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February 01, 2012 : Johnson & Johnson Takes $3 Billion Dollar Fourth Quarter Charge
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Johnson & Johnson, the parent company of DePuy Orthopedics recently took a fourth quarter charge of over $3 billion dollars related primarily to their voluntary recall artificial hip implants—the DePuy ASR Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System. The recall took place in August of 2010, after the FDA had received incident reports regarding the DePuy metal-on-metal hip implants for over two years. Approximately one in eight patients—and possibly more—will require a hip revision s
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February 01, 2012 : Recall of Artificial Hip Causes Johnson & Johnson 2012 Earnings Forecast to Dip
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The pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson, has been given a 2012 earnings forecast which is below the previous estimates present by financial analysts due to the number of DePuy hip replacements which were recalled. In fact, recent reports state Johnson & Johnson takes $3 billion charge for hip recall. In 2010 it was discovered that the DePuy metal-on-metal hip replacement devices were shedding metal fragments and Johnson & Johnson issued a recall for those particular hip replace
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January 30, 2012 : New Updates for DePuy Hip Implant Victims
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On January 23, 2012, the DePuy ASR Litigation Status Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida was held before Judge David Katz. Judge Katz is the United States Federal District Judge assigned by the Multi District Litigation panel of judges to hear all pretrial matters in any DePuy ASR cases filed in federal court.
Judge Katz met with the Executive Committee of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for about an hour privately before he met with all attorneys in open court.
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December 12, 2011 : Little Understood Fact—Traffic Tickets are Criminal Cases
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The United States is truly a nation that loves to drive, and Houston and the surrounding areas are certainly no exception. In fact, by most estimations as many as 89 percent of the adults in America own a car, using it to commute to work, run errands, go on vacation and taxi their children from place to place. Unfortunately, with all this driving comes the inevitable traffic ticket.
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December 12, 2011 : The True Cost of Failing to Appear
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If you believe that failing to appear on a traffic ticket may be a relatively harmless matter, you could be very unpleasantly surprised to find yourself under the cloud of a Houston arrest warrant. Of course it is much better for you if you actually know about the arrest warrant than if you are totally unaware of it.
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December 11, 2011 : Could Houston’s Annual Warrant Roundup Affect You?
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Every year the state of Texas holds a two-month long great warrant roundup and if you happen to be “asked” to participate in the roundup it is not nearly as much fun as it might sound. Those individuals who have neglected to pay a traffic ticket or other Class C misdemeanor ticket may find themselves actively pursued under a City of Houston arrest warrant.
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November 21, 2011 : Transvaginal Mesh: Are There Safer Alternatives?
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In light of the recent lawsuits filed against manufacturers of transvaginal mesh implants, many are wondering whether a safer alternative to using the potentially risky mesh exists. Mesh has been used since the 1950’s, primarily for hernia surgeries which are performed abdominally. Surgeons began expanding the use of the mesh to include surgeries on women for pelvic organ prolapse or stress incontinence.
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November 21, 2011 : Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits: What You Need to Know
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If you are a woman who has had a surgery in the past for stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, and you think your surgeon might have used a mesh implant during that surgery, you need to know the facts surrounding the mesh products. While highly similar mesh products have been used in surgical applications for decades—primarily in hernia surgeries
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November 20, 2011 : Transvaginal Mesh: A Brief History of the Problematic Implant
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While the past three years have brought an influx of complications and problems related to the transvaginal mesh implant, the device has actually been in use for over half a century. Surgical mesh made of metallic or polymer screens was developed for use in abdominal hernia surgeries in the 1950’s, however gynecologists soon saw the advantages of using the mesh in the surgical repair of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
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November 11, 2011 : Driver Responsibility Law
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Points system The Driver Responsibility law (TRC § 708; Article 10, House Bill 3588, 78th Legislative Session) establishes a system which assigns points to moving violations classified as Class C misdemeanors and applies surcharges to offenders, based....
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November 11, 2011 : Texas Driver Responsibility Program under Fire
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HOUSTON—It is common knowledge that drunken-driving laws in America vary from state-to-state, but in Texas, they often differ between counties. This “checkerboard” system of enforcement has recently come under fire, with local judges, lawmakers and upset residents calling for congruent reform and the elimination of hefty surcharges often imposed on top of criminal penalties.
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November 11, 2011 : Red Light Cameras A Hot Topic in Houston
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The topic of red light cameras in Houston has been a hot one since the City began employing them at major intersections on September 1, 2006. Proponents of the program hold that its main purpose is to decrease the number of red light runners and reduce collisions, while those in opposition argue that it’s aimed at making money for municipalities rather than improving traffic safety.
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November 11, 2011 : Texas Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) FAQ’s
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HOUSTON—A Commercial Driver’s License, or CDL, is required for the operation of any type of commercial vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs; transports hazardous materials that require warning placards under Department of Transportation regulations; or that is designed to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver. Some examples of vehicles that require a CDL to operate are tow trucks, tractor trailers and buses.
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November 11, 2011 : Texas Felonies and Misdemeanors:
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The information provided below is a general overview of most of the different types of criminal charges and their punishments in the state of Texas. It is important to note that the penal code (laws regarding punishments) is very complex and that an attorney should be consulted for any advice regarding any particular case.
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® Adverse Effects
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Many of us would be very surprised to find that a drug can be approved by the FDA yet still have serious—and undisclosed—side effects. The drug Actos, used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, is one such drug. Actos works by decreasing the body’s resistance to insulin as a way of controlling blood sugar levels. Actos is currently being used by millions of people across the globe, with sales jumping from around $2.9 billion in 2006 to over $4.3 billion in 2010.
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® and Bladder Cancer
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Recent studies have shown that patients taking the drug Actos for longer than one year may suffer significantly increased risks of developing bladder cancer. The FDA warnings are being issued on the heels of France and Germany banning the use of Actos, and New Zealand also beginning the process of removing Actos from patient use. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the Japanese corporation who began manufacturing Actos in 1999, is at the midway point in a ten-year study of the drug’s potentially serious sid
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® and Cardiovascular Dangers
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The drug Actos, marketed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Corporation, is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Actos largely replaced its predecessor, Avandia, after Avandia was found to have serious risks of heart attack and heart failure. At the time, it was believed that Actos offered much less risk of cardiovascular damage than Avandia. Actos is used to lessen blood glucose labels and improves how the body handles insulin.
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® and Congestive Heart Failure
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The drug Actos, also known as pioglitazone is marketed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The drug was approved in 1999, and although the manufacturer touts it as a miracle drug which has reduced the number of diabetes cases by as much as 70%, the side effects may far outweigh the benefits. A study done in 2003 by the Mayo Clinic definitively linked Actos to swelling in the feet, lung fluid retention, shortness of breath and congestive heart failure.
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® and Myocardial Infarction
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After a Journal of American Medical Association publication of a meta-analysis suggested that long-term use of the diabetes drug Avandia was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, the maker of Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline, declared there was little difference in the safety profile of their drug, Avandia and the “other” drug for Type 2 diabetes, Takeda Pharmaceutical’s Actos. Further studies however have not completely backed up that declaration.
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® Damages and Typical Settlements
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The Type 2 diabetes drug Actos is one of a class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones and has recently been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer, liver disease and cardiovascular issues. The FDA felt that the link between heart failure and Actos was serious enough to require increased warnings on the drug packaging concerning congestive heart failure. According to the Washington Post on 8/05/11, the first of what is expected to be literally thousands of lawsuits was filed alleging the
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® European Recall and FDA Stance
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A wave of recent studies which definitively link the prescription drug Actos—prescribed for Type 2 diabetes—to bladder cancer gives a fairly clear indication that Takeda Pharmaceuticals may soon be flooded with Actos lawsuits. August, 2011, saw the first Actos lawsuit filed by a 54-year old woman from Pennsylvania who had taken Actos for over a decade, then was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® FDA Safety Review/Warning
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United States Food and Drug Administration informed the public that using the drug Actos, commonly prescribed in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, has been positively associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Actos is manufactured by a Japanese pharmaceutical company, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and is typically sold either as a single-ingredient product or in combination with the drug metformin.
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October 21, 2011 : Actos® Side Effects other than Heart Disease and Bladder Cancer
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While many people are now aware of the association between the Type 2 diabetes drug, Actos, and both bladder cancer and heart disease, there are several other quite serious side effects also associated with the drug. For instance, there is strong evidence to suggest that Actos, like its sister-drug, Avandai, may cause osteoporosis and bone fractures among those taking it, most especially in female patients.
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September 28, 2011 : European Medicines Agency Scientific Studies on Pioglitazone
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The European Medicines Agency released a scientific study on the benefits and risks of the drug pioglitazone, also known as Actos, in January of 2007. This drug is currently used as a single treatment for Type 2 diabetes or in a dual combination form with metformin or sulphonylurea. When used alone, pioglitazone is typically used as therapy for the overweight patient whose Type 2 diabetes is not being controlled through diet and exercise and for whom the drug metformin is inappropriate.
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September 28, 2011 : FDA Approves Cancer Warning for Diabetic Drug Actos
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The blockbuster drug, Actos, which is prescribed to control Type 2 diabetes, has received new warning language on the label regarding a potential risk of bladder cancer for those taking the drug. Actos, also known as pioglitazone, is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese-based company, and is currently their best-selling drug, with sales of $3.4 billion last year alone.
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September 28, 2011 : Takeda Pharmaceuticals Received FDA Instructions for Diabetic Drug Actos
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The drug Actos, also known as pioglitazone, has recently come under fire due to studies showing a slight increased risk of bladder cancer in those taking high doses of the drug or those who have taken Actos for longer than two years. Manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals of Japan, the drug has shown huge gains in popularity in the past few years as it quickly replaced the drug Avandia which suffered under claims of increased risk of heart attack and death.
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September 12, 2011 : Hip Replacement Implant Complaints on the Rise
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Hip replacement is a common orthopedic surgical procedure performed to relieve pain and restore mobility to a damaged hip joint, typically for patients with arthritis or a hip injury. Diseased or damaged portions of the hip ball and socket joint are replaced by prostheses made of metal, ceramic, plastic, or combinations of these materials. Metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacement implants use ball and socket components that are both made of cobalt or chromium metal, or titanium. The ball fits int
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December 19, 2010 : What is Metallosis?
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Early this year, DePuy issued their recall for the ASR XL Acetabular System sold in the United States. Doctors began recommending revision surgery to those of their patients who reported pain or an overall failure of the DePuy hip implant....
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November 19, 2010 : Why Mass Action is Best for the DePuy Hip Implant Lawsuit
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Many different law firms are suing DePuy Orthopaedics over the faulty ASR XL Acetabular System. In a personal, vulnerable situation like this hip implant case, it can be difficult to assess the situation and make the right legal decision for you. In this article, we'd like to break down the difference between mass action, class action, and solo cases so you can make a well-informed choice for yourself....
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November 14, 2010 : What is Heavy Metal Poisoning?
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As we try to describe the reasons the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System present such a danger to your health, we occasionally use terms you may be only vaguely familiar with. This is an ongoing series of articles on the medical terms related to the DePuy hip recall and hip revision surgeries....
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November 09, 2010 : Hip Implant Risks May Include Premature Failure.
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In 2003, DePuy released the ASRTM XL Acetabular System, a hip implant that was touted to last up to 20 years with a stronger, more durable metal-on-metal design. Approximately 93,000 people around the world weighed the risks of surgery against their current level of pain and discomfort and chose to receive a hip implant that they believed would give them 15 to 20 years of pain-free movement....
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November 09, 2010 : How do I find a good lawyer?
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With so many lawyers out there, how should you go about finding a good one? How can you tell a strong lawyer from a weak one? You need solid legal advice, and you want the right attorney. Do not, we repeat, DO NOT just open the phone book, close your eyes, and point to a name. Here are some guideposts to help you....
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November 02, 2010 : What is the FDA Approval Process for Hip Implants?
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It is the fond belief of many Americans that FDA approval is a ringing endorsement of a product's safety, a guarantee that the device has been tested and re-tested by professionals who are presumably trained to put the device through all kinds of rigor to triple-check its safety and effectiveness before allowing it anywhere near our fragile human bodies....
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