Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. Legal Blog

A Pennsylvania jury has ordered Koppers Co. Inc. and others to pay $7 million to the family of a man who died of an asbestos-related illness. According to an attorney for the family, Koppers knew about the dangers of asbestos but failed to warn the decedent Alphonse Tripoli or others. Jurors found that Koppers was 40 percent responsible for asbestos exposure that led to the man’s development of mesothelioma. Jason Cato, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 05/23/2008
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If you are looking for a Houston mesothelioma attorney, please call us at 713-523-0001. You can also speak to a mesothelioma lawyer by calling us toll-free at 877-342-2020.

The Department of Justice and Medtronic have reached a settlement in a lawsuit that accused a subsidiary of the medical device maker of wrongfully marketing a back surgery known as kyphoplasty. Under the settlement, Medtronic will pay $75 million and sign a corporate integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. Neither Medtronic nor the subsidiary, Kyphon, was required to admit any wrongdoing. AP, Forbes 05/22/2008
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If you are looking for a Medtronic attorney, please call us at 713-523-0001. You many also call a Medtronic lawyer toll-free at 877-342-2020.

A jury has ordered a Wisconsin doctor to pay $3.2 million in damages to a man whose leg had to be amputated after he suffered an injury while working in a factory. According to reports, Dr. Gregory Estlund examined Jim Lang at least five times before a specialist determined that Lang had muscle and nerve damage and reduced blood flow in the leg. Jurors found that Estlund’s treatment of Lang amounted to negligent care. AP, Chicago Tribune 05/22/2008

If you are looking for an amputation lawyer, please call us at 713-523-0001. You can also speak with an amputation attorney toll-free at 877-342-2020.

Trasylol (asprotinin) is a dangerous drug manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. It is used to reduce bleeding and blood clotting in patients during heart surgery. In the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (May 29, 2008), the results from the Blood Conservation Using Antifibrinolytics in a Randomized Trial (BART) study were released. The BART study is the first head-to-head comparison between Trasylol and two other alternative drugs that surgeons use to reduce bleeding. The study noted a significant absolute increase of 2.1%, or a relative increase of 54%, in the number of deaths in the Trasylol group compared to the alternatives. The cause of death for these patients included kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke.

The authors of the BART study terminated it early due to ethical concerns raised after the research showed that Trasylol doubled the risk of death versus the alternatives. According to lead researcher Dean A. Ferguson, “There was no way we could ethically enroll more patients in the trial because we had our answer.” An accompanying editorial to the study stated that “in all likelihood, this is the end of the aprotinin story.”

After the initial reports were given to the FDA in November of 2007, Bayer agreed to temporarily suspend sales and marketing of Trasylol until the BART findings were finalized. Bayer has now notified the FDA that it will begin removing the remaining Trasylol stock in the U.S. Market from hospitals, warehouses and physicians' supplies.

If you are looking for a Trasylol lawyer or a aprotinin lawyer, please call us at 713-523-0001. You can also reach a Trasylol attorney or aprotinin attorney toll-free at 877-342-2020.

An Ohio jury has awarded $22.6 million in damages to a woman whose baby suffered permanent brain injuries after it was stuck in her birth canal for more than 13 hours. Jurors found that Dr. Lisa Yang and Group Health Associates were negligent in the care that led to the baby’s injuries. Nearly $16 million of the award has been allocated to future medical bills and future loss of ability to perform usual functions. Kimberly Perry, The Cincinnati Enquirer 05/20/2008
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If you are looking for a Houston birth injury lawyer, please call us at 713-523-0001. You can also talk to a birth injury attorney toll-free at 877-342-2020.

Attorneys filed a class-action lawsuit Monday on behalf of the current and former drivers for a shuttle company that serves Sacramento International Airport alleging that the firm owes millions of dollars in back wages. According to the lawsuit, SuperShuttle International Inc. violated state labor laws by wrongly classifying the drivers as independent contractors in order to avoid paying minimum wage and overtime. SuperShuttle could owe as much as $100 million to at least 500 drivers, plaintiffs' attorneys say. John Ortiz, The Sacramento Bee 05/20/2008
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If you are looking for an overtime lawyer or think you may have a potential claim against SuperShuttle, please call us at 713-523-0001. You may also reach an overtime attorney toll-free at 877-342-2020. We are currently investigating claims against SuperShuttle and will be able to evaluate your individual claim.

Attorneys and safety experts are scrutinizing bus companies that provide service between Mexico and the United States following a number of recent accidents and safety violations. Most recently, one passenger was killed and several others injured when a bus driver ran off the road after falling asleep while traveling through South Texas. Despite such accidents and information from court records, federal transportation regulators maintain that the safety records of such carriers are no worse than conventional bus companies. Juan A. Lozano, Houston Chronicle 05/08/2008
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If you are looking for a Houston bus accident attorney, please call us at 713-523-0001. You can speak with a bus accident lawyer to discuss your potential claim. You can also call our bus accident attorneys toll free at 877-342-2020.