| Announcements |  |  |
| TTLA CLE: Making Your Case to the Media | | A fast-paced three hour interactive session presented by award winning journalist Mark Curriden. Strictly limited to 20 participants, attendees will leave this workshop with a new grasp of media relations issues and strategies. Attendees are encouraged to come to the session prepared to talk about a current case in the interactive discussion portion of the program. Contact Mona Fults at mfults@ttla.com to register. Cost:$100. September 20, Austin. 10:30 am - 2:00 pm. TTLA Conference Center (below the TTLA parking garage).
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| Laws/Cases | | |
| Judge Denies Request to Dismiss Vioxx Award | | A $13.5 million verdict against Merck & Co. was upheld Tuesday in a New Jersey court. The superior court judge denied a request by the drug maker for a new trial or a reduced award. The plaintiff in the case filed a lawsuit against Merck following a heart attack he suffered after taking Vioxx for four years. Andrew Harris, Bloomberg 08/08/2007
| | Read Article: Bloomberg |
| Nonprofit Seeks to Extend Hurricane Lawsuit Deadline | | A New Orleans nonprofit group is seeking to extend the filing date for Hurricane Katrina-related insurance lawsuits beyond their current deadline. The group, Katrina Justice, filed separate lawsuits last week to extend the deadlines, citing stymied recovery and rebuilding efforts in the state. Policyholders have until Aug. 24 to file lawsuits against their insurer for Katrina claims and until Sept. 24 for Hurricane Rita claims. Rebecca Mowbray, New Orleans Times-Picayune 08/10/2007
| | Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune |
| Mattel to Face Class Action Over Recalled Toys | | A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against toy maker Mattel following the recall of 1.5 million toys over concerns about lead paint used in the products. The lawsuit, which seeks class action status, asks the company to refund money for purchased toys and to cover the costs of tests for lead poisoning Reuters, Reuters 08/13/2007
| | Read Article: Reuters |
| Healthcare Chain Accused of Medicare Fraud | | A recently unsealed federal whistleblower lawsuit has accused a Tennessee-based healthcare chain of improperly collecting millions of dollars from the federal government. In the lawsuit, a former company executive claims that Iasis Healthcare offered to perks to doctors who referred patients to their hospitals, sometimes for unnecessary procedures. Ken Alltucker, Arizona Republic 08/14/2007
| | Read Article: Arizona Republic |
| Reporters Ordered to Reveal Sources in Anthrax Lawsuit | | A district court judge ruled Monday that five reporters must reveal government sources that named a former Army scientist as a suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks. The scientist, Andrew J. Hatfill, filed a lawsuit in 2003 that claims government leaks violated his privacy rights and damaged his career. Hatfill was never charged in connection with the attacks. Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post 08/14/2007
| | Read Article: The Washington Post |
| HEALTHCARE | | |
| Despite Study, Patients Say Fluid Caused Health Problems | | Thousands of Duke University hospital patients who were treated with surgical tools exposed to hydraulic fluid remain adamant that the mistake caused health problems. A Duke-commissioned study suggested that patients treated with the tainted tools did not suffer significantly more clinical problems than the average patient. While only one lawsuit has been filed against Duke, others have sought damages against the elevator company and medical supply firm that contributed to the mix up. AP, Forbes 08/13/2007
| | Read Article: Forbes |
| ISSUES | | |
| Katrina Benefits Used for Football Condos | | Federal tax breaks, designed to aid recovery and rebuilding along the Gulf Coast, are being used by real estate investors to build luxury condominium near the University of Alabama football stadium, hundreds of miles inland. The federally funded Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, or GO Zone, provides sizeable tax benefits for developers to finance large commercial construction projects. While the luxury condo project is perfectly legal, some are frustrated that the funds are not being used in areas closer to the coast. Jay Reeves, Houston Chronicle 08/13/2007
| | Read Article: Houston Chronicle |
| PRODUCTS | | |
| Medical Giant Expands Recall of Pumps | | The Food and Drug Administration has registered a recall of infusion pumps as a Class I, the agency’s most serious designation. The pump’s manufacturer, Baxter International Inc., announced Tuesday that it would expand the recall of Colleague brand infusion pumps over concerns that service employees falsified repair and maintenance records. Infusion pumps provide automated doses of medication to patients. Bruce Jaspen, Chicago Tribune 08/08/2007
| | Read Article: Chicago Tribune |
| Heartburn Drugs May be Linked to Heart Risks | | Federal health regulators announced Thursday that they will begin investigating a possible link between serious heart problems and two popular heartburn drugs. The Food and Drug Administration received clinical data from AstraZeneca, the maker of heartburn drugs Nexium and Prilosec, that indicated persons taking the drugs were at increased risk of suffering heart attack, heart failure or sudden heart related death. The FDA has promised to provide a more complete assessment of possible risks within three months. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, LA Times08/10/2007
| | Read Article: LA Times |
| Luxury Hotel Supplier Recalls Chinese Toothpaste | | A supplier of toiletries to hotels worldwide has recalled tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste after tests revealed that they may contain a chemical used to make antifreeze. The supplier, Gilchrist & Soames, has advised hotel patrons to discard any tube they may have taken home with them. According to a statement by the company, the toothpaste was distributed to at least 16 countries. Emily Brown, Bloomberg08/13/2007
| | Read Article: Bloomberg |
| Mattel Expected to Announce New Recall | | Toy maker Mattel is expected today to announce a second recall of toys manufactured in China. According to sources close to the company, the impending recall may include die-cast toy cars made by Chinese a contractor. Earlier this month, Mattel recalled 1.5 million toys over fears that they were tainted with lead paint. David Barboza, The New York Times 08/14/2007
| | Read Article: The New York Times |
| Overheating Prompts Cell Phone Battery Recall | | Nokia has recalled 46 million cell phone batteries because of risks of overheating. Nokia, the world’s largest cell phone maker, said that about 100 incidents of overheating have been reported but without serious injury or property damage. In a statement Tuesday, Nokia vowed to replace batteries branded as BL-5C at no cost to consumers. Tarmo Virki, Reuters 08/14/2007
| | Read Article: Reuters |
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