What defenses are the drug manufacturer and/or my doctor likely to use?

Manufacturer Doctor Defense Drug Toxic Chemicals

Free Case Evaluation From An Experienced Drug Liability Attorney.

What defenses are the drug manufacturer and/or my doctor likely to use?

The basic defense that GlaxoSmithKline will probably rely on is that the use of Paxil did not cause birth defects, increase the chances of the user’s suicide attempt or commission, or create withdrawal symptoms. You can expect that they will try to use medical records in suicide cases to show that the patient had suicidal or homicidal tendencies before starting on Paxil. They will then argue that the use of Paxil did not increase these tendencies, but that it was a failure of the overall treatment plan that led to the incident. In the case of severe withdrawal symptoms, GlaxoSmithKline may, depending on when Paxil was first prescribed for you, argue that your doctor improperly prescribed Paxil after being warned about severe withdrawal symptoms.

If the doctor is also a party to the suit, you can expect that his or her arguments will try to shift all blame to the manufacturer of the drug, stating that GlaxoSmithKline advertised the drug in a misleading way that did not properly advise health professionals of the risks associated with its use. How strong this argument is will depend on the specific facts of your case. Your attorney will be able to advise you.

Read more for related video clips.

Continue reading “What defenses are the drug manufacturer and/or my doctor likely to use?”

What are the major legal issues involved in a case when someone has been injured by Paxil?

Paxil Injury Major Issues Drug Toxic Chemicals

Free Case Evaluation From An Experienced Drug Liability Attorney.

What are the major legal issues involved in a case when someone has been injured by Paxil?

Your case, whether a wrongful death or a personal injury case, will most likely be brought under the theory of product liability – in other words, the manufacturer of the drug put the drug on the market and kept the drug on the market even though it was unreasonably dangerous. GlaxoSmithKline was aware of the serious side effects associated with withdrawal from Paxil; however, they chose to downplay those side effects until the FDA forced them to increase the label warnings in 2001. Furthermore, Paxil was never approved for use in children; nonetheless, GlaxoSmithKline promoted using Paxil for treating depression in children to the doctors who were prescribing it. It now appears that not only does Paxil not have any noticeable effect on depression in children; it increases any suicidal tendencies that the child may have. Whether GlaxoSmithKline realized that the drug acted this way on children or was careless in suggesting that Paxil could be successfully used in children, the fact remains that the company promoted the drug’s use by children knowing full well that this use had not received FDA approval.

Another issue that you and your attorney will deal with is who can be sued. It appears that GlaxoSmithKline was well aware of the difficulty of withdrawing from Paxil while continuing to market the drug as non-habit forming. Furthermore, GlaxoSmithKline knew that the drug had not been approved for use in children and that there appeared to be an increase in suicidal and homicidal tendencies in both children and adults. These problems were not adequately covered by warnings for many years, and GlaxoSmithKline actually marketed the drug in defiance of these issues. Therefore, the primary party to your lawsuit will probably be GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil.

Another possible party to a lawsuit may be the doctor who prescribed the Paxil. Even if Paxil was being promoted as an antidepressant to be used by children, the FDA had not approved this use, a fact of which doctors should have been aware. If your doctor prescribed your use of Paxil after 2001 and did not adequately warn you about the problems with withdrawal symptoms, you may also have a claim against him or her. In 2001, the FDA required the manufacturer of Paxil to increase the label warnings about withdrawal symptoms, thereby putting your doctor on notice that there might be problems if you needed to stop using the drug.

Other possible plaintiffs may include the pharmaceutical sales representatives who worked with your clinic or the pharmacist who filled the prescription. To sustain a claim against the sales rep, you would need to show that the sales rep either shielded doctors from information about Paxil or provided some type of incentive that was sufficient to persuade doctors to prescribe Paxil in cases where they should not have done so (such as prescribing it for children). This information would probably be available from your doctor or clinic, but it is highly unlikely they would share this information with you. A case may be brought against the pharmacist if he or she did not properly warn you of the side effects of taking or withdrawing from the drug; however, the pharmacist’s defense is going to be that it was the duty of the doctor to determine whether it was appropriate to prescribe the drug in the first place. Therefore, these are not the strongest parties to go after in a lawsuit.

Read more for related video clips.

Continue reading “What are the major legal issues involved in a case when someone has been injured by Paxil?”

Can trademarks be cancelled?

Cancel Trademark Trademark Law Intellectual Property

Can trademarks be cancelled?

Yes. The Trademark Office, on its own or at the behest of others, may initiate proceedings to cancel a trademark that was improperly obtained.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the statutory power to cancel trademarks it finds generic or prohibit the use of trademarks it finds constitute false advertising. However, in 1980, Congress denied the FTC appropriations to proceed with a cancellation for generic reasons when it sought to cancel the “Formica” trademark. This stricture has been continually renewed since then.

The Food and Drug Administration also has the authority to prohibit the use of trademarks it finds illegal under the Food and Drug Laws.

Marks will be canceled after registration for failure to use and failure to file a paper between the fifth and sixth year of the mark indicating continuous use of the mark.

Read more to view related video clips.

Continue reading “Can trademarks be cancelled?”

Are structured settlement payments considered income for purposes of public benefit programs, such as social security and medicaid?

Social Security Structured Settlement Income Structured Settlements

Are structured settlement payments considered income for purposes of public benefit programs, such as social security and medicaid?

There are strict rules about the amount of assets and income a person can have and still qualify for public benefits including Social Security, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), food stamps, certain veterans benefits and Section 8 housing. Personal injury claims often result in monetary awards in amounts that could cause the claimant’s loss of eligibility for governmental assistance. A lump sum cash settlement could wipe out those benefits, effectively reducing the overall value of the settlement. Just as with a lump sum settlement, a structured settlement’s periodic payments will be counted as income for qualifying purposes.

There is a way, however, to receive and protect that money, and still qualify for government benefits. Your attorney is obligated to inquire about government services you receive or will be applying for; he or she will make sure that those benefits are protected at the time of settlement. A properly drafted special needs trust, also sometimes referred to as a medical needs trust or a settlement preservation trust, would be set up to be the payee of the structured payments. A trust is money or property held by one party for the benefit of another. A structured settlement can be designed to pay into the trust so that the claimant’s (beneficiary’s) benefits eligibility will be preserved while his financial needs are satisfied. The trust keeps the money out of the claimant’s name. A trustee is appointed to set it up, usually a parent or other relative or a third party. The money would still be tax-free, and would be paid out over time by the Trustee. The setting up of such a trust in connection with the settlement of an injury claim must be approved by the court.

There are some disadvantages of special needs trusts. The individual or family cannot have unrestrained use of the money to spend in any way they want. It will be earmarked to pay for all expenses other than basic support. It cannot pay for room and board, but it can pay for medical and dental expenses, annual checkups, transportation and vehicle purchase, medical equipment, vocational training programs, education, insurance, rehabilitation, at home health aid, and even vacations.

The special needs trust is irrevocable. The trustee has discretion to use assets for the benefit of the injured person and must handle all distributions from the trust. Medicaid will have a lien against the assets remaining in the trust at the death of the beneficiary to the extent that Medicaid payments have been made for his benefit. If there is any money remaining in the trust after the beneficiary dies and the Medicaid lien is paid off, any unused assets may go to his heirs.

Read more for related video clips.

Continue reading “Are structured settlement payments considered income for purposes of public benefit programs, such as social security and medicaid?”

Structured Settlements

Car Accident Structured Settlements Auto

Free Case Evaluation From An Experienced Auto Accident Attorney.

Structured Settlements

A structured settlement is an agreement to pay out money owed from the settlement of a lawsuit in installments rather than one lump sum. Structured settlements usually involve large settlements and are typically created through the purchase of one or more annuities. The payments can be structured in any way the parties choose (monthly, yearly, quarterly, etc.). If you are involved in a car accident and are entitled to a large recovery, you might consider a structured settlement as the vehicle for payment. Structured settlements are also commonly used in workers’ compensation claims.
Structured Settlement Advantages
Why take a settlement in payments rather than one lump sum? There are several advantages to structured settlements. First, there are tax advantages. If properly set up, a structured settlement can reduce your tax liability or, in some cases, come tax-free. Second, receiving a settlement over time can ensure that the money you need will be there when you need it. Receiving one lump sum up front creates the risk of spending it all too quickly, leaving nothing left for a time when you may really need it for further treatment or to purchase new medical equipment. A structured settlement ensures you will not spend it all at once.
Structured Settlement Disadvantages
While some people may find it helpful to have the money metered out over time rather than risk spending the whole amount too quickly, others may feel overly burdened by the periodic payments that leave little room for flexible spending. Still others may find that taking the money up-front and investing it themselves will yield higher long-term returns over the annuities used in a structured settlement. Once in a structured settlement, some people opt to sell their settlement for a lump sum. There are many potential settlement buyers out there. If you have a structured settlement, you may have already been approached by a potential purchaser. There are a number of important things to know before considering the sale of a settlement.
Selling Your Structured Settlement
The sale of a structured settlement is not quite as easy as it may seem. First, you must check your state’s laws. As of March 2006, forty-four states and the federal government now have enacted structured settlement protection laws that require court approval for the sale and detailed financial and legal disclosures be given the seller before the transaction can be made. Under federal law, the purchaser of a structured settlement may be subject to a 40% excise tax if they did not comply with state laws. These laws are in place to protect structured settlement owners from fraud or abuse and are designed to make sure a settlement owner gets a fair price. The following states have enacted structured settlement protection laws: Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming

For more information about structured settlement, check out Free Advice’s Structured Settlement FAQs.

Read more for related video clips.

Continue reading “Structured Settlements”

Can I recover trade secret status if the trade secret information is made public?

Trade Secret Status Trade Secrets Intellectual Property

Can I recover trade secret status if the trade secret information is made public?

The practical answer is akin to the myth of Pandora’s box: once its opened it’s nearly impossible to cram everything back in. From a legal standpoint, it is possible in certain situations to restore trade secret rights after improper disclosure. Doing so depends on the extent of the disclosure (the broader, the harder) and whether the recipients of the information acted improperly in using or disclosing the trade secrets.

Someone is deemed to have acted improperly if s/he knew or had reason to know that the subject information belonged to another and was acquired by:

(1) improper means such as theft, bribery, breach of a duty or inducement of a breach of duty of confidentiality, or espionage through electronic means;

(2) actions giving rise to a duty to maintain the secrecy or limit its use;

(3) receipt from a person who owed a duty of confidentiality to the subject information; or

(4) accident or mistake.

Thus, if someone innocently receives trade secret rights, it will be very difficult to enjoin them from use or further disclosure of the trade secrets.

Read more to view related video clips.

Continue reading “Can I recover trade secret status if the trade secret information is made public?”

Ligament and Cartilage Injury: Common Causes and Conditions

Ligament Injury Injury Law

Ligament and Cartilage Injury: Common Causes and Conditions

Ligament and cartilage damage in the knee, ankle, foot or wrist can be painful and may result in further injury if not treated properly. It is important to understand and treat these injuries.
Torn Ligaments and Sprains
Ligaments (such as anterior cruciate, or ACL; lateral collateral or LCL) are strong bands of collagen that bind bones together at joints, such as your wrists, knees or ankles. Injury to a ligament is commonly called a “sprain.” Sprains happen when a powerful strain is unexpectedly put on the joint, forcing the ligament beyond its normal range of motion and causing the ligament to stretch or tear.
Sprains can have many causes, including falls and sudden twisting of joints or blows to joints that are common in sports like football, basketball and running. Skiers often suffer from sprained thumbs after taking a spill with their hand attached to a ski pole.
Sprains are characterized as mild, moderate and severe. The severity of the injury will depend on the extent of the injury (whether a tear is partial or complete) and the number of ligaments involved. A mild sprain results when a ligament is stretched or slightly torn, which generally causes the joint to feel tender or slightly painful when weight is placed on it, as well as swelling. Minor sprains can usually be treated at home by:
easing the weight you place on the joint,
icing the area for 10 to 15 minutes 3-4 times a day,
compressing the joint with a bandage to reduce swelling, and
keeping the sprained joint elevated to allow swelling in the joint to drain away.
While the joint may be tender, generally a mild sprain will heal on its own in 6-8 weeks. A moderate sprain results from a partial tear in a ligament and is usually accompanied by more pain, bruising, and difficulty moving than a mild sprain.
A severe sprain occurs when a ligament tears completely, causing the joint to become very painful and unable to move normally or sustain weight. A severe sprain can require surgery to correct. The National Institute of Health provides an explanation of the different types of ligament sprains.
Cartilage Injuries
Cartilage is a semi-elastic tissue that helps cushion bones and distribute weight evenly in joints. There are three types of cartilage: (a) articular (or hyaline) cartilage which covers joint surfaces, (b) fibrocartilage such as the meniscus in the knee or disks of cartilage between vertebrae in the spine, and (c) elastic cartilage such as the outer ear.
Injuries most often occur to the articular cartilage or to the meniscus in the knee. Damage to the articular cartilage (which eases friction in the joints) can be classified as either traumatic or progressive.
Traumatic injury can be caused by a blow or impact that tears the cartilage, sometimes causing loose bits of cartilage to “float” around the joint and interfere with its normal movement. Progressive injury is repetitive wear and tear to the tissue. Over time, the bones in the joints do not have the protection of the cartilage as they move, resulting in arthritis pain, limited joint motion and swelling. The causes of progressive cartilage injury can include repetitive high-impact stress on the joint, genetic factors like bone structure, and lack of sufficient muscle support for the joint.
When someone talks about an injury to cartilage in the knee, they are usually referring to a meniscus tear. A meniscus is a C-shaped wedge of cartilage in the knee (each knee has two menisci) that makes smooth knee movement possible and prevents the thigh bone and shin bone from rubbing against each other. Like other forms of cartilage damage, a meniscal tear can also be caused by a blow to the knee (football tackle, for example) or by repetitive wear, and results in swelling and pain. The National Institute of Health gives further information about the effects of cartilage damage.
If you have a lot of pain, bruising, and difficulty moving a joint after a fall or injury, it is important to visit a doctor who can determine the severity of the sprain and advice you as to the treatment options.

Read more for related video clips.

Continue reading “Ligament and Cartilage Injury: Common Causes and Conditions”

Can I buy or sell patent rights?

Buy Sell Patent Rights Intellectual Property Intellectual Property

Can I buy or sell patent rights?

Yes, if you are an inventor you may assign all or part of your interest in the patent application or patent to anyone by a properly worded assignment.

The patent application itself must be filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as the invention of the true inventor, however, and not as the invention of the person who purchased the invention from the inventor.

Just as deeds to real estate should be recorded with the local county officials to protect the parties’ rights, patent assignments should be recorded in the Patent Office to give notice to the to the public and other potential purchasers.

Read more to view related video clips.

Continue reading “Can I buy or sell patent rights?”

What damages are available for libel or slander?

Libel Damages Suing Being Sued General Practice

What damages are available for libel or slander?

If you have been defamed, you may seek both actual damages to recover from the economic harm that you have suffered, and punitive damages to punish the person who made the remark and also to serve as an example to deter others.

If the defamation improperly accused you of a crime or reflected poorly on your profession, the court or jury may award damages. For other types of defamation, you must prove monetary losses to be able to recover. Consult an experienced libel and slander attorney to evaluate your claim and advise you on whether a lawsuit is worthwhile.

Read more for related video clips.

Continue reading “What damages are available for libel or slander?”

What are the types of damages I can expect to receive in my welding rod case? How do you calculate what my case is worth?

Welding Rod Calculate Damages Drug Toxic Chemicals

Free Case Evaluation From An Experienced Drug Liability Attorney.

What are the types of damages I can expect to receive in my welding rod case? How do you calculate what my case is worth?

In lawsuits, generally the goal is to put you back in the same position that you were before the injury. In the case of Parkinson’s disease and other types of manganese poisoning, this may not be completely possible since these diseases are progressive and irreversible. The courts will try to decide, therefore, what amount of compensation can make up for what you have lost. If a company is responsible for your welding rod exposure, you may receive damages for past damages, such as the cost of medical care to date, pain and suffering to date, and lost past wages. You may also receive damages for future damages such as future medical care, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life; loss of economic opportunity and benefits; and emotional suffering.

In particular, damages such as those related to pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life are difficult to determine. Most courts will look to other cases in your jurisdiction, or in jurisdictions close to you, to see what types and amounts of damages have been awarded in cases similar to yours to make sure that people are treated fairly across the board.

Your case may also be eligible for punitive damages if you can prove that you were knowingly placed in danger by a particular party, and that party should be punished. Punitive damages are difficult to get as they go beyond compensating you for what you have lost. But there are cases where they are appropriate. Some examples would include: your employer knew that you were being exposed to dangerous levels of welding rod fumes but neither told you of the danger nor provided ventilators or other safety equipment; the manufacturer of the welding supplies knew that its products were highly dangerous but did not warn the end users; the manufacturer of ventilating equipment that knew that its equipment was ineffective against welding rod fumes or that knew it was improperly manufacturing the equipment, yet marketed the equipment as being effective against welding rod fume exposure.

Your recovery against any given defendant may also depend on whether you file individually or as a member of a class. You may file against some defendants individually and some as a member of a class. Where a great number of cases are being filed against a particular defendant and there is a chance that the defendant may declare bankruptcy, it may be in your best interests to file a claim as part of a class since you will probably receive some sort of settlement. However, if your claim is against a defendant who has not dealt with many claims or is fiscally sound, you probably will recover more if you file an individual action. Your attorney will be able to help you determine how your case is best handled.

Read more for related video clips.

Continue reading “What are the types of damages I can expect to receive in my welding rod case? How do you calculate what my case is worth?”