2 million deaths (half of the total deaths) nationwide in 2010; however, death rates have been declining for both,
• Death rates for the other five leading causes for death also dropped (these include stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, flu/pneumonia, and blood infections),
• And lastly, death rates increased for Alzheimers (ranking number 6 on the list), kidney disease (number 8), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (number 12), Parkinson’s disease (number 14), and pneumonitis.

The CDC compiled their list based off of 98 percent of death certificates filed in the U.S. in 2010.

The government has been keeping record of the top causes of death since 1949. Homicide has only once been in the top 10 causes of death, ranking in at number 10 in 1989, and in 1991-1993. The spike of homicides in the late 80’s and early 90’s was due to a surge in youth deaths due to the crack epidemic.

One reason given for the drop in homicide rate is abusive relationships are not ending in murder as frequently as they once did. This can be due to incarceration and earlier support for victims.

“We’ve taken the home out of homicide,” states James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University criminologist who studies murder data.

Other reasons for the drop include better police work and public health programs whose goal is to reduce violence.

Younger people make up a smaller share of the population. These younger people are the ones most likely to commit or fall victim to homicide.

“The risk of homicide declines with age, and the risk of death by disease increases,” Fox said.

With better treatments for heart disease and cancers, the list could soon have a new leader.

“In previous years, someone with both heart disease and Parkinson’s would have been more likely to have died from heart disease. Now with better treatment, they die from Parkinson’s instead,” Robert Anderson, the overseer of the CDC report, stated.

For the complete CDC report visit: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

The Dangers of Bath Salts

Authorities now believe the injection of bath salts caused a flesh-eating infection in woman causing her to lose her arm, shoulder, and breast.

The woman says she injected the bath salts into her arm at a party. She then developed a life-threatening condition called necrotizing fasciitis after injecting the bath salts. The 34 year-old had to undergo surgery to remove the infected tissue.

Doctors say the woman, examined by Dr. Russell Russo at Louisiana State University, complained of painful red forearm. The woman was initially given antibiotics and treated for a skin infection, as the doctors were unaware that she had injected bath salts. The pain lingered on and that’s when the woman admitted to injecting bath salts. After her admission, the doctors found she had developed the flesh-eating disease.

“The infection moved so fast that pink, healthy tissue was literally dying before the surgeons’ eyes” stated a university spokesman.

“They had to keep removing tissue until they reached clear margins of healthy tissue to stop the progression of disease” he continued.

“By the time they were finished, the patient’s arm, shoulder, and collarbone had to be amputate, and a radical mastectomy
performed.”

Doctors are now warning other surgeons of the severity of effects caused by bath salts.

Click here to read one of our previous bath salts articles.

Bath salts have been banned in England and other states around US. Bath salts are man-made stimulants that resemble the scented bath powders. The drugs are a powerful hallucinogenic. The drugs are marketed under the names Aura, Ivory Wave, and Vanilla Sky.

“Despite the drug’s legal status, it must be treated as illicit, and one must be suspicious when examining a patient with this clinical history because the diagnosis of flesh-eating bacteria can masquerade as abscesses and cellulitis,” stated Dr. Russo.

By South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyer Pete Strom

South Carolina Proscar and Propecia Lawsuit

Two popular drugs, proscar and propecia, which contain the hair growth drug finasteride, have recently come under fire for causing complications which include sexual disfunction, male breast cancer, and prostate cancer. 

Somewhat shocking considering Merck’s own advertisements paint the picture of how the product will increase, rather than decrease your love life.

 Although the video remains available on YouTube, the website promoting the product has been taken down.

The popular drug, Propecia, commonly prescribed for male pattern baldness, is now alleged to cause a number of complications including sexual dysfunction along with male breast cancer and prostate cancer.   

The hair growth drug, finasteride, which is marketed under the trademark Propecia, is alleged to cause sexual disfunction which continues even after you stop taking the drug.

Proscar and Propecia side effects include:

• sexual dysfunction,
• male breast cancer, and/or
• prostate cancer.

Patients who have used Proscar or Propecia and have suffered from undisclosed side effects may be eligible for compensation for damages. 

Proscar has been linked to numerous sexual side effects. Although the manufacturer recently included a  warning stating that the drug could cause decreased sexual desire and erectile dysfunction, but the company may have mislead users into believing the side effects would stop after the drug use stopped. Research now shows that Proscar’s side effects may last for months or even years, even after discontinuing the use of the drug.  A gamble that patients may not have taken if they had been advised of the risk.

Some of the sexual side effects of Proscar include:

• Erectile dysfunction,
• Problems with orgasm,
• Loss of libido,
• Impotence,
• Decreased arousal,
• Testicular pain,
• And ejaculation problems.

Proscar has also been linked to an aggressive form of prostate cancer, called high-grade prostate cancer. In June 2011, the FDA called for all Proscar, Propecia, and other 5-alpha reducatase inhibitors to contain new labels that reflect the risk for this high-grade prostate cancer. High-grade prostate cancer grows quicker compared to low-grade prostate cancer.

Symptoms of prostate cancer include:

• Blood in the urine or semen,
• Bone pain,
• Difficulty urinating,
• Swelling of the leg or legs,
• Discomfort in the pelvic areas, and
• decrease force in the stream of the urine.

The new FDA warning only pertained to tumors found in the prostate; however, the drug has been associated with male breast cancer.

Symptoms of male breast cancer include:

• Pain,
• Nipple Discharge,
• And breast enlargement.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms as a result of taking Proscar or , contact Strom Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. 803-252-4800