California medical malpractice cap backfires

Some lawmakers in Washington are using California as an example of the supposed benefits of capping damages for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases at $250,000. But a recent case in that same state shows the pitfalls of such a limit. The case involved 17-year-old Olivia Cull, who lapsed into a coma and died after a routine catheterization procedure at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA

Drug Co. to pay $203M in whistleblower case

Elan Corporation PLC has agreed to pay more than $203 million for the alleged illegal promotion of its epilepsy drug Zonegran. The U.S. Justice Department said the Irish drug manufacturer agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor for allegedly promoting Zonegran for improper uses, including mood stabilization, migraine headaches, eating disorders and weight loss. The U.S. Food and Drug

Sterno Group recalls Portable Butane Stoved due to fire and burn hazard

Among the latest product recalls announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are the following products:The Sterno Group LLC, Sterno Portable Butane Stoves (fire and burn hazard 37,500)Splendid Girls' Hooded Zip Jackets and Vest Sets. (strangulation or entrapment hazard – 900) American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Honda snowblowers (fire hazard - 18,500) Salsa Cycles, Salsa Handlebar

Woman misdiagnosed, never had cancer

Cases of cancer misdiagnoses are all too common, with the presence of the disease either missed or diagnosed too late. But the experience of a Long Island, NY, woman ran counter to the usual case of misdiagnosis. The long ordeal of Romana Jimenez, an 85-year-old grandmother, began in late 2008 when she entered Brookhaven Memorial Hospital complaining of abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with

Cigarette cancer lawsuit ends in $71M verdict

In the late 1950s, a tobacco company sent representatives into a Boston housing project giving away free cigarettes to children. Some of those children got hooked for life or, in the case of Marie Evans, for death. Mrs. Evans had her first puff at age 13 and smoked after that until she was 54, when she died of lung cancer. Recently, a Boston jury found that the cigarette company, the Lorillard

220,000 Ceramic piggy and lion banks recalled due to high levels of lead

Among the latest product recalls announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are the following products:STIHL Incorporated, STIHL FS 310 Bike Handle Trimmers/Brushcutters (injury hazard - 1,000) Oriental Trading Company, Inc. excessive Ceramic piggy and lion banks (high levels of lead - 220,000) Stores Inc., Silver Tree Tealight Candle Holders (burn hazard - 7,600 (in the

Auditor gets $23M whistlebower reward

It was almost seven years ago that a federal employee alleged that Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas had cheated the government out of millions of dollars in royalties. Bobby Maxwell, a government auditor claimed that the company was vastly underpaying royalties on 57 oil leases it held with the government. Recently, a federal judge ordered Kerr-McGee to pay nearly $23 million in penalties, or treble

Target recalls Circo Children's Space Camp Combo Packs due to fire hazard

Among the latest product recalls announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are the following products:Target Corp., Circo Children's Space Camp Combo Pack (fire hazard - 1,500) General Wax & Candle Company, Silver Metallic Pillar Candles (fire hazard - 12,000) QVC, Enamel-coated 8-inch cast iron skillets (7,500 - burn hazard) American Eagle Outfitters Inc., Toddler Girl

Worker wins slip-and-fall verdict

Icy steps will cost a Johnston, PA, club a large sum of money. A jury in Cambria County has awarded $1 million in a slip-and-fall case in which an Altoona workman was injured when he fell down the ice-covered steps of the PNA club. Kurtis W. Carper was walking down the steps to clean the beer taps at the club while holding a toolbox in one hand. He fell even though he was holding a railing with

GE Profile Dishwashers recalled due to fire hazard

Among the latest product recalls announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are the following products:Victory Land Group Inc., Drop-Side Cribs (strangulation and/or suffocation hazards - 34,000) GE Appliances & Lighting, GE Profile and GE Monogram Dishwashers (fire hazard - 174,000) Meijer, Infant Shoes (choking hazard - 2,300) Primal Vantage Co., Inc., Ameristep Plastic