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Serious Breach of Security at Bank of New York Mellon

Jamie Sheller — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:01:46 GMT

Bank of New York Mellon has lost a box of back-up tapes containing social security numbers, names and possibly account numbers of millions of customers. It is believed that the box was lost in transit while several boxes were being moved from a bank services office to a storage facility. The bank notified customers and offered one year of credit monitoring. However, those measures are inadequate to protect the customer, given the substantial danger of identity theft. This breach comes on the heels of similar problems at other financial institutions, such as the loss by GE Money of the confidential information of over 650,000 card holders. In that case, the computer back-up tape was lost from a data storage firm. Financial institutions must do more to put strict security measures in place to protect customers. Identity theft is a quickly spreading crime and has caused significant financial losses to millions of people. The lawyers of Sheller, P.C. can help victims of bank security breaches. If you have been the victim of such a breach, contact Jamie Sheller, at 215-790-7300, immediately to discuss your legal options.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

No one is Immune to Identity Theft

Jamie Sheller — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:43:47 GMT

It is estimated that someone has their identity stolen every 4 seconds in the United States. Victims spend an average of 600 hours and eight thousand dollars ($8,000) recovering from this crime. No one is immune.

On April 23, 2008, it was reported that hundreds of Ground Zero workers were exposed to potential identity theft when stacks of payroll sheets, with social security numbers, were dumped into a trash bin behind 115 Broadway.

Recently, LendingTree announced that it experienced a security breach when several of its employees stole the personal information of its customers. This information was sold to other financing companies who in turn used the stolen information for direct solicitiations.

If you suspect that your personal information has been stolen or that you have been the victim of identity theft, you should contact a lawyer immediately to find out about your legal rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

FDA Warning For Some Diabetic Testing Strips

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:33:07 GMT

Recently, the FDA issued a warning regarding the use of certain types of glucose testing strips. According to the FDA, some of the strips can't distinguish between maltose, xylose, galactose, and other sugars. Such problems can produce falsely high readings, leading to dangerous overdoses of insulin. High doses of insulin can cause severe injury or death. Due to these dangers, the FDA warns that patients using therapies that include nonglucose sugars should not use GDH-PQQ glucose test strips. Dialysis patients or those with recent surgeries are more likely to use therapies that contain nonglucose sugars.

From 1997-2009, 13 deaths associated with false results in GDH-PQQ test strips were reported to the FDA. Those reports came from healthcare facilities, and prior to death, the patients suffered hypoglycemia, neurologic deterioration, severe hypoxia, and coma. The FDA safety alert included the following types of testing strips: ACCU-CHEK Comfort Curve test strips, ACCU-CHEK Aviva test strips, ACCU-CHEK Compact test strips, ACCU-CHEK Go test strips, ACCU-CHEK Active Freestyle test strips, Freestyle test strips, TRUEtest test strips, and Abbot Diabetes Care Freestyle test strips.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Lawsuits Over Bayer Birth Control Pills

Jamie Sheller — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:14:35 GMT

In 2008 Bayer agreed to run a $20 million advertising campaign for its Yaz birth control pill. The purpose of the new ads is to correct some misrepresentations that were in the initial advertising campaign where Bayer downplayed the risks of Yaz and overstated the drugs benefits. The agreement to run the corrective ads followed a warning letter that Bayer received from the FDA about the original Yaz ads.

Now Bayer is facing federal lawsuits about the safety of Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills. According to plaintiffs' lawyers Bayer overpromoted the birth control pills, while failing to warn of their increased risks of injury such as blood clots. Plaintiffs' attorneys believe that the FDA's warning letter is important evidence of their clients' claims. One attorney stated that her firm has uncovered evidence that the FDA has received many more reports of adverse events for Yaz and Yasmin than for other birth contol pills that have been on the market longer. Yasmin was approved by the FDA in 2001 and Yaz in 2006. Many more lawsuits against Bayer are expected to be filed in the coming weeks and months.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Possible Link Between Lantus and Cancer

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:42:29 GMT

It is anticipated that a new study will soon be published in a major medical journal, suggesting a link between Lantus and a certain type of cancer. It is thought that the anaylsis will be damaging to Lantus and its maker. Lantus is an insulin drug, made by Sanofi-Aventis, used to treat diabetes. Documents from as long ago as 2000 point to theoretic possibility of Lantus being a cancer-causing substance. Lantus was supposed to be Sanofi's second-biggest selling drug this year. Sanofi is concerned that any suggestion that Lantus is linked to cancer will negatively impact the public perception and use of Lantus.

If you have taken Lantus and developed cancer, contact Sheller, P.C. to discuss your potential legal rights. The Sheller firm has many years of experience successfully representing people who have been injured by defective drugs. People who have used Lantus and developed cancer may have a legal claim against Sanofi-Aventis for their injuries.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Antipsychotics and Their Effects on Children

Jamie Sheller — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:05:18 GMT

Stephen Sheller, founder and managing partner of our firm, was recently featured on Fox News' America's News HQ program discussing the overprescribing of antipsychotic drugs (including Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa and Abilify) to children and the detrimental effects these drugs have on children's health. Some horrible health effects of these atypical, or "second-generation", antipsychotics can include gynecomastia (breast development in young boys), Type-2 diabetes, certain movement disorders and significant weight gain. During his interview, Stephen also discussed the considerable influence pharmaceutical companies wield over FDA and the resulting risk to consumers, including children.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Antipsychotics Cause Rapid Weight Gain In Children and Youth

Jamie Sheller — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:51:54 GMT

According to a study recently published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, the newest generation of antipsychotic medications can cause rapid weight gain and metabolic changes in young children and adolescents. These side effects could lead to diabetes and hypertension. On average, the patients in the study gained one to one and a half pounds per week. One expert, Dr. Wayne Goodman, said that, "the degree of weight gain is alarming." Dr. Goodman is the chairman of psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, as well as head of an FDA advisory panel on antipsychotic drugs. Previous studies had detected the drugs' influence on weight and metabolism, but this recent study demonstrated that the speed and magnitude of the effects were greater than previously known.

The study involved 257 patients, ages 4-19 and the four most popular antidepressants, Abilify, Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel. The drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Of the four drugs, Zyprexa had the most severe effects on weight and metabolism. The study was the largest of childhood use of these drugs called atypical antipsychotics. Only 2 of the 4 drugs studied, Abilify and Risperdal, are approved for pediatric use. According to one expert, "more than 70% of atypical antipsychotic use in young children and teenagers has been off-label prescriptions for non-psychotic conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Emergency Alert Regarding MTD Snow Throwers

Jamie Sheller — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:32:37 GMT

Winter is quickly approaching, and snow has already fallen in parts of the country. Along with snowfall, comes the use of snow throwers. However, some snow throwers should not be used. In 2006, there was a recall of snow throwers manufactured by MTD. The snow throwers were recalled due to the risk of injury from bursting wheel rims when the tires are inflated. Exploding plastic wheel rims have caused numerous injuries, including lacerations and fractures. The snow throwers involved in the recall are two-stage compact snow throwers with Troy-Bilt, Yard Machines or Craftsman printed on the snow thrower's housing. Yard Machine and Troy-Bilt brand snow throwers were sold at independent dealers, home improvement and hardware stores. Craftsman brand snow throwers were sold at Sears and Kmart stores. Snow throwers involved in the recall were sold between July 2004 and March 2006. The MTD snow thrower recall was done in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Despite the fact that the recall was done in 2006, people are still using the recalled machines, and being injured. Anyone who has one of the recalled MTD snow throwers should not try to inflate the tires. There is a risk of injury caused by the tire rim exploding.

If you have been injured by an MTD snow thrower, contact Jamie Sheller, at Sheller, P.C. to discuss your potential legal rights. The Sheller firm has a long history of successfully representing individuals and classes of individuals who have been injured by defective products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Paxil Birth Defect Trial In Philadelphia

Jamie Sheller — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:40:09 GMT

According to the lawyer representing a family suing GlaxoSmithKline, company executives intentionally ignored the possibility that Paxil could cause birth defects. Paxil is an antidepressant, and there were studies showing that Paxil posed a risk of birth defects. However, the plaintiff's lawyer argued that due to the fear of harming sales, Glaxo never followed up on those studies. The lawyer made these comments during closing arguments at the Paxil trial in state court in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia case is the first to go to trial, alleging that Glaxo was aware of the Paxil birth defect risks and hid those risks to increase profits. There are more than 600 such cases against Glaxo, the U.K.'s largest drugmaker. The Philadelphia case was filed by Michelle David, the mother of Lyam Kilker, who claims that Paxil wasn't properly tested, and that it caused Lyam's life-threatening heart defects. Mrs. David alleges that information about Paxil's risks was withheld from consumers and regulators.

Paxil was approved in 1992 for U.S. use, and generated approximately $942 million in sales for Glaxo in 2008.

Jamie Sheller, of Sheller, P.C., is one of the lawyers trying the Paxil case in Philadelphia. Sheller lawyers have a long history of succesfully representing individuals and classes of individuals who have been injured by pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Portable Headphones Can Cause Interference With Cardiac Devices

Jamie Sheller — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:11:24 GMT

According to a recent study published in the journal Heart Rhythm, the magnets in portable headphones may cause temporary malfunction of some cardiac devices. Therefore, the researchers suggest that patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators or pacemakers should not place headphones from MP3 players too close to their chests. The interference that can be caused by the headphones includes inhibition of tachyarrhythmia detection in ICDs and asynchronous pacing in pacemakers. Patients with these devices don't need to avoid portable headphones, they should just keep them at least 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) from their chests. Cardiac arrhythmia specialists have long told patients not to place electronic equipment directly over their devices.

According to the study's researchers, the FDA has already concluded that digital music players are unlikely to interfere with implanted devices, but not much was known about potential interference from portable headphones. In the recent study, electromagnetic levels from portable headphones exceeded levels sufficient to disable sensing in an implanted device, when the headphones were less than 2 centimeters from the chest. Most of the devices returned to normal functioning once the headphones were moved away. Patients with ICDs were more likely to have an interaction, than patients with pacemakers. The headphones' magnetic fields were the same whether the MP3 player was turned on, or the headphones were plugged in.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller