Victims of big tobacco will finally get their day in court after a US District Judge ruled yesterday that the cigarette manufacturers have conspired to withhold the deadly effects and addictive qualities of tobacco from the public. The ruling found Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, Brown & Williamson, British American Tobacco, and Lorillard Tobacco guilty of misleading the public about tobacco’s adverse health effects.
Big Tobacco: David vs. Goliath No More
For years now, victims of the powerful tobacco companies have suffered in silence because they were unable to pursue claims against the makers of the cancer sticks. Now, all that has changed. A recent US District court ruling coupled with a decision by the Florida Supreme Court finally puts the cigarette victims on an even playing field with the tobacco giants.
Big Tobacco Better Exhale
A US District Judge ruled yesterday that big tobacco companies conspired for years to hide the deadly effects of cigarette smoke from the public. This isn’t suprising to most of us who’ve followed these battles. However, it will most likely lead to a groundswell of lawsuits against big tobacco. For decades now, the tobacco marketing strategy has focused on youth and many have suffered the deadly effects of the promotional campaign. It’s now time to pay the piper.
Concerns Over Acne Drug Acutane Continue
According to a recent study, Acutane can cause more than birth defects. The use of the acne drug can potentially cause heart and liver problems as well. The study, published in the Archives of Dermatology, pointed to test results from a 7 year study of patients ranging in age from 13 to 50. The tests found higher than normal cholesterol and abnormal liver function results.
Glaxo Smith Kline Adds Warning to Drug
According to a published report in the Wall St. Journal, Glaxo Smith Kline became the latest drug manufacturer to add a warning label to its ADHD drug, Dexedrine. The new warning label will include a warning about cardiac risks and psychiatric side effects. The new warning was posted on the FDA website yesterday.
Bad Day for Merck, Maker of Vioxx
It’s been a bad day for Merck, the maker of Vioxx. First, a New Orleans jury hit them with a $50,000,000 verdict for failure to warn doctors about the dangers of its drug, Vioxx. Then, a New Jersey state judge vacated a Merck victory, ordering a new trial for a postal worker who blamed his heart attack on taking the company’s Vioxx pain medicine for two months. Judge Carol Higbee ruled evidence uncovered since the November verdict showed that Merck withheld information showing heart attacks could come with use of Vioxx for less than 18 months.
Big Defeat for Merck, Maker of Vioxx
A New Orleans jury returned a $50,000,000 award to a 62 year old plaintiff who had taken Vioxx for 31 months. Mr. Barnett had suffered a heart attack four years earlier and stopped taking the drug shortly before Vioxx was pulled from the market. The jury found that Merck failed to adequately warn doctors about Vioxx’s potential harmful side effects and risks for cardiac incidents.
Merck Hit With $50 Million Vioxx Verdict
A New Orleans jury found for a heart attack victim in the latest round of Vioxx court battles. The jury awarded Gerald Barnett, a 62-year-old retired FBI agent $50,000,000 in compensatory damages. Mr. Barnett took Vioxx for 31 months and had had a quintuple bypass at the age of 58. The jury found that Merck, the maker of Vioxx, had failed to adequately warn doctors about the drug’s potential cardiac risks.
Infant Tylenol Manufacturer to Pay $5 million
A Philadelphia jury has returned a $5,000,000 judgement against the manufacture of Tylenol for infants. McNeill-PPC was slapped with the verdict for failure to warn of overdose dangers that caused liver damage and death to a 5 year old. Infant Tylenol is more potent than children’s Tylenol and the label did not sufficiently advise of the drug’s concentrated formula.
Jaw Bone Death and Fosamax-an Update
Since the initial news broke about a link between the arthritis drug Fosamax and jaw bone death or osteonecrosis, a panel of medical and pharmacological experts has been convened to study the issue. In most instances, the resulting jaw bone death has occurred after Fosamax patients have had dental surgery or tooth extraction. As a result of the panel discussions, a new moniker for the phenomenon has been added: bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis, or BON.