Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

A consumer fraud class-action lawsuit has been filed in US District Court. The suit claims that JPMorgan Chase uses false documents to misrepresent itself as having standing in bankruptcy cases. Rather than pay the fees associated with proving the succession of ownership, Chase just creates its own documents. Some of these alleged "false document" filings may have directly effected Atlanta homeowners.

Initially, the case began with one client but turned into a class action suit when a pattern was seen in cases where chase was involved. Oddly enough, Chase is the rightful owner of the loan, but the bank just doesn’t want to spend the money and time needed to confirm it.

Most of the time Chase has legal standing in bankruptcy court. However, the bank doesn’t spend the money to prove their authority to act. Thus not allowing individuals their chance in court, by using counterfeit affidavits, endorsements, deeds, and other certificates to prove its rights as a lender in numerous bankruptcy cases.

The false documents transfer responsibility for the loss to the bondholder. Compensatory, punitive, and statutory damages are being sought for unfair and deceptive trade, “an order vacating all bankruptcy orders, claims and awards granted based on Chase’s misrepresentation and deceptive business practices.”

An advisory board for The US Food and Drug Administration recently voted that the advantage of using four popular Bayer drugs make up for the risks associated with their adverse side effects. But the FDA did not make known the fact that three of the advisors were associated with Bayer.

The three doctors were part of a safety committee that evaluated the safety of Yaz, Yasmin, Beyaz, and Safyal. And they served as consultants, researchers, and speakers for Bayer. Bayer’s studies showed no real danger; whereas, other research and a commissioned study by the FDA found that there is. Advisory committees by the FDA are supposed to make independent decisions concerning medical matters.

The FDA states that members of their advisory committees have to declare all financial dealings they may have with companies in order to guarantee “transparency”. But advisory members are only obligated to make known possible conflicts of interest to the FDA. Therefore, such information is seldom freely available.

In fact, an FDA official who oversees advisory committees admitted that the agency is forbidden to release any information found within a committee member’s financial disclosure. And that when the FDA selects its committees, it is supposed to consider whether a potential committee member would have any financial interest in the meetings outcome.

After a recent appearence at the American College of Cardiology convention in Atlanta, some studies are now suggesting that Crestor may be linked to cardiomyopathy, which is a serious condition that has an effect on the muscle of the heart. Crestor is a statin, and statins reduce coenzyme levels, which causes an increased risk for heart failure. Therefore, anyone who takes statins is at risk of cardiomyopathy.

Numerous studies connect statin use to low levels of coenzyme Q10. One such study examined the level of coenzyme Q10 in people taking lovastatin (Mevacor). The researchers concluded that lovastatin does decrease tissue levels of CoQ10, which can reduce heart functioning. Patients with low tissue levels of CoQ10 with moderate or weak heart functioning who are treated with lovastatin are at an increased risk.

Coenzyme is a protective enzyme that protects the heart from failing. Since statins seemingly reduce levels of coenzyme Q10, patients need to supplement coenzyme Q10 to reduce their risk of experiencing heart failure. Another study found that cardiomyopathy caused by statins is more prevalent than documented and that discontinuation and supplemental CoQ10 can reverse such side effects.

Lawsuits have been filed in the Atlanta area and elsewhere against several home warranty companies claiming that the companies unlawfully reject claims. Such companies offer extended warranties with maintenance agreements to keep household appliances and other mechanical devices working.

Retailers, such as Best Buy, Home Depot, Sears, and Wal-Mart offer customers the option of purchasing an extended warranty to insure coverage on their purchases after the usual one-year manufacturers warranty expires. However, the retailer doesn’t handle the extended warranty. The retailer only offers it at the time that the product is bought. Third party administrators (TPA) provide the services that are outlined in the extended warranty.

Home warranty or maintenance agreements usually cover such items as central air conditioners, dishwashers, garbage disposals, heating systems, ovens, refrigerators, and washers and dryers. However, additional coverage can be bought on pools, spas, and other mechanical devices.

The maintenance agreements cover damages caused by normal wear and tear. They do not cover pre–existing problems, misuse, or owner neglect. They simply extend beyond the manufacturers warranty. They do not overlap that warranty. Such warranties are provided by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, American Home Shield, Cross Century Home Services, Fidelity National Home Warranty, and Old Republic Home Protection.

Continue reading " Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuits " »

Safyral is a birth control medication that is used by a large number of women in Atlanta. It contains drodpirenone and a supplement designed to increase levels of folate in women. But Safyral, like other birth control medications that contain drodpirenone, is being asked by the FDA to bring its label up to date by including warnings.

In December of 2011, an advisory panel of the FDA considered the safety and value of contraceptives that contain drospirenone. Among the contraceptives that the panel considered were Yasmin, Yaz, Beyaz, and Safyral. This inquiry was the result of concern over the increased risk of blood clotting women who use drospirenone are experiencing.

The advisory panel voted 15 to 11 that the benefits of birth control medications that contain drospirenone, like Safyral, offset the risks linked with its use. However, critics argue that there are older forms of birth control that are safer and just as effective as the newer ones that contain drospirenone.

However, the committee made their decision in spite of the fact that lawyers failed to provide the committee with lawsuits against Bayer that could have clearly shown the link between blood clots and drospirenone use. And that Bayer did not inform the FDA of all the cases of blood clots associated with drospirenone before it gained the FDA’s approval.

And the FDA is expected to make a determination on drospirenone birth control medications in future months. The advisory committee only advises the FDA on such matters. It is the FDA that chooses whether or not to follow the committee’s proposals.

When doctors use electronic prescription systems to deliver prescriptions, patients are not only more likely to follow through with the medication course, but also less likely to suffer injuries from filling errors. In fact, new research indicates that the use of electronic prescriptions improves patient adherence to medication programs, thereby contributing to better patient outcomes, and reducing health-care costs by lowering the number of prescription errors.

The researchers went through more than 40 million prescriptions. They found that patient adherence to medication programs is much higher when doctors use electronic prescription tools to hand out prescriptions. The adherence rate was about 10% higher when doctors used electronic prescription systems.

There is a simple enough reason for this. Patients, who get electronic prescriptions are less likely to lose their prescription, or abandon the prescription. Additionally, patients are much more likely to stick to a medication program, when medications are cost effective. Electronic prescription systems allow a doctor to check the prices of medications before prescribing them. Additionally, electronic prescription systems give a doctor access to other important data like the patient's insurance status and medication history. This helps the physician make cost-effective prescription decisions for the patient.

Continue reading " Electronic Prescription Systems Reduce Errors, Increase Adherence to Medication Program " »

Hospital emergency rooms and Atlanta dental malpractice lawyers across the country are reporting an increase in the number of patients coming in for emergency dental treatment. According to new research, the number of emergency room visits across the country increased approximately 16% between 2006 and 2009.

The data comes from a report titled "A Costly Dental Destination" by the Pew Center on the States. According to the report, the country is in the middle of a major dental crisis, with more than 130 million Americans currently without any form of dental insurance. The report is meant to spotlight the lack of access to dental care for many people around the country.

According to the report, many patients are not able to access dental treatment, and therefore, neglect dental care. These patients are much more likely to go to a hospital emergency with dental problems that could have been avoided if they had made regular visits to the dentist.

Continue reading " Increase in Atlanta ER Visits for Dental Problems " »

Meridia (sibutramine) is a prescribed drug that patients in Atlanta take orally to manage obesity during the losing and maintaining of weight. It is the first orally taken serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It influences the appetite control center in the brain to lessen food consumption by raising satiety Sibutramine that is thought to support weight loss.

Abbot Laboratories, the manufacturer of Meridian, conducted a voluntary recall in October of 2010 after the FDA called for the removal from the market. Meridia, a diet drug, was found to cause serious cardiac side effects and could even cause death. 12 months after the FDA voted that the risks associated with the taking of Meridia outweighed its benefits, the drug was approved nonetheless.

Meridia’s side effects include, anorexia, constipation, dry mouth, headaches, heart disease, insomnia, increased blood pressure, increased heart rates, mental impairment, seizures, strokes, and increased sweating. Meridia is also linked to serious and deadly side effects such as pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Other side effects include heart valve disease or cardiac valve dysfunction.

Continue reading " Meridia Fiasco Shows Need for Watchful Eye Over the FDA " »

As a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta and father of two young girls, this kind of news always catches my attention. A lawsuit has been filed against Taco Bell over last year's Salmonella poisoning outbreak that affected 68 people in 10 states. The lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a 22 year old woman in Oklahoma who claims she was infected with Salmonella poisoning after she ate at Taco Bell. She alleges that she was ill for two weeks and is seeking $75,000.

Taco Bell claims that investigators found that not all who ate at Taco Bell had gotten sick. Therefore, Taco Bell suggests that the problem probably originated with their supplier before being delivered to Taco Bell restaurants. Salmonella illnesses were reported in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas form October through January of last year.

Taco Bell is no stranger to outbreaks of food borne illness. In 2000, green onions were the cause of a hepatitis outbreak. In 2006, tainted lettuce caused an E. coli outbreak that sickened 71 customers in five states. And in 20010, Taco Bell was linked to another Salmonella outbreak that sickened 155 people.

Continue reading " Taco Bell Sued Over Salmonella Poisoning " »

A large number of birth control pills produced in India to be distributed in the Atlanta and other parts of the US have been recalled because of a packaging mistake that could render the pills useless. Health authorities in the US said Monday that Glenmark Generics, Inc. USA recalled seven lots of generic norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol tablets. The pills were sent to wholesale and retail pharmacies across the US between September of 2011 and December of 2011.

This packaging error has disrupted the daily regimen required for the oral contraceptive to work. It’s not known how many packets are affected by the mistake. Some of the pills were as much as 180 degrees out of their usual place thus causing the lot number and expiration date to be seen only on the outer pouch. The pills need to remain in sequential order to maintain the daily regimen.

Doctors are advising women who take these pills to immediately start using a non-hormonal form of birth control. Woman are also advised to inform their healthcare provider immediately and take a pregnancy test if the experience any pregnancy symptoms.

This is the third recall in the US concerning a birth control product in the last six months. In February, Pfizer had to recall one million packages of birth control pills because of a similar packaging error. And in September of 2011, Qualitest in Alabama recalled 1.4 million packets of their birth control pills.

Actos (pioglitazone) is a drug that is used by many patients in Atlanta to treat Type 2 diabetes. Individuals who use the drug are put at a greater risk of experiencing a heart attack, congestive heart failure, heart disease, and death. Actos use has also has been associated with a greater chance of developing bladder cancer, kidney damage, liver damage, and bone fractures.

Actos is usually prescribed as a substitute for Avandia because it was once thought that Actos was much safer. In 2010, a study confirmed that both Actos and Avandia put patients at the same risk of experiencing heart problems and death. Following those findings, the FDA imposed stricter constraints on Avandia use, but ignored Actos use.

In August of 2011, the FDA approved more up to date drug labels for Actos. The newer labels informed users of the bladder cancer risks associated with Actos use. An increased risk of bladder cancer was seen among patients who used Actos the longest, as well as in patients who were prescribed the largest dosages.

The black-box warning is the result of data that was collected over the first five years of 10-year study. The study showed that patients who take Actos for a year or more are 40 percent more likely to develop bladder cancer. More information is expected be released in future moths as the FDA continues reviewing Actos.

Hospitals emergency rooms throughout Atlanta and the rest of the country are adopting a new policy of charging patients $150 if they do not have an urgent problem. Last year, over 80,000 patients left emergency rooms owned by HCA Healthcare without receiving treatment after being told that they would have to pay as much as $150 first because their problems weren’t considered emergencies.

This screening method and upfront fee is being used by hospitals in an effort to ensure that the sickest people receive top priority. While those patients who do not require emergency care are given information they can use to find a more cost-effective and efficient form of care that meets their medical needs.

HCA leads the way with this pay-first strategy that is aimed at discouraging patients with nonemergency ailments from going to the emergency room after being screened. It is now estimated that half the hospitals in the US charge this fee to reduce overcrowding in emergency rooms. However, some doctors fear that patients in need of medical attention will do without treatment because of this fee.

The American College of Emergency Physicians and patient advocacy groups pan the idea, asserting that the initial emergency room fee puts a financial obstacle between the patient and treatment. But HCA makes exceptions to the new ER fee on behalf of children 6 years old and younger, patients who are 64 years old and over, and pregnant women.

Drivers in Atlanta continue to be at risk from the harmful effects of bromine and other toxic chemicals that creates that “new car smell” according to the fourth annual buyers guide to toxic chemicals in automobile interiors, produced by the Ecology Center. This is in spite of the fact that automobile manufacturers are steadily reducing these sorts of chemicals.

As indicated by the report, 40% of all the automobiles tested in 2012 have brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) in their interiors. BFRs are a variety of different chemicals that are used to reduce flammability and slow down combustion rates. However, bromine isn’t the only chemical causing concern. Chlorine, lead, and heavy metals are also deemed toxic and found in cars in varying amounts.

These chemicals are linked to numerous health problems such as allergies, birth defects, cancer, learning impairments, and liver toxicity. And according to the Ecology Center’s report, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the KIA Soul, and the Chrysler 200 SC are motor vehicles found to have the highest levels of these chemicals.

The Ecology Center warns that contact with such chemicals should not be taken too lightly since the typical person spends 1½ hours in their car each day. Besides, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can increase and breakdown into additional toxic substances when a car’s temperature rises too high.

Anyone who has ever been in a serious car accident can attest to the importance of properly working airbags. On the other hand, defective airbags in automobiles can cause serious injury. And many injuries occur when defective airbags either fail to deploy or when they deploy without reason.

Honda has recently announced that it is recalling certain cars, many in the Atlanta area, due to a defect in their driver’s airbag inflator. It seems that the inflator pumps too much air into the bag. And too much air can lead to the rupturing of the bag, scattering metallic equipment through the airbag into the air.

So far, twelve injuries and one death have been related to the defective airbag inflators. Honda had recently expanded its recall in an effort to account for 640 more inflators, which may have been used as replacement parts. Therefore, a total of 272,000 vehicles have been added to the recall.

The 2001 – 2002 Accords, 2001 – 2003 Civics, 2002 – 2003 CR-Vs, 2001 – 2003 Odysseys, 2003 Pilots, 2002 – 2003 Acura 3.2 TLs, and the 2003 Acura 3.2 CLs have all been affected by Honda’s recall. A Stop Sale order has also been issued by Honda to all its franchised dealers on all previously owned vehicles that may have damaged airbags.

Honda’s airbag recall actually began back in November of 2008. However, it was extended numerous times to include more vehicles. The Associated Press reported that one person was seriously injured when an airbag deployed while the driver was stopped at a red light, though there was no accident. Shrapnel, causing the driver to spend weeks under hospital care, severed the driver’s neck artery.

An 18 year old died in 2009 when metal fragments from the airbag in her 2001 Honda Accord punctured her chest and neck causing her to bleed to death. The airbag deployed when the victim was involved in a minor car accident. 2.53 million Honda automobiles have been recalled since December as a result of these faulty airbag

An executive at Johnson & Johnson admitted in an Email that the US Food and Drug Administration rejected approval on a DePuy Hip Replacement after reviewing studies conducted by the company. The studies established that considerable numbers of the product failed to soon, thus creating the need for patients to undergo repeat surgeries.

According to news reports, the statements that the executive made in the Email are in direct contrast with statements made by the company concerning the ASR hip replacement. The Email was written in August of 2009; by a DuPuy Orthopedics vice president a few days after the FDA privately informed the manufacturer that one version of the hip replacement device did not gain approval.

Before the products recall, Johnson & Johnson was stubbornly defended that it was safe and insisted that company studies countered complaints made by surgeons and regulators overseas that the hip replacement apparatus was faulty. The New York Times reports that the mechanism that the FDA disapproved was only sold abroad, but a similar version was used in hundreds of Atlanta patients that was also recalled.

News sources have said that the executive told three other top ranking executives the reason given by the FDA. She told them that the apparatus did not meet FDA standards and that the FDA was troubled with the low rate of success seen in clinical trials. She also advised them not to send the FDA more information because it would not help to gain the products approval.

Australian regulators were advising DePuy to discontinue the product at about the same the Email was sent out. Shortly thereafter, Johnson & Johnson removed the hip replacement apparatus from the market claiming that poor sales and a softening market was to blame.

An antitrust lawsuit was filed on behalf of Honda and Toyota car owners after the federal government disclosed facts concerning a global price-fixing scheme involving eight auto-part merchants. The scheme may have cost Atlanta car buyers and lessees millions of dollars due to inflated prices over a ten-year period of time.

A 2009 Honda CRV, a 2005 Toyota Prius, and a 2008 Toyota Camry is among the cars bought by plaintiffs in the class action period. And the lawsuit names Furukawa Electric, Delphi Automotive, Lear Corporation, Leoni Ag, Sumitomo Electric Industries, S-Y Systems Technologies GMBH, Yazaki Corporation, and Yazaki North America as defendants.

The aforementioned supply wire harnesses and related products to a number of American and Japanese carmakers. The complaint also maintains that the defendants mutually command the worldwide market of automotive wire harness systems. Wire harnesses guide and control electronic components, wiring, and circuit boards in automobiles.

According to documents that have been published, executives Junichi Funo, Hirotsugu Nagata, and Tetsuya Ukai arranged to manipulate prices and agreed through conferences and discussions to allot the stock of wire harnesses and other merchandise by model. The Justice Department asserts that this conspiracy has been ongoing since January of 2000 to January of 2010.

A study appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that as many as one in five patients (22%) have needlessly had heart implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) implanted against national guidelines. As a result, patients who needlessly received the implants had a considerably higher risk of experiencing complications; even resulting in in-hospital death. And these procedures are costly, unnecessarily wasting thousands of dollars in medical funds.

ICDs are usually implanted in patients with advanced heart failure in an effort to restore normal rhythm to the heart when it beats irregularly. Researchers have yet to find any advantage in implanting these devices in patients who have had a heart attack or who have undergone bypass surgery. Accordingly, national guidelines do not advise implanting defibrillators in patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure or who have short life expectancies.

Dr. Sana Al-Khatib of Duke Universities School of Medicine, the lead author of the study, alleges that some of the implants may have been appropriate; but a lot more were performed in spite of the research evidence. “It’s lack of knowledge. It’s ignorance. It’s not keeping track of the guidelines,” she explained to MSNBC.com. “And we may have some physicians who don’t agree with the guidelines or don’t think the guidelines apply to patients,” she continued.

The most recent edition of New Zealand Medical Journal Digest includes a discussion of medical doctors and a health psychologist talking about the negative side effects associated with the use of homeopathic remedies. The doctors in the article consider such treatments as arnica, colloidal silver, deer velvet, and a number of other treatments classified as homeopathic remedies to be a “waste of time and money,” and in some instances, harmful to the user.

As much as 95 percent of homeopathic products and hundreds of therapies are not backed by research or credible biologically, according to the doctors. Of these so-called remedies, the doctors expressly discussed arnica, deer velvet, the Lemonade Diet, magnets, propolis, rescue remedy, shark cartilage, and super doses of vitamin C for the treatment of cancer.

Some of these treatments, such as colloidal silver, which is advertised as aiding the immune system in the fight against cancer and HIV, could actually be dangerous. According to Dr. Holt, “Silver does have some anti-microbial actions, but not only is there no clinical evidence of an efficacy for these serious indications, products have been shown to contain widely variable amounts of silver and can cause argyria-dangerous and untreatable silver poisoning.”

Continue reading " A Word of Caution for Homeopathic Medicine Users " »

Pradaxa is a blood-thinner that is prescribed to many patients in Atlanta to lessen the chance of stroke and blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) not caused by heart valve trouble. It has only been available to patients for two years; however, the side effects associated with the use of Pradaxa have already caught the attention of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The latest studies suggest that Pradaxa use poses an increased risk to the heart. Though the blood-thinner is used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation patients to protect them against the possibility of stroke, the newest fear is that dabigatran can cause a Pradaxa Heart Attack. Seven studies have found a 33 percent increase in Pradaxa heart attacks or chest pain (angina) compared to patients using another drug, like warfin, or a placebo.

Though the chance of a Pradaxa heart episode is small at 1.19 percent in contrast to .79 percent, even so it is a risk. Interestingly, the data used from the seven studies was gathered from clinical testing that encouraged the FDA to approve Pradaxa two years ago. The results of the meta-analysis have been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Continue reading " Pradaxa Under the FDA's Watchful Eye " »

Safety, dependability, and ease of use are what most women look for in a contraceptive. However, numerous lawsuits have been filed against NuvaRing and other drug companies claiming that some forms of birth control are not as safe as women think they are.

Some lawsuits have been filed claiming that women have been seriously injured after using NuvaRing birth control. While other lawsuits have been filed claiming that young women have died after using the contraceptive. Other lawsuits claim that consumers were not amply cautioned about the increased danger linked with the birth control.

NuvaRing has a mixture of Desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. A study by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that the chance of having a cardiovascular episode was greater when woman used a contraceptive that contained 30 – 40 microgram of ehinyl estradiol, which NuvaRing has.

Hormones in NuvaRing can also cause a user's blood to clot easier. Blood clots that form in the legs can travel to the lungs and block vessel carrying blood to the lungs.

Some are extremely critical of third and fourth generation forms of birth control because they believe that second generation forms of birth control are safer and just as effective. And they stress that Desogestrel is linked to a greater risk of venous thromboembolism, which can be fatal.

The FDA has begun listening to the fears and concerns over certain forms of birth control. At an advisory committee meeting this past December, the FDA listened to the testimony of parents of a 24-year-old woman who died. The parents believe their daughter developed a pulmonary embolism from using NuvaRing.

Continue reading " Safety of NuvaRing and other Contraceptives in Question " »

A recent study that appeared in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that drugs like Abilify might not effectively treat acute stress. What's more, the side effects linked with Abilify may be more hazardous than deemed necessary. Problems with Abilify and pregnancy and Abilify for children are other concerns associated with its use. For this reason, women who take Abilify and intend on becoming pregnant or who are already expecting should talk over their options with their doctor.

Drugs that are used to treat post-traumatic stress symptoms have roughly the same rate of effectiveness as placebos but have serious side effects. The study examined the use of Risperdal in the treatment of veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Risperdal is an antipsychotic medication that is in the same class as Abilify and Seroquel. Thus, experts have concluded that the same results could be found with Abilify.

The researchers discovered that veterans who were given Risperdal to treat post-traumatic stress had a comparable rate of recovery to veterans who were given a placebo. After being treated for six months, about five percent of the veterans in the groups recovered and 10 – 20 percent experienced some improvement. Thus, researchers concluded that the treatment with medication did not significantly benefit the veterans.

Continue reading " Abilify Is Not As Effective As Once Thought " »

Finding a competent malpractice attorney in Atlanta is a lot more difficult than turning on your television and choosing one from the countless commercials on morning television. When searching for an attorney, don’t expect to find one simply by reading an advertisement or looking one up in the Yellow Pages. And don’t assume that the best lawyers are the most popular. Selecting an attorney is not a popularity contest. Nevertheless, there are sound ways of choosing one that best suits your specific needs.

Always verify a malpractice attorney’s credentials to ensure that he/she has a good reputation. The Better Business Bureau can inform you of any complaints filed against an attorney and if and when the complaint was resolved. Ask for the names of previous clients form the lawyer you’re considering hiring. They will give you good insight as to what the attorney in question is really like. Then again, the most reliable recommendations are usually from your family members and friends.

Prior to your first meeting with an prospective attorney, make a note of important facts pertaining to your case to share with him or her. Include the names, addresses and phone numbers of every person linked to the case. Moreover, bring all papers associated with the case. Some lawyers may want to review these papers before meeting with you. And make sure to inquire about cases that the attorney has handled that are comparable to yours.

Find an attorney that you can trust. For that reason, be patient in trying to get to know as many different lawyers as you can. Ideally, you’d like the personality of the attorney you choose to be well – suited with your own personality. And though you may never attain the perfect client – attorney relationship, his/her ease of access, proficiency, and ability to understand you are most important.

Lawyer referral services are another source of information. Some lawyer referral services carefully screen attorneys and only list the ones that have particular qualifications and experience. However, before choosing a lawyer referral service it is important to know what they’re qualifications are for an attorney to be included and how carefully they screen their lawyers.

You also can seek help through the Atlanta Bar Association. Tell them why you are looking for an attorney. They can help you find a lawyer that concentrates in your area of need. For example, you wouldn’t want an immigration lawyer to handle your personal injury case. It doesn’t matter how skillful they are in one area, it won’t qualify them in another area. Lawyers specialize in certain areas for a reason. Therefore, choose the one with the most experience and training in the area that you need.

Continue reading " How to Find an Attorney " »

Officers are investigating a dentist, after a 2nd child died while undergoing a procedure under his care.

This child, a 3-year-old boy, was undergoing a routine dental procedure at the dentist's office. He was under anesthesia, and had been restrained in a papoose. According to the child's mother, during the procedure, the boy suddenly went limp, and stopped breathing. His lips became blue, and he was then rushed to hospital. However, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The dentist had been suspended by the Board of Dentistry after the death of a 6-year-old child who also died while in his care. He was placed under probation after the suspension. In that case too, the child had been restrained in a papoose, and was under local anesthesia during the procedure. That child also stopped breathing during the procedure. However, a medical examiner ruled that the child died due to natural causes, because the child suffered from cerebral palsy and several other medical conditions.

Continue reading " Dentist Investigated for Death of Second Child During Procedure " »

Among the many ways that a dentist or dental professional may be guilty of negligence is failing to ensure that treatment conditions in their clinic are 100% sanitary. An 82-year-old woman recently died after contracting Legionnaires’ Disease from a dentist’s office.

The 82-year-old woman had visited her dentist’s office for a routine procedure. A few days later, she fell ill, and died soon after. When health officials began investigating her illness, they found that during the time the disease was in incubation, she had left the house just twice, to visit her dentist’s office. They then inspected the water lines in the dentist’s office, and found that these were contaminated with the bacteria Legionella pneumophila that causes Legionnaires’ Disease.

This incident occurred in Italy. Fortunately, water sanitation standards in the United States are much stricter than this. The American Dental Association had convened a special task force in the 1990s that focused exclusively on infection prevention in dentist offices. The American Dental Association since then has made a number of recommendations to dentists to treat the water that is used in water lines to keep infection rates down.

Continue reading " Woman Dies after Contracting Legionnaires’ Disease in Dentist's Office " »

Most of the dental injuries that I come across as an Atlanta dental malpractice lawyer occur as a result of the negligence of dental professionals like technicians and dentists. However, sometimes injuries can also occur due to defective or malfunctioning dental equipment. The Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating the illegal sale of handheld dental x-ray units on the Internet.

According to the agency, dental professionals must be aware that these handheld dental x-ray units that are available online, may be potentially unsafe. The agency is not only concerned that the devices may not be as effective as those that are purchased from a retailer, but also that these devices may expose patients to harmful effects. For instance, the handheld devices may expose patients to potentially harmful radiation.

According to the Food and Drug Administration the handheld x-ray units were sold online, and were shipped to American consumers. The agency wants patients as well as dental professionals to know that these devices have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The devices do not meet the agency's radiation safety requirements.

Continue reading " FDA Investigating Sale of Handheld Dental X-Ray Units Online " »