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May 09, 2012 : The Exact Problem with the ASR—Why is it Failing
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While DePuy Orthopedics originally stated they were phasing out the ASR artificial hip implant due to slow sales, months later they warned doctors that the ASR implant seems to have a higher than normal failure rate which occurred soon after surgery in many patients. These actions occurred after more than two years of negative reports about the ASR implant which led to questions as to why the company didn’t halt sales earlier.
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May 06, 2012 : What Should I Do if I Have an ASR Hip Implant?
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The ASR hip implant made by DePuy suffered considerable troubles after its initial introduction for use in conventional hip replacement surgeries in 2005. The FDA did not require DePuy to subject its ASR implant to clinical trials, considering it substantially the same as previously approved implants.
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April 21, 2012 : Defining Felony Crimes in Texas
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Criminal offenses in Texas are charged under the categories of misdemeanors and felonies. Felonies are the most serious criminal offenses and carry the most severe penalties. A felony is generally considered any criminal offense more serious than a misdemeanor and is classified as a State Jail Felony, Third-Degree Felony, Second-Degree Felony, First-Degree Felony, or a Capital Felony.
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April 20, 2012 : Texas Driver License Fines and Suspensions
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Texas uses the Texas Driver Responsibility Program (DRP) adopted by the state legislature (TRC §708; Article 10, House Bill 3588, 78th Legislative Session) to track individuals’ traffic violations, assign points to their records, and assess fines to drivers who receive or exceed a certain number of license points. Not surprisingly, the point system has been an efficient revenue generator for the state.
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April 18, 2012 : Texas First Degree Felony Crime and Consequences
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Criminal offenses in Texas are charged under the categories of misdemeanors and felonies. Felonies are the most serious criminal offenses and carry the most severe penalties. A felony is generally considered any criminal offense more serious than a misdemeanor, and that is punishable by imprisonment of more than one year.
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April 17, 2012 : Penalties for Assault and Battery in Texas
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Assault charges in Texas can result from a simple threat or argument, a fistfight, or a violent attack with a weapon. Assault charges range from misdemeanors to felony charges depending on the circumstances, and are taken especially seriously if injury occurs or if a weapon was used. The penalties range from fines to prison terms depending on the severity of the assault and the circumstances of each case.
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April 16, 2012 : How Strong is Your Pradaxa Case?
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If your doctor has prescribed the relatively new drug, Pradaxa, as an alternative to Warfarin, you may have been alarmed to hear of the potential issues with Pradaxa. Pradaxa was approved by the FDA in late 2010 after the manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, presented the drug as a much better alternative to Warfarin.
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April 01, 2012 : The Dangers of Pradaxa (Dabigatran) Part 3 of 3: Serious Vascular Risks
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Pradaxa, the drug which less than a couple of years ago seemed like a dream come true for the hundreds of thousands of patients who were taking Warfarin or Coumadin has had its initial glow tarnished by the ever-increasing number of reports of serious side effects from use of the drug. Although Warfarin has been used as a stroke inhibitor and for those suffering from atrial fibrillation since the 1950’s, it comes with certain restrictions and its own set of side effects.
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March 30, 2012 : Pradaxa (Dabigatran) Lawsuits
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March of 2012 saw the first lawsuits filed against Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of Pradaxa. This drug was the first of its type to be marketed in over half a century, and Boehringer had high hopes that Pradaxa would knock its only competitor, Warfarin, out of the running in short order.
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March 28, 2012 : Pradaxa (Dabigatran) and the FDA Safety Review
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Although only on the market for a relatively short period of time, Pradaxa, the blood-thinning drug manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim—has already suffered under the weight of threatened recalls, lawsuits and warnings by the FDA. Pradaxa is the first FDA-approved drug of its type since the drug Warfarin was approved in 1954.
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March 10, 2012 : How Can a Conviction on Your Driving Record
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While many of us tend to be fairly laid-back regarding traffic violation offenses, the truth is these relatively minor infractions of the law can cause you significant levels of grief down the road. This is the way your traffic ticket generally evolves over time: You see the flashing lights in your rearview mirror and are filled with dismay to realize you are being pulled over by a city of Houston police officer.
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March 05, 2012 : Transvaginal Mesh Discussions Part 4: Revision Surgery
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The degree of your symptoms and whether or not the mesh has eroded into the vaginal walls or another surrounding organ will likely determine whether you are a candidate for revision surgery. It is important that you discuss your options thoroughly with your physician before deciding to undergo revision surgery to correct the problems caused by your transvaginal mesh implant.
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Read More...
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March 03, 2012 : Actos Discussions Part 2: Dangers of the Drug
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Links to higher heart disease rates have been associated with the use of Actos, and, in fact, Actos may cause as many heart problems as GlaxoSmithKline’s drug, Avandia. The American Heart Association reported that studies showed patients taking either diabetes drug were at least four times as likely to experience heart attacks, heart failure or even death.
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March 02, 2012 : Actos Discussions Part 1: Your Actos Case
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Hundreds of thousands of patients who have taken the drug Actos over the past few years—believing the drug to be safe—have been very disillusioned to find that the drug can have some potentially very serious side effects. Actos is a drug which was developed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and works by helping the body restore its normal response to insulin, effectively lowering blood sugar.
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Read More...
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February 28, 2012 : Avoiding an Arrest in Texas by Posting a Bond
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Suppose you are unpleasantly surprised to find there is a City of Houston warrant for your arrest as a result of an unpaid traffic ticket or a failure to appear in court as promised. Of course your primary goal is to avoid an embarrassing arrest which could take place wherever the police happen to find you.
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February 27, 2012 : What is a Capias Warrant?
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The word “capias” means “that you take” in Latin, therefore a capias warrant is usually issued to compel someone to do take a specific action. Capias warrants are issued by civil courts, therefore they are apart from a criminal arrest warrant, however make no mistake—you can wind up in jail as a result of a Texas capias warrant.
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February 26, 2012 : How to Beat a Traffic Ticket in Court
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In most cases it is more advantageous for you to go to court and challenge your traffic ticket than to simply write out a check and pay your fines. While paying the fines for your traffic tickets may seem like the path of least resistance, that one action can have many unexpected repercussions down the line.
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Read More...
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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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Read More...
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December 20, 2011 : Why You Should Never Ignore a Traffic Citation
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Don’t let your busy life get in the way of taking care of a traffic citation or you could find yourself facing steep fines, additional charges and could even be arrested if you missed your original court date. Even if you feel the traffic ticket you received was not justified, ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
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December 19, 2011 : What to Do When Your Bond Has Been Revoked
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Suppose you neglected to either mail in the fine or appear in court after receiving a traffic citation. Soon you’ve forgotten about the entire thing as your busy life takes over only to find yourself rudely jolted back to earth when you learn there is a Houston County arrest warrant issued for you.
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December 17, 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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Read More...
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December 16, 2011 : Posting a Bond in Order to Lift an Outstanding Warrant
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Law enforcement and judicial officials issue daily warrants all across the nation for those who have failed to appear as required, and the city of Houston issues these warrants as well. The vast majority of Houston arrest warrants stem from failure to appear on a ticket issued for a traffic offense or possibly another minor Class C misdemeanors.
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Read More...
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December 15, 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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Read More...
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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 23, 2011 : Transvaginal Mesh: Is an FDA Recall on the Horizon?
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Even though some consumer advocate groups—such as Public Citizen—have called for the FDA to ban the marketing of transvaginal mesh for use in surgeries such as the repair of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence as yet there has been no definitive conclusions reached as to whether the use of mesh should be permanently discontinued.
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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 20, 2011 : Does Age Play a Role in Transvaginal Patch Complications?
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In light of the many adverse events seen among women who have undergone transvaginal mesh surgeries in the past few years, the FDA is considering more stringent controls over approval of the device. Surgeons currently perform as many as 300,000 pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence surgeries every year, a large portion of those using mesh in the procedure.
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November 19, 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 18, 2011 : Transvaginal Mesh and the FDA: How the Food and Drug Administration
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Mesh has been widely used in a variety of surgeries since the 1950’s, and was originally approved for use in abdominal hernia surgery. Surgeons began altering the size and shape of the mesh devices, using them in women’s surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. It was not until 1996 that the mesh was approved specifically for SUI surgeries and 2002 when it was approved for POP surgeries.
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November 10, 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.
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November 07, 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 06, 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 05, 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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October 25, 2011 : How to Choose an Attorney for an Actos® Lawsuit
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Actos is a widely-used medication for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Actos works by helping to regulate blood sugar levels, making your body more insulin-sensitive. Doctors frequently recommend taking Actos in conjunction with a sensible diet and regular exercise for those who have the type of diabetes which does not necessitate taking insulin.
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September 25, 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 24, 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 23, 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.
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December 19, 2010 : What is Metallosis?
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Metallosis occurs when metallic debris builds up in the periprosthetic soft tissues. In the case of the DePuy ASR Acetabular system, the two parts of the hip implant abraded against one another, creating friction and releasing metallic ions of cobalt and chromium into the body.
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December 15, 2010 : Cobalt and Chromium Blood Toxicity in Hip Replacement Patients?
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DePuy hip replacement recall by DePuy Orthopedics, Inc.’s metal-on-metal hip replacement system sent shockwaves through the international medical community. Given the fact that these devices have gained great popularity in recent years among orthopedic surgeons and patients alike, reports that the ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System were prone to early failure were met with great fear and unease.
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January 01, 2010 : Protect Yourself From Third Party Capture
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If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident, you know how physically and emotionally traumatic the experience can be. It stands to reason then, that accident victims should be given time to recover and fully understand the ramifications of the accident before they are expected to negotiate personal injury compensation.
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January 01, 2010 : Hip Implant Failure
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In late August 2010, DePuy Orthopedics, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced a voluntary recall of two of its metal-on-metal hip replacement devices — the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System.
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Read More...
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March 28, 2012 : Pradaxa (Dabigatran) and the FDA Safety Review
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Although only on the market for a relatively short period of time, Pradaxa, the blood-thinning drug manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim—has already suffered under the weight of threatened recalls, lawsuits and warnings by the FDA. Pradaxa is the first FDA-approved drug of its type since the drug Warfarin was approved in 1954.
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Read More...
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March 30, 2012 : Pradaxa (Dabigatran) Lawsuits
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March of 2012 saw the first lawsuits filed against Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of Pradaxa. This drug was the first of its type to be marketed in over half a century, and Boehringer had high hopes that Pradaxa would knock its only competitor, Warfarin, out of the running in short order.
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Read More...
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April 01, 2012 : The Dangers of Pradaxa (Dabigatran) Part 3 of 3: Serious Vascular Risks
|
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Pradaxa, the drug which less than a couple of years ago seemed like a dream come true for the hundreds of thousands of patients who were taking Warfarin or Coumadin has had its initial glow tarnished by the ever-increasing number of reports of serious side effects from use of the drug. Although Warfarin has been used as a stroke inhibitor and for those suffering from atrial fibrillation since the 1950’s, it comes with certain restrictions and its own set of side effects.
|
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Read More...
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March 02, 2012 : Actos Discussions Part 1: Your Actos Case
|
|
Hundreds of thousands of patients who have taken the drug Actos over the past few years—believing the drug to be safe—have been very disillusioned to find that the drug can have some potentially very serious side effects. Actos is a drug which was developed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and works by helping the body restore its normal response to insulin, effectively lowering blood sugar.
|
|
Read More...
|
|
|
|
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March 03, 2012 : Actos Discussions Part 2: Dangers of the Drug
|
|
Links to higher heart disease rates have been associated with the use of Actos, and, in fact, Actos may cause as many heart problems as GlaxoSmithKline’s drug, Avandia. The American Heart Association reported that studies showed patients taking either diabetes drug were at least four times as likely to experience heart attacks, heart failure or even death.
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Read More...
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March 05, 2012 : Transvaginal Mesh Discussions Part 4: Revision Surgery
|
|
The degree of your symptoms and whether or not the mesh has eroded into the vaginal walls or another surrounding organ will likely determine whether you are a candidate for revision surgery. It is important that you discuss your options thoroughly with your physician before deciding to undergo revision surgery to correct the problems caused by your transvaginal mesh implant.
|
|
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
February 27, 2012 : What is a Capias Warrant?
|
|
The word “capias” means “that you take” in Latin, therefore a capias warrant is usually issued to compel someone to do take a specific action. Capias warrants are issued by civil courts, therefore they are apart from a criminal arrest warrant, however make no mistake—you can wind up in jail as a result of a Texas capias warrant.
|
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Read More...
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February 28, 2012 : Avoiding an Arrest in Texas by Posting a Bond
|
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Suppose you are unpleasantly surprised to find there is a City of Houston warrant for your arrest as a result of an unpaid traffic ticket or a failure to appear in court as promised. Of course your primary goal is to avoid an embarrassing arrest which could take place wherever the police happen to find you.
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Read More...
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March 10, 2012 : How Can a Conviction on Your Driving Record
|
|
While many of us tend to be fairly laid-back regarding traffic violation offenses, the truth is these relatively minor infractions of the law can cause you significant levels of grief down the road. This is the way your traffic ticket generally evolves over time: You see the flashing lights in your rearview mirror and are filled with dismay to realize you are being pulled over by a city of Houston police officer.
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Read More...
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February 26, 2012 : How to Beat a Traffic Ticket in Court
|
|
In most cases it is more advantageous for you to go to court and challenge your traffic ticket than to simply write out a check and pay your fines. While paying the fines for your traffic tickets may seem like the path of least resistance, that one action can have many unexpected repercussions down the line.
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Read More...
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January 30, 2012 : New Updates for DePuy Hip Implant Victims
|
|
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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Read More...
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December 15, 2011 : Little Understood Fact—Traffic Tickets are Criminal Cases
|
|
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.
|
|
Read More...
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December 16, 2011 : Posting a Bond in Order to Lift an Outstanding Warrant
|
|
Law enforcement and judicial officials issue daily warrants all across the nation for those who have failed to appear as required, and the city of Houston issues these warrants as well. The vast majority of Houston arrest warrants stem from failure to appear on a ticket issued for a traffic offense or possibly another minor Class C misdemeanors.
|
|
Read More...
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|
|
|
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December 17, 2011 : The True Cost of Failing to Appear
|
|
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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Read More...
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December 19, 2011 : What to Do When Your Bond Has Been Revoked
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Suppose you neglected to either mail in the fine or appear in court after receiving a traffic citation. Soon you’ve forgotten about the entire thing as your busy life takes over only to find yourself rudely jolted back to earth when you learn there is a Houston County arrest warrant issued for you.
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December 20, 2011 : Why You Should Never Ignore a Traffic Citation
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Don’t let your busy life get in the way of taking care of a traffic citation or you could find yourself facing steep fines, additional charges and could even be arrested if you missed your original court date. Even if you feel the traffic ticket you received was not justified, ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
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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 23, 2011 : Transvaginal Mesh: Is an FDA Recall on the Horizon?
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Even though some consumer advocate groups—such as Public Citizen—have called for the FDA to ban the marketing of transvaginal mesh for use in surgeries such as the repair of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence as yet there has been no definitive conclusions reached as to whether the use of mesh should be permanently discontinued.
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November 20, 2011 : Does Age Play a Role in Transvaginal Patch Complications?
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In light of the many adverse events seen among women who have undergone transvaginal mesh surgeries in the past few years, the FDA is considering more stringent controls over approval of the device. Surgeons currently perform as many as 300,000 pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence surgeries every year, a large portion of those using mesh in the procedure.
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November 19, 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 18, 2011 : Transvaginal Mesh and the FDA: How the Food and Drug Administration
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Mesh has been widely used in a variety of surgeries since the 1950’s, and was originally approved for use in abdominal hernia surgery. Surgeons began altering the size and shape of the mesh devices, using them in women’s surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. It was not until 1996 that the mesh was approved specifically for SUI surgeries and 2002 when it was approved for POP surgeries.
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November 10, 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.
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November 11, 2011 : Driving While Intoxicated (DWI): Definitions and Penalties
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It is important to note that the definition of DWI is simply that one’s physical and/or mental faculties were impaired while he or she was driving. As such, the charge of DWI is not limited to only being a charge involving intoxication from alcohol. It can also arise out of intoxication from drugs, including illegal narcotics or even legal prescription drugs.
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November 11, 2011 : Drug Violence in Mexico Spills into U.S.
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Although Mexico has long been a source of production and transit for illegal drugs, the country now finds itself embattled with powerful and well-financed drug cartels. An upsurge in drug-related violence can be traced to the end of 2006 when President Felipe Calderón launched an aggressive assault on drug trafficking organizations by deploying tens of thousands of federal police and soldiers to reign them in.
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November 11, 2011 : The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill-Ramifications for the Texas Coast
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On April 20, 2010, an explosion on a deepwater drilling rig 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana launched what could be the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history. The Deepwater Horizon, a half-billion dollar rig owned and operated by Swiss-based Transocean, Ltd and leased by British Petroleum PLC (BP), sank, leaving a subsea well spewing hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico each day.
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November 07, 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 06, 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 05, 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 25, 2011 : How to Choose an Attorney for an Actos® Lawsuit
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Actos is a widely-used medication for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Actos works by helping to regulate blood sugar levels, making your body more insulin-sensitive. Doctors frequently recommend taking Actos in conjunction with a sensible diet and regular exercise for those who have the type of diabetes which does not necessitate taking insulin.
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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.
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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.
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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 25, 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 24, 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 23, 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.
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September 05, 2011 : Depakote Birth Defects: Real Risks
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Depakote is a prescription drug used to treat epileptic seizures, psychological disorders such as bipolar disorder, and migraine headaches. Depakote is marketed under several brand names and generic versions of the drug, including Depakote ER, Depakote Sprinkles, Depakene, and Valproate.
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January 01, 2010 : Protect Yourself From Third Party Capture
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If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident, you know how physically and emotionally traumatic the experience can be. It stands to reason then, that accident victims should be given time to recover and fully understand the ramifications of the accident before they are expected to negotiate personal injury compensation.
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December 19, 2010 : What is Metallosis?
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Metallosis occurs when metallic debris builds up in the periprosthetic soft tissues. In the case of the DePuy ASR Acetabular system, the two parts of the hip implant abraded against one another, creating friction and releasing metallic ions of cobalt and chromium into the body.
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January 01, 2010 : Hip Implant Failure
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In late August 2010, DePuy Orthopedics, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced a voluntary recall of two of its metal-on-metal hip replacement devices — the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System.
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January 01, 2010 : Protect Yourself After An Auto Accident
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Automobile accidents happen when you least expect them, regardless of the time of day, weather and road conditions, or your driving abilities. They are called "accidents" for a reason; no one intends for them to happen, but the reality is on Texas roads, they do with alarming frequency.
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January 01, 2010 : Alert Cab Aimed At Curbing DWI’s
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Harris County has long been the national leader in fatal alcohol-related auto accidents; a title that law enforcement officials are eager to relinquish. Though instances of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) have declined in recent years thanks to aggressive educational campaigns and improved methods of screening and prosecuting suspected parties, the city still has a long way to go.
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January 01, 2010 : High-Profile Divorces
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We’ve all heard the sobering statistics about divorce rates in the United States, where the cost of dissolving a marriage is relatively low and the process simple. But for high-profile couples with piles of cash and material assets, parting ways can be a costly and complicated affair.
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January 01, 2010 : Health Care Reform And You: A Guide
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On March 23, 2010, after more than a year of passionate debate, partisan politics and substantive policy discussions, President Obama signed his health care overhaul legislation into law. The House of Representatives passed the reform package, which was initially green-lighted by the Sentate, with only a slim margin of 219 to 212.
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January 01, 2010 : How To Find A Divorce Attorney
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With the national divorce rate estimated at about 50 percent, it’s likely that every American will, either directly or indirectly, experience the dissolution of a marriage at some point in their lives. Dealing with divorce is a difficult process, both emotionally and financially, and decisions made during the process can have long-term effects on many areas of your life.
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January 01, 2010 : Anatomy Of A Traffic Case In Texas
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The vast majority of Texans have, at some point in their lives, received a ticket for a traffic violation. Unlike most other violations of the law, a traffic ticket doesn’t bear the same stigma of criminality and is often viewed as a minor offense that even the most law-abiding citizens may be guilty of on a frequent basis.
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December 15, 2010 : Cobalt and Chromium Blood Toxicity in Hip Replacement Patients?
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DePuy hip replacement recall by DePuy Orthopedics, Inc.’s metal-on-metal hip replacement system sent shockwaves through the international medical community. Given the fact that these devices have gained great popularity in recent years among orthopedic surgeons and patients alike, reports that the ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System were prone to early failure were met with great fear and unease.
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