TTLA EClips
February 19, 2008
 
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PERSUASION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY - Using Focus Groups to Win. Join us for TTLA's first LIVE STREAMING VIDEO SEMINAR! You can attend the program live in Austin OR enjoy the live streaming video from the comfort of your office. Feb 21 – 22,Austin,Tx. (9.50 MCLE Hours)  
 
LAWS/CASES
 
Attorneys representing the victims of the 2005 explosion at a BP plant in Texas are arguing that the fine against the company could be as high as $3.2 billion. Attorneys base this estimate on the gross loss resulting from the explosion and doubling that amount under provisions prescribed by federal law. BP had previously reached a deal with federal officials to pay a $50 million fine for pleading guiltily to violating the Clean Air Act.  Juan A. Alonzo, Houston Chronicle  02/18/2008
Read Article: Houston Chronicle    
 
An Illinois jury has ordered a doctor and nurse anesthetist practitioner to pay $24 million to a victim of medical malpractice. The plaintiff in the case suffers from severe physical impediments resulting from oxygen interruption that occurred during kidney stone surgery. Another doctor and anesthesiologist involved in the surgery settled with the plaintiff prior to trial.  Dan Churney, The Times  02/19/2008
Read Article: The Times    
 
DaimlerChrysler Corp. has been dismissed from a lawsuit stemming from a 2005 van rollover that killed seven Utah State University students. DaimlerChrysler Corp. had reached a settlement with the plaintiffs last year but the deal could not be finalized until the judge dismissed the automaker from the suit. Cooper Tire & Rubber, the company that manufactured the van’s tires, remains a defendant in the case.  Salt Lake Tribune, The Salt Lake Tribune  02/19/2008
Read Article: The Salt Lake Tribune    
 
Dental malpractice may be more common that many patients realize, according to some reports. However, exact estimates on the number of cases filed are difficult to calculate because tight lipped insurers are unwilling to release details of such claims. At least one dentist believes that malpractice claims go largely unreported, in part, because patients are unaware of their options.  Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune  02/19/2008
Read Article: Chicago Tribune    
 
PRODUCTS
 
The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that it never inspected a Chinese supplier of the active ingredient in a commonly used blood thinner because the agency confused the name with another facility. At least 350 adverse reactions and four deaths have been caused by problems with the drug heparin since the end of 2007. The agency told reporters that a team of inspectors have been sent to China to try to determine whether the plant may be the source of the problems.  Marc Kaufman, The Washington Post  02/19/2008
Read Article: The Washington Post    
 
Recent findings regarding the effectiveness of drugs such as Avandia and Vytorin are raising questions about how well drugs are tested before being released to the public. Experts also believe that doctors and pharmaceutical companies may be pushing patients to adopt drug therapies too often. However, some doctors caution that scientists and the public should not overreact to preliminary findings.  Rob Stein , The Washington Post  02/19/2008
Read Article: The Washington Post    
 
A major trade group representing the toy industry announced Monday that it has unanimously approved a plan to improve safety following the recall of millions of Chinese-made toys last year. The U.S. Toy Industry Association plan calls for stricter testing procedures from the design phase to the finished product. The proposed safety plan would apply to all companies in the toy industry, not just association members, according to one official.  Heather Burke, LA Times  02/19/2008
Read Article: LA Times    
 
TECHNOLOGY
 
A federal judge has ordered a Web site designed as an outlet for whistleblowers to shut down following a request for injunctive relief by a Swiss Bank and one of its subsidiaries. The Web site, known as Wikileaks, was started in 2007 as an outlet for dissidents in oppressive countries but has been used to expose unethical behavior in developed countries. The request for an injunction came after the Web site posted leaked documents related to the offshore banking activities of the Julius Baer group.  Rebecca Carr, Austin American Statesman  02/18/2008
Read Article: Austin American Statesman    


 
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