Conspiracy claims move forward in J&J talcum powder lawsuit
Johnson & Johnson, Imerys Talc, and others facing wrongful death suits A federal judge in Missouri has allowed conspiracy claims to be included in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a plaintiff alleging Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Imerys Talc, and other defendants knew the risk of developing ovarian cancer when using talc-based body powders. The […]
Pennsylvania healthcare providers settle whistleblower lawsuit for $662,000
Easton Hospital, Northampton Hospital Corporation, and Northampton Hospital Company have settled a claim of Medicaid fraud with the federal government for $662,000. The suit was brought under the False Claims Act (FCA) by two employees acting as whistleblowers under its qui tam provision. The Cochran Firm, D.C. did not represent the plaintiffs in this matter. […]
California Dept. of Health: E-cigs a community health threat
Agency calls on legislators to regulate e-cigs like traditional tobacco products The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently issued a 32-page report characterizing the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) as a growing threat to the health of Californians, particularly its youth. Calling e-cigs a “significant public health concern”, the CDPH outlined the threat it […]
Alere CFO resigns as questions remain regarding INRatio-linked injuries and deaths
Waltham, Massachusetts-based Alere, Inc. recently announced that its Chief Financial Officer David A. Tietel will leave his position with the INRatio maker. Tietel’s departure comes at a challenging period for the medical device maker. In 2014, Alere recalled its INRatio home PT/INR monitor system and test strips after the medical device was linked with numerous […]
Train carrying crude oil derails in Canada
A Canadian National Railway train carrying heavy crude oil derailed March 7 in northern Ontario near the town of Gogama. No injuries were reported after 35 of the train’s cars derailed, caught fire and spread noxious crude oil into the Mattagami River System. Nearby residents have been advised to remain in their homes and not […]
Lumber Liquidators Accused of Selling Formaldehyde-Laced Products
Illegal levels of formaldehyde discovered in Chinese-made laminate flooring Lumber Liquidators is under fire after a “60 Minutes’’ expose revealed retailer hardware flooring company sells laminate hardwood flooring containing amounts of formaldehyde that are illegal under California law. “60 Minutes” journalists discovered Lumber Liquidators’ facilities in China were illegally labeling laminate hardwood flooring as legally compliant after they traveled […]
22 Maryland nursing homes lose five-star rating with Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare
Maryland nursing homes ranked one star soar 125%, while five-star elder care homes down 27% Dozens of Maryland nursing homes will see a change in their scores on Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare after the federal government altered its methodology for ranking elder care facilities. With these changes, the number of Maryland’s 228 nursing homes with […]
Washington, DC man awarded $9.2 million for wrongful imprisonment
Kirk L. Odom exonerated after DNA retesting A Washington, DC Superior Court judge ordered the city to pay Kirk L. Odom $9.2 million for spending 22 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Odom was convicted by federal prosecutors for the 1981 rape of a Capitol Hill woman inside her apartment. Hair […]
FDA warns against using low-T testosterone products to fight aging
New labeling warns consumers about risk of heart attack and stroke The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new safety warnings to doctors and patients about elevated risks of heart attack and stroke when undergoing testosterone replacement therapy. Specifically, the FDA warned only certain medical conditions warrant the use of testosterone therapy and that so-called […]
