Lawsuit Information Center Blog

May 1, 2020

Allergan MDL Class Action Lawsuits Allege Textured Breast Implants Cause a Rare Form of Cancer

Federal lawsuits against Allergan’s Natrelle Biocell Textured Breast Implants emerged months after its manufacturer, Allergan, recalled it. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated all federal into an MDL class action in New Jersey. The MDL lawsuits allege that the implants cause breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare form of cancer.

What is Allergan’s Natrelle Biocell Textured Breast Implants?

Plastic surgeons use Allergan’s Natrelle Biocell Textured Breast Implants for breast augmentation, reduction, and reconstructive surgeries. Irish-based pharmaceutical company Allergan manufactures them. Their outer shells are made of silicone elastomer, containing rubber-like elastic properties. They are filled with sterile saline, a saltwater solution.

April 14, 2020

PFAS Lymphoma Risk

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Recent studies have shown that Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are linked to serious adverse health effects, particularly various cancers. This is of serious concern, especially to public health, because of how prevalent PFAS are in both manufactured products and the environment.

What Are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals found in everyday products such as food packaging, commercial household products, drinking water, and living organisms. They are not naturally occurring. Starting in the 1940s, they were initially used in stain and water-resistant fabrics, carpeting, paints, cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams. One of the most famous PFAS-based brands is Teflon, first developed in the late 1930s.

April 13, 2020

Arthrex Defective Total Knee Replacement Device Lawsuits

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

The Arthrex iBalance Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is an implant device that assists surgeons with performing total knee replacements in patients suffering cartilage loss from osteoarthritis or post-traumatic arthritis. Arthrex markets this product as an improved and longer-lasting alternative to traditional total knee replacement devices. They claim it is a “complete, minimally invasive instrument.” Traditional devices need their metal plates and screws replaced, which necessitates further surgery. Arthrex intended this device to reduce the likelihood for further surgeries. By reducing this likelihood, the iBalance TKA is meant to be convenient and less expensive than its competitors.

The iBalance TKA System comes with a pamphlet providing detailed instructions and several tools to assist with knee replacement surgery. Arthrex intended this device to match the normal knee’s curvature, to ensure that the knee bends naturally. Its parts are made of metal and polyethylene plastic.

Knee replacement surgery

April 10, 2020

Methotrexate-Based Drugs Linked to Skin Cancer

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

In a recent study, researchers found that the drug methotrexate may increase the risk for skin cancer as well as other adverse side effects such as gastrointestinal complications and lung problems.

What is methotrexate?

Methotrexate-based drugs are immunosuppressants which help treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center estimates that about 60 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients are currently using or have used these medications. Methotrexate-based brands include Otrexup, Trexall, and Xatmep.

March 20, 2020

Average Back Injury Settlement

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

A verdicts and settlements database found that the median plaintiff’s verdict award for motor vehicle cases that involved back injuries is $212,500. For all car, truck, and motorcycle accident injury cases in the database that earned a plaintiff’s verdict, the median award is $300,000.

Herniated disc injury verdict and settlements

Sample Verdicts and Settlements in Back Injury Cases 2017-2020

March 8, 2020

Average Verdict in Texas Personal Injury Lawsuit

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

According to a Jury Verdict Research study that was published this month, the average compensation for a personal injury lawsuit in Texas over the last six years is a compensatory median award for personal injury trials in Texas is $826,892. The highest verdict was over $100 million which, obviously, inflated the average verdict. The median verdict is only $12,281. Certainly, medical malpractice reform in Texas has not helped this number in recent years. Unless it is a birth injury case or other claim with long term catastrophic injuries and future medical care or future lost wages, a Texas medical malpractice lawyer is hard to find.

Keep in mind too Texas is not so much a state as several countries in terms of how they value personal injury cases:

Sample Recent Verdicts in Texas

January 11, 2020

New York Jury Awards | Settlement Data and Sample Cases

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Jury Verdict Research’s recent study finds that the compensatory median award for personal injury trials in New York is $287,628, dwarfing nationwide median is $34,550.

New York has favorable juries, particularly in its urban areas. But the reality is that this number is distorted by the lack of smaller and mid-sized car accident lawsuits. Under New York’s no-fault law, an insurance company is required to pay drivers, passengers, and pedestrians up to $50,000.00 for their legitimate economic and medical losses but does not provide for pain and suffering. Only permanent injuries cases can recover more than $50,000. This leads to fewer lawsuits in smaller cases – of which there are many – which increases the overall award in New York.

Get settlement value statistics for New York car accident cases

January 9, 2020

Zantac Lawsuits 2020 Cancer Class Action Update

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

The Zantac cancer lawsuits are heating up. Plaintiffs’ lawyers are pushing like crazy for them, including our law firm. Our lawyers are moving quickly and are now investigating Zantac cancer lawsuits.If you have cancer and were taking Zantac, don’t delay. Call us today at 800-553-8082 or get a free online claim evaluation.

On April 1, 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the removal of all Zantac and generic ranitidine products from the market, after discovering that levels of NDMA in the drug could increase with time and exposure to high temperatures.

My response? It is about time. Geez. Long ago, drug stores stopped selling this heartburn medication, along with other generic versions, after concerns were raised over possible cancer risks.

December 3, 2019

Bard IVC Lawsuits | December 2019 Update

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

The Bard Recovery IVC filter and its ostensibly new and improved cousin, the Bard G2 IVC filter, have been linked to an increased risk of fracture which can cause serious injury or death.

The IVC filter lawsuits have been going on for a long time, too long. We frequently get calls from people who are frustrated that their lawyer has “done nothing” to advance their case towards settlement. This page is meant to give you information if you have filed an IVC filter lawsuit or are thinking of filing such a claim.

New Verdicts in That Means Something to You

October 27, 2019

Ohio Average Personal Injury Verdicts

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Jury Verdict Research published a recent study indicating that the average verdict in personal injury lawsuits in Ohio is 303,955. The median personal injury verdict in Ohio is only $13,000. Approximate three percent of Ohio personal injury verdicts exceed $1,000,000.

Recent Settlements and Verdicts in Ohio

2020, Ohio: $115,000 Settlement. A 78-year-old nursing home resident was found unresponsive in the facility’s dining room after choking on a piece of chicken. He had a medical history of swallowing difficulties and was missing several teeth. The man was brought to the hospital after being found, where he died within a few hours. His estate sued the facility for leaving him unsupervised as he ate. Their expert dietician testified that she found many standard of care violations throughout the facility. The facility contended that they found no signs of swallowing difficulties and argued that the man’s dysphagia improved before he was admitted there. This case settled for $115,000.