Class Action Lawsuits

Mesothelioma Lawsuits, Mesothelioma Lawyers, Asbestos, Lung Cancer

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Mesothelioma is a fatal lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Certain work environments are more prone to causing mesothelioma.

  • Shipyard Workers
  • Construction Workers
  • Power Plant Workers
  • Chemical Plant Workers
  • Industrial Workers
  • Insulators
  • Boiler Workers
  • Auto Mechanics

Types of mesothelioma

  • Pleural mesotheliomas start in the chest.
  • Peritoneal mesotheliomas begin in the abdomen.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

  • Shortness of breath and
  • A heavy feeling in the chest area.
  • Pain under the rib cage.
  • Pain or swelling in the abdomen.
  • Lumps in the abdomen.
  • Weight loss for no known reason.

Mesothelioma Comes from Inhaling Asbestos For Long Periods Of Time

When a person breathes in the small asbestos fibers, they remain in the lungs and cause scar tissue to form on the the tiny air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. The amount of oxygen that is available to the body is reduced through asbestos exposure and worsened through repeated inhalations for long periods of time.

Notable asbestos verdicts in the United States include:
Mississippi

In May 2011, the current largest plaintiff s asbestos verdict was awarded to a former oil refinery worker. Union Carbine and Chevron Phillips Chemical were instructed to pay the man $322 million.
San Francisco, California

Alfred Todak, a former Navy electrician, was awarded $22.7 million, and his was wife was awarded $11 for loss of consortium.
Madison County, Illinois

Madison County s asbestos verdicts have typically favored the plaintiff, including the 2000 Hutchinson v. Shell Oil Company case in which a man was awarded a total of $34.1 million.

Incidence of Mesothelioma

State/Region Incidence per 100,000
New Jersey 1.52
Seattle-Puget Sound 1.44
Louisiana 1.37
Connecticut 1.08
Greater California 1.06
Utah 1.02
New Mexico 0.99
Detroit 0.89
Kentucky 0.85
Iowa 0.80
Georgia 0.70

The six states with the highest mesothelioma death rates include: Maine, Wyoming, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington

Mesothelioma Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos related cancer call our mesothelioma helpline today. We will connect you with an experienced mesothelioma, mass tort lawyer. Mesothelioma lawsuits are mass torts and must be handled by an experienced mass tort lawyer.

Januvia, Byetta Risks of Pancreatic Cancer, Lawyers Looking At Lawsuits

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New Information on Byetta and Januvia is gaining interest by lawyers for Pancreatic and Thyroid Cancer. Type II Diabetics are potential victims of cancer from these Diabetic drugs.

Popular diabetes drugs may raise pancreatic cancer risk, study suggests
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Updated 9/23/2011 6:15 PM

People with type 2 diabetes taking the drugs Januvia or Byetta might have an increased risk of developing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, a preliminary study suggests.
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The study also found that Byetta (exenatide) may raise the risk of thyroid cancer.

Although the links aren t conclusive, they merit further investigation, the researchers noted.

"We have raised concern that there may be a link, but we haven t confirmed it," said lead researcher Dr. Peter Butler, director of the Larry L. Hillblom Islet Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. "We need to do more work to figure out whether this is real or not."

Both drugs help control blood sugar levels by encouraging production of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).

Januvia (sitagliptin) and Byetta, an injectable drug, are a new way of treating type 2 diabetes, and they potentially have advantages over older medications, Butler said. But, because these drugs are new, they re "the ones we know least about," he said. "When new drugs come out, the long-term side effects of these drugs are not well understood."

For the study, recently published in the journal Gastroenterology, Butler s team used 2004-2009 information in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration s database on adverse events, which are reported by doctors whose patients use these drugs.

When compared to other treatments, the researchers found a sixfold increase of reported cases of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) linked to patients taking Januvia or Byetta; a 2.9-fold increase in reported cases of pancreatic cancer among those taking Byetta and a 2.7-fold increase of reported pancreatic cancers among Januvia users.

In addition, they also noted an increase in reported cases of thyroid cancer with Byetta.

This latest study builds on earlier research, published in a 2009 issue of Diabetes, which found an increase in pancreatitis in rats whose GLP-1 levels were raised, the researchers said.

Butler is quick to point out that these increases in pancreatic cancer risk, while statistically significant, are not specifically related to patients, but rather to an increase in doctors reporting these cases to the FDA.

"It is important to avoid alarmism and have people stop medicines that they may be benefitting from when the risk is not yet defined," he stressed.

"If the drug and you are working well together, I wouldn t say there is any reason to stop the drug, based on the evidence we have right now," he said. "But if you have any concern you should talk to your doctor about it."

Being overweight is an important risk for both pancreatic cancer and type 2 diabetes, Butler noted. So the first advice to overweight patients with type 2 diabetes is to lose weight. "By doing that, you reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer," he said.

In addition, the first medication used to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetics is metformin, which by itself may reduce the risk for pancreatic cancer, Butler said. Metformin is an older drug with a well-known safety profile, he noted.

Dr. Mary Ann Banerji, director of the Diabetes Treatment Center at SUNY Health Science Center Brooklyn in New York City, said that "this is not perfect data."

However, Banerji does not prescribe these drugs for patients who have had a history of pancreatitis or a family history of thyroid cancer. There are alternatives such as metformin and insulin, as well as Avandia and Actos, she said, but studies have turned up an increased risk for heart attack and heart failure in the last two drugs. The FDA has removed Avandia from pharmacy shelves, and the agency issued a warning last summer that there is a possible increased risk of bladder cancer in patients who take Actos for more than a year.

The concerns about Januvia and Byetta "should not be blown out of proportion," Banerji said. "You prescribe them on an individual basis, because, in the end, all of medicine is individual," she said. "We should use these drugs judiciously along with metformin."

Industry representatives, insisting that no studies involving these drugs have found an increased risk of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, stand by their products. The database used for the study contains information on doctor-reported cases and does not reflect cause-and-effect, they said.

Dr. Barry Goldstein, vice president and therapeutic area head for diabetes and endocrinology at Merck Research Laboratories, which makes Januvia, said that "there has been no association shown between Januvia and pancreatitis."

"We have full confidence in Januvia, which is used by millions of patients around the world," he said.

Anne Erickson, a spokeswoman for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, makers of Byetta, said that "the conclusions of the study are in contrast to other nonclinical, clinical and adequately conducted post-marketing epidemiological studies."

Epidemiological studies have not established a significantly increased risk of pancreatitis associated with Byetta, she said. "To date, the available data do not demonstrate that exenatide increases the overall risk of cancer in humans."

Another expert, Dr. Ronald Goldberg, professor of medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said the findings merit consideration. "I don t think the study is definitive, but it raises a flag and is clearly something we need to pay attention to going forward."

There is "more benefit than risk with these drugs, based on our current knowledge," he

Florida Unpaid Time and Half Claims, Unpaid Overtime Lawyers

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If you have not been paid time and a half in Florida for overtime worked you may have a wage and hour claim against your employer.  You deserve to get paid according to Florida law for the hours you put in. You may have a class action lawsuit for unpaid wages. Our lawyers for unpaid wages offer legal help for:

  • Lawyers for time and a half pay for overtime,
  • Lawyers for Fair Labor Standards Act,
  • Labor Emplyment Lawyers ,
  • Class actions  for Unpaid Overtime Wages,
  • Lawyers for Wage and Hour Claims,
  • Lawyers for FLSA and Unpaid Commissions,

Overtime pay of time and a half is due once an employee has worked forty (40) hours in a work week.

The Fair Labor Standards Act ( FLSA )

The FLSA establishes the rules for  governing employees rights to minimum wage and overtime pay which include:

  • Time and a half wages for employees for all hours over 40 worked in a workweek.
  • A minimum wage of at least $7.25 for all hours worked.

What can I expect if I win a wage and hour claim against my employer?

  • Back pay for all unpaid overtime, beginning two (2) years before the lawsuit is filed.
  • Double the amount of unpaid wages, in some instances
  • Your employer will be liable for the attorneys fees

For the full details about your Florida unpaid wages, to file an unpaid wages claim and to see if you have a claim for unpaid overtime call our wage and hour claim hotline today

In Florida you deserve to get paid your full WAGES FOR HOURS WORKED and all overtime back pay for unpaid wages claims.

NuvaRing Potential for Blood Clots and Pulmonary Embolism

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NuvaRing lawyers are Reviewing cases for Blood Clots From the NuvaRing Birth Control Device.

Yaz and Yasmin have similiar lawsuits pending.

The NuvaRing birth control device was first approved by the FDA in 2001. In October 2011, the FDA released a drug safety study report indicating the NuvaRing was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms than standard low-dose estrogen birth control pills. Now, according to new results published this month in the British Medical Journal, women using the vaginal ring are at a significantly higher risk for venous thrombosis compared to those taking earlier generation oral contraceptive birth control.

All hormonal contraceptions come with some risk of blood clots, which can lead to other complications like deep vein thrombosis and even life-threatening pulmonary embolism and stroke. Danish researchers, however, studied pregnant women ages 15-49 who were free of any prior thrombotic disease, between 2001 and 2010, and discovered that women who use vaginal rings like the NuvaRing for contraception have a 6.5 times increased risk of confirmed venous thrombosis compared with non-users of hormonal contraception.

The researchers further noted that “the vaginal ring conferred a 90% higher risk of venous thrombosis than did combined oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel, bringing the risk to the same level as that of combined oral contraceptives with third and fourth generation progestogens”—such as Yaz and Yasmin. The researchers concluded that, "women are generally advised to use combined oral contraceptives with levonorgestrel or norgestimate, rather than to use transdermal patches or vaginal rings."

NuvaRing Lawyers blodd clot lawsuits for NuvaRing.

NuvaRing lawsuits were consolidated on August 22, 2008 in the NuvaRing MDL in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri under Judge Rodney Sippel, and in the Bergen County Superior Court of New Jersey before Judge Brian R. Martinotti. The first NuvaRing MDL trial is expected to take place in January 2014.

If you or a loved one has had a blood clot related medical condition from Nuvaring contact us immediately to discuss the Nuvaring consolidated lawsuits.

History of Breast Implants, Breast Implant Lawyers, Dow Corning breast Implant Claims

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Breast Implant lawyers are still to this date helpling women resolve their Dow Corning Breast Implant Claims of the Breast Implant Class action of years ago. In light of this it is interesting to look at the history of Breast Implants, FDA has approved a New silicone breast Implant and despite the horrors women are still going for that well endowed look.

1940s
Japanese prostitutes have their breasts injected with substances such as paraffin, sponges and non-medical grade silicone to enlarge their breasts, believing that American servicemen favor women with large breasts.

1960s
The first silicone breast implants are developed by two plastic surgeons from Texas: Frank Gerow and Thomas Cronin.

1962
Timmie Jean Lindsey becomes the first woman to receive silicone breast implants.

1976
The Food and Drug Administration enacts the Medical Devices Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. FDA now has the authority to review and approve the safety and effectiveness data of new medical devices. But since silicone breast implants have been on the market for almost 15 years, they are "grandfathered." Manufacturers of the implants, when called to do so by the FDA, will be required to provide safety and effectiveness data.

1977
Richard Mithoff, a Houston attorney, wins the first lawsuit for a Cleveland woman who claims that her ruptured implants and subsequent operations had caused pain and suffering. She receives a $170,000 settlement from Dow Corning. Case receives little publicity.

1980s
Ralph Nader s Public Citizen Health Research Group, Washington, D.C. sends out warning signals that silicone breast implants cause cancer.

January 1982
FDA proposes to classify silicone breast implants into a Class III category which would require manufacturers to prove their safety in order to keep them on the market.

1984
Stern vs Dow Corning, San Francisco. Case wins on many internal Dow Corning documents that had been discovered in a Dow storage area by attorney Dan Bolton . Maria Stern s systemic autoimmune disease is found by a jury to be caused by her silicone breast implants. Bolton introduces the silicone-induced problems for the first time in court, with "experts" that theorize the silicone-immune system connection. After a monthlong trial, the jury awards Maria Stern $211,000 in compensatory damages and $1.5 million in punitive damages. The evidence is sealed by a court order.

June 1988
Six years after the 1982 proposal, FDA classifies the implants into Class III. Premarket Approval Applications from silicone breast implant manufacturers are due by July 1991. The PMA s must prove affirmatively, with valid scientific data evaluated by the FDA, that their devices are safe and effective. After the PMA s are submitted by the manufacturers, the FDA has 180 days to evaluate the safety data.

December 1990
Program on the dangers of silicone breast implants airs on "Face to Face with Connie Chung."

December 1990
Congressional hearing headed by Representative Ted Weiss deals with the safety of silicone breast implants. This hearing also discusses the fact that not all the information that the manufacturers have are available for public scrutiny due to a court order from the Stern verdict.

July 1991
Dow Corning releases 329 studies to FDA.

July 1991
Toole vs Baxter, Alabama. Jury decides against Baxter/Heyer-Shulte and awards the largest settlement so far, $5.4 million, to Brenda Toole. Toole, who shows only preliminary symptoms of systemic autoimmune problems, nevertheless had silicone in her lymphatic system according to plaintiffs witnesses and thus an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease.

September 1991
FDA concludes that the silicone breast implant manufacturers safety data does not prove the devices are safe or harmful. Manufacturers are told to submit further data.

November 1991
The FDA brings together its General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel to review all of the safety data from the manufacturers PMA s. The purpose of the panel is to advise FDA as to what they could tell the public about the safety and effectiveness of the silicone breast implants based on the PMA s. The panel is composed of a broad range of experts, including representatives from the fields of plastic surgery, oncology, epidemiology, internal medicine, immunology, radiology, pathology, gynecology, toxicology, sociology, biomaterials and psychology, as well as industry and consumer groups. The panel hearing rejects the data from Dow Corning, Mentor, McGhan, and Bioplasty, concluding there is not sufficient data about the risks and benefits of the devices. The panel recommends the devices stay on the market temporarily and with limited access. The need for more safety data is stressed.

December 1991
Hopkins vs Dow Corning, San Francisco. The largest award yet, $7.3 million, is given to Mariann Hopkins whose mixed connective- tissue disease is linked to her ruptured silicone breast implants. The lawyer for the case, Dan Bolton, wins the suit with the help of internal memos and studies from the Stern lawsuit, in addition to new studies he recently obtained from Dow. Mr. Bolton gives several of the internal documents to the FDA which has never seen the documents before.

December 1991
To date, 137 individual lawsuits have been filed against Dow Corning.

January 1992
FDA Commissioner, David Kessler, calls for a voluntary moratorium on the distribution or implantation of silicone breast implants until the FDA and the advisory panel have an opportunity to consider newly available information. The manufacturers agree.

February 1992
The class action lawsuit is filed in Cincinnati by Stan Chesley. The hope is to compensate women at a faster rate than filing individual lawsuits.

February 1992
Dow Corning CEO, Lawrence Reed, is replaced by Keith McKennon.

February 1992
The General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel reconvenes to review the new information regarding the safety of silicone breast implants. The panel recommends that the further use of implants be limited for reconstruction only and that women receiving the implants participate in scientific protocols and that epidemiologic studies be conducted to assess the risk of autoimmune disease. The panel concludes that no causal link has been established between autoimmune disease and silicone breast implants.

February 1992
Many of the Dow Corning internal memos are released to the public.

March 1992
Dow Corning leaves the silicone breast implant business as do Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bioplasty. McGhan and Mentor will still manufacture breast implants. Dow sets up a fund for further research into the safety of breast implants.

April 1992
Dr. Kessler lifts the moratorium on silicone breast implants. The only women allowed to receive implant surgery are those undergoing breast reconstruction. All of the implant recipients must become part of a scientific protocol.

May 1992
First woman gets implants under new rules.

December 1992
Johnson vs Bristol-Myers Squibb, Houston. Pamela Jean Johnson wins $25 million, $5 million actual damages and $20 million punitive damages in a case argued by Texas attorney John O Quinn. A jury finds Ms. Johnson s ruptured silicone implants were linked to her mixed connective tissue disease, auto-immune responses, chronic fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, and dizziness. Expert witnesses and lawyers admit her symptoms amount to "a bad flu."

December 1992
To date 3,558 individual lawsuits have been filed against Dow Corning.

June 1993
Dick Hazleton becomes CEO of Dow Corning.

December 1993
By year s end 12,359 individual lawsuits have been filed against Dow Corning.

March 1994
A Houston jury awards three women a total of $27.9 million against 3M, $15 million in punitive, $12 million in compensatory damages for illness. The lawyer arguing the case against 3M is John O Quinn. The three women suffered from either atypical lupus, neurological impairment, and a "silicone induced" autoimmune problem.

March 1994
The class action suit is finalized by manufacturers with Dow Corning being the largest contributor. The other contributors include Baxter, Bristol-Myers Squibb/MEC, 3M. It is the largest class action settlement in history. Manufacturers claim there is no scientific evidence linking silicone breast implants with autoimmune diseases. There are set monetary amounts that will be awarded to women with specific medical conditions. No requirements are needed to prove implants are the cause of their ailments. Women will be allowed to drop out of the settlement. Companies can also opt out if too few women register claims.

April 1994
Preliminary approval to class action by Judge Pointer. Clears the way for women to start applying for claims in the settlement.

June 1994
The Mayo Clinic epidemiologic study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which finds no increased risk of connective-tissue disease and other disorders that were studied in women with silicone implants.

September 1994
Final approval of class action/global settlement from Judge Pointer.

December 1994
By this date 19,092 individual lawsuits have been filed against Dow Corning.

1995
The American College of Rheumatology issues a statement saying the evidence is "compelling" that implants did not cause systemic disease.

February 1995
Gladys Laas vs Dow Corning.

May 1995
Dow Corning files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Dow is facing 20,000 lawsuits, some with multiple plaintiffs and about 410,000 potential claims that have been filed in the global settlement. The bankruptcy essentially halts all litigation.

June 1995
About 440,000 women have registered in the global settlement. About 70,000 can be immediately compensated.

June 1995
The Harvard Nurses Epidemiologic Study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This finds no increased risk of connective-tissue disease or certain signs and symptoms of connective-tissue disease in women with silicone implants.

October 1995
Mahlum vs Dow Chemical, Reno. This is the first case where Dow Chemical, the parent company of Dow Corning, is the sole defendant. Charlotte Mahlum is awarded $3.9 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. About 13,000 breast implant lawsuits are pending against Dow Chemical.

November 1995
New global settlement is devised minus Dow Corning. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Baxter and 3M are the participants. The monetary awards are less than the previous settlement.

December 1995
By now 15 individual lawsuits against Dow Corning have gone to trial involving some 19 plaintiffs. Of these, Dow Corning have had 8 trial "wins" and 6 trial "losses," with one split decision.

December 1995
By now more than 20 (non-case report) studies and abstracts have come out in the U.S. and internationally, all failing to support a causal relationship between silicone implants and a variety of auto-immune related illnesses.

April 1996
Two Federal judges in New York appoint an impartial, expert panel to review the scientific issues involved in breast implant lawsuits. This rare move will influence judges throughout the country.

September 1996
The California Court of Appeal upholds a decision dismissing Dow Chemical and Dow Corning from 1,800 breast-implant lawsuits.

December 1996
Oregon Federal Judge Robert E. Jones, after input from a panel of impartial scientists, rules that plaintiffs lawyers cannot present evidence that silicone implants caused disease because it is scientifically invalid. He dismisses 70 claims, shocking the litigation community.
Sam C. Pointer, the Alabama judge overseeing all federal implant cases, appoints his own panel of scientific experts who are not connected to implant litigation.

January 1997
The American Academy of Neurology reviews existing silicone implant studies and reports that "existing research shows no link between silicone breast implants and neurological disorders."

March 1997
A judge in Michigan rules that the Dow Chemical Company is not liable for the medical problems of hundreds of women in the state. Thus far, some state appellate courts have upheld Dow Chemical s liability and others have not.

August 1997
The New York Times reports that implant manufacturers have been winning 80% of cases against them. Nevertheless, a state jury in the first class-action suit finds that Dow Chemical (which owns half of Dow Corning) knowingly deceived women by hiding safety information about the silicone in their implants.

September 1997
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute publishes a review of scores of medical studies that concludes breast implants do not cause breast cancer. The researchers described the evidence for linking implants to any other disease as "borderline."

December 1997
The first class-action lawsuit in an implant case is reduced to its original eight claimants when a Louisiana judge decides the 1,800 women have cases too dissimilar to group into one lawsuit.

April 1998
Two large Scandinavian studies fail to show that silicone implants are linked to neurological disease.

July 1998
Plaintiffs agree to Dow Corning s offer of $3.2 billion to settle tens of thousands of claims of injury from silicone breast implants. The agreement will let the plaintiffs receive money within a year and also enable Dow Corning to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings.
After being asked by the British minister of health to review the safety of silicone implants, a seven-member panel of scientists report no convincing evidence that they cause disease. (The U.K. has never removed silicone implants from the market.)

November 1998
Dow Corning files for bankruptcy reorganization, which includes the $3.2 billion previously agreed-to settlement and offers claimants several payout options. Those who want to cash-out immediately and not file a disease claim will be paid $2,000. This figure can also be combined with $5,000 for implant removal surgery and $20,000 for a ruptured implant. Those who have already filed a disease claim will receive between $10,000 and $250,000 plus any compensation claimed for removal or ruptures.

December 1998
After two years and $800,000, a panel of four independent experts appointed by Judge Sam C. Pointer, overseer of implant lawsuits in the Federal courts, concludes that scientific evidence so far has failed to show that silicone breast implants cause disease.
Nevada Supreme Court upholds a compensatory damage award of $41 million against Dow Chemical to Charlotte Mahlum for her multiple-sclerosis-like symptoms. Dow Chemical was earlier found liable for helping Dow Corning conceal evidence about the harmful effects of silicone. The court, however, overturns a $10 million punitive award.

Breast Implant Class action, Breast Implant lawyers January 1999
A jury in a Washington Federal court awards $10 million in compensatory damages against Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. to an attorney who claimed her implants caused scleroderma.

Spring 1999 Silicone-gel-filled Breast implants
Silicone-gel-filled implants remain off the market in the U.S. pending manufacturer safety studies. They are available only to women who have had or will have breast surgery for a medical condition or have other complications from existing implants, and only if they agree to be part of a scientific protocol, or study. The latest status of silicone breast implants can be found at the FDA website.

June 1999
The Institute of Medicine releases a 400-page report prepared by an independent committee of 13 scientists. They conclude that although silicone breast implants may be responsible for localized problems such as hardening or scarring of breast tissue, implants do not cause any major diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The Institute of Medicine is part of the National Academy of Sciences, the nation s most prestigious scientific organization. Congress had asked the Institute to set up the committee. The committee did not conduct any original research; they examined past research and other materials, and conducted public hearings to hear all sides of the issue.

Dow Settlement claims Update, Dow Settlement Lawyers

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If you have filed a Dow Corning Breast Implant Claim and need help with your settlement call 1 877 522 2123 and speak to a Dow settlement lawyer. Below are the latest updated regarding the Dow Settlement Claims for 2o12 and 2014. Let our Dow Corning lawyer Help you.

April 2012 Updates Dow Settlement

The SF-DCT has moved, and their new address effective April 3, 2012 is:

SF-DCT
3200 SW Freeway, Ste. 1500
Houston, TX 77027

Their telephone number remains the same: 1-866-874-6099.
Their P.O. Box also remains the same: P.O. Box 52429, Houston, TX 77052

Regarding Premium Payments: the matter of if and when the SF-DCT issues premium payments is now under consideration by the Court. We do not know when the Court will issue a ruling. As soon as an order is entered, we will post it on our website and contact any potentially eligible LCHB clients.

Regarding Class 7 Payments: Because some unreviewed Class 7 claims were found during an audit at the SF-DCT, the SF-DCT cannot issue any Class 7 payments until those unreviewed claims are processed and given the one year time period within which to cure deficiencies. As of this date, the SF-DCT cannot predict the exact date when Class 7 payments are going to be made, but it will probably be at least another year before they can issue payments.

REMINDER ABOUT THE EXPLANT DEADLINE: The final deadline to submit an Explant Claim to the SF-DCT is June 2, 2014 . Please remember that you must have acceptable Proof of Manufacturer before you can be considered for the Explant benefit. The Explant benefit is $5,000.00 (five thousand dollars), and in order to qualify for this benefit, you must have your Dow Corning implants removed and not replaced with silicone.

Please keep in mind that it can sometimes take six months or longer to schedule an explant surgery and to obtain the necessary medical records from your surgeon or hospital. Therefore, if you want to apply for this benefit, you should keep this deadline date in mind, and not wait too long to discuss your potential explant surgery with your doctor.

Dow Corning Breast Implant Lawyer Accepting Cases Now

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If you have received a deficiency notice, Dow Corning settlement or letter of rejection from a Dow Corning Breast Implant lawyer contact our Dow Corning Brest Implant Hotline immediately for a Breast Implant Lawyer ready to take your case.

Dow Corning Breast Implant Lawyers can Help You if:

Are you having problems that might be related to your breast implants? And have filed a claim or registered with Dow Corning.

YOU MUST BE REGISTERED OR HAVE FILED A DOW CORNING BREAST IMPLANT CLAIM

Capsular Contracture:

Almost every woman with breast implants has scar tissue surrounding her implants. This scar capsule doesn’t show it’s inside her breast, and is her body’s natural way of protecting her from a foreign object. Sometimes, however, that capsule is too tight for the implant. Capsular contracture is when the capsule is too tight and feels like it is squeezing the implant.

• It can happen silicone gel breast implants
• It can be slightly uncomfortable or very painful
• It can change the shape of your breast, or make it look round and unnatural
• You may need surgery to fix it
• Once it is surgically fixed, it is likely to happen again
Symptoms such as: Could mean:
pain in the breast
breasts look different from each other
breast feels firm or very hard
breasts look like round balls Capsular Contracture

This condition will not usually get better by itself. If it is very painful or hard, it will require surgery to remove the scar tissue capsule and perhaps the implant. Some of your own breast tissue might get mixed in with the capsule, and you might lose some of your natural breast. Many insurance companies will pay to have your implant removed if a woman has Baker Grade III or IV contracture, which are the most severe types, because when implants are that hard they are especially likely to interfere with mammography and the detection of breast cancer.

Ruptured Dow Corning Silicone Breast Implants

The implant is covered with a silicone envelope, which can tear or break. A rupture can be caused by a defect in the implant, daily stresses on the implant, an accident or other trauma, an accidental cut during implant surgery or biopsy, or the aging of the implant.

The older implants are, the more likely they are to break or leak. Although implants can rupture at any time, the FDA found that most rupture by the time they are 10 years old.

Aside from surgery, the best way to confirm a rupture is with an MRI, or perhaps an ultrasound. These methods require a trained eye to see a leak or rupture. A mammogram is not accurate enough to find a rupture or leak.

Most insurance companies will not pay to have a ruptured implant removed, especially if the implants were for augmentation. Reconstruction patients have an easier time obtaining insurance coverage for removal of implants, but will need to prove the implant is ruptured, with an MRI or other test.

Most experts agree that ruptured implants should be removed as soon as possible, especially if it is a silicone gel implant. Silicone gel can leak from the implant into healthy breast tissue and go other parts of your body, such as the lungs and lymph nodes, where it could be impossible to remove.

Some women with leaking silicone breast implants have had to have all their own breast tissue removed because the silicone moved throughout their breast. The result is a mastectomy, not because of cancer but because of silicone.

Many doctors believe that silicone is harmless, and may tell women with ruptured implants that they do not need to have them removed. However, it has been conclusively proven that silicone gel from a broken implant can leak out and cause permanent damage to healthy breast tissue or skin. In addition, the FDA found that women with leaking silicone implants are more likely to report several serious, debilitating illnesses, compared to women whose implants have not broken.

Infection: As with any surgery, infections can happen. Most infections appear shortly after surgery, within a few days or weeks. The most serious infections can cause toxic shock syndrome and can be fatal or result in gangrene. If the infection is very serious, the implant will need to be removed to treat it, and can be replaced after the infection has cleared up.

Disease Status Claims and Serious Illness

Everyone agrees that implants can cause local complications, such as those listed above. There is much more controversy about whether it can cause diseases or disorders. Some women can have implants for many years and never have any problems, but as the years go by, many women with implants become seriously ill. Common symptoms include joint pain or stiffness, memory problems, trouble concentrating, fatigue, flu-like symptoms that don’t go away, or pain throughout the body (fibromyalgia). Auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma are also problems among women with implants. Are these symptoms caused by implants, are women who are susceptible to these illnesses more likely to get them if they have breast implants, or would these women have become ill even if they didn’t have implants?

Dow Corning Breast Implant Complications ( Remember you must have filed a claim with dow crning or be registered to be able to file a Dow Corning Breast Implant Disease Claim )

  • silicone toxicity diseases
  • Dry mouth
  • Dry eyes
  • Persistent cough
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • Joint discomfort
  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling
  • Saline implant rupture
  • Chronic fatigue Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing Esophogeal immotility
  • Memory impairment Neurological impairment
  • Muscle weakness
  • walking problems, tremor, muscle spasm
  • Slowed ability to think, poor memory
  • MS – Multiple Sclerosis*
  • Muscle pain
  • Stiffness, unusual fatigue
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Strong allergic reactions
  • Chemical sensitivity
  • White or blue fingers and/or toes in the cold
  • Raynaud’s syndrome
  • Excessive hair loss
  • An autoimmune response
  • Hardening of skin Scleroderma
  • Achy or swollen joints
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Skin rashes
  • Anemia
  • Sensitivity to sunlight
  • Kidney involvement
  • Lupus

If you have received a notice of rejection or deficiency notice contact us immediately at the Dow Corning Silicone Breast Implant Hotline

Yaz Lawyers Filing Claims for Women Injured by Yaz Birth Control Pills

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Bayer has begun settlements on yaz claims. If you have been injured by Yaz Birth control Pills or yasmin Birth control pills you must speak to a lawyer immediately. if you have blood clots, experienced a stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis time is of the essence depending upon the state you are in. There are statue of limitations for filing a yaz lawsuit.

Bayer Yasmin & Yaz Settlement Lawsuit Deadlines,

4 year deadline 8/13/2013 Yaz Lawsuit Settlement, Yasmin lawsuits

  • Florida yaz lawsuits,
  • Nebraska Yaz lawsuits,
  • Utah Yaz lawsuits,
  • Wyoming Yaz lawsuits,

5 year deadline 8/13/2014 Yaz Lawsuit Settlement, Yasmin Lawsuits

Missouri Yaz lawsuits,

6 year deadline 8/13/2015 Yaz Lawsuit Settlement, Yasmin lawsuits

  • Maine Yaz lawsuits,
  • North Dakota Yaz lawsuits,

Yaz Lawsuit Settlement: 3 year deadline 8/13/2012,

  • Arkansas yaz lawsuits,
  • District of Columbia yaz Lawsuits,
  • Maryland yaz lawsuits,
  • Massachusetts yaz lawsuits,
  • Michigan Yaz Lawsuits,
  • Mississippi Yaz Lawsuits,
  • Montana Yaz lawsuits,
  • New Hampshire Yaz lawsuits,
  • New Mexico Yaz Lawsuits,
  • New York yaz Lawsuits,
  • North Carolina Yaz Lawsuits,
  • Rhode Island yaz Lawsuits,
  • South Carolina yaz lawsuits,
  • South Dakota Yaz lawsuits,
  • Vermont yaz lawsuits,
  • Washington Yaz lawsuits,
  • Wisconsin Yaz lawsuits,

Bayer report to Stockholders

HealthCare
Product-related litigations
Yasmin™/YAZ™: As of April 18, 2012, the number of lawsuits pending in the United States and served upon Bayer was about 11,900 involving about 14,000 plaintiffs (excluding cases already settled). Plaintiffs allege that they have suffered personal injuries, some of them fatal, from the use of Bayer’s oral contraceptive products Yasmin™ and/or YAZ™ or from the use of Ocella™ and/or Gianvi™, generic versions of Yasmin™ and YAZ™, respectively, marketed by Barr Laboratories, Inc. in the United States. As of April 19, 2012, Bayer had reached agreements, without admission of liability, to settle the claims of 651 plaintiffs in the U.S. for a total amount of about US$142 million. Bayer is only settling claims in the U.S. for venous clot injuries (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) after a case specific analysis of medical records on a rolling basis. The number of such injuries cannot be estimated at this time. However, less than half of the cases served to date allege such an injury. Based on the information currently available, Bayer has taken appropriate accounting measures for anticipated defense costs and for agreed and anticipated future settlements. Bayer is insured against product liability risks to the extent customary in the industry. However, going forward and depending on further developments in the litigation, it is possible that the company’s global liability insurance program may not be sufficient or fully applicable to cover all expenses and potential liability (if any) resulting from this litigation.

Our yaz lawyers are actively accepting Yaz cases. If you have been injured by Yaz birth control pills due not delay.

Whistle blower and Qui Tam Lawyers

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Whistleblower and Qui Tam Lawyers,False Claims Act

When an employer is suspected of engaging in illegal actions and benefiting from these actions, an employee may take it upon him or herself to report this to the proper authorities. When this happens, the individual who did the reporting is called a whistleblower. Lawyers of Free Legal Shield have experience helping employees with whistleblower representation for many years. We can protect the rights of employees who are acting as the whistleblower. Qui Tam and whistleblower cases can fall under the category of class action litigation.

Whistleblower

Many whistleblowers find themselves facing problems for the reporting of the suspected activities of their employer. Qui Tam and Whistleblower lawyers assist employees with whistleblower cases and the potential for retaliation or actions taken by the employer.

Qui Tam

Closely related to whistleblower actions, qui tam is a provision of the federal False Claims Act. Under this act, a qui tam action may be filed by a private citizen (usually the whistleblower) charging fraud against a government contractor or a business receiving government funds. The result of this lawsuit is that the citizen may share in the funds that are recovered by the government. Some Qui Tam cses can result in substantial compensation to the whistleblower. Protecting the public against fraud is the purchase of Qui Tam. It is a citizens responsibilty to protect all by reporting illegal theft of Government funds.

Qui Tam in the Health Care Industry

One area in which Qui Tam claims are growing is the health care industry. When an employee has knowledge of fraud involving Medicare, pharmaceutical misconduct or other activity involving government reimbursement or payment for health care, they should speak to a lawyer at our firm for assistance in determining if they may have uncovered a valid claim for wrongdoing and filing a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act. If you report a government fraud or Qui Tam case you may be entitled to substantial compensation.

For more information about whistleblower and qui tam cases contact Free Legal Shield.

Mesothelioma lawyers

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Lung showing interstitial fibrosis Mesothelioma is a form of Lung Cancer. A Workers compensation Mesothelioma lawyer should be contacted to protect you and your families rights

Mesothelioma is a of cancer of the tissues that line the lungs, heart and stomach. These tissues are called mesothelial cells and they become infected by inhaling particles of dust from asbestos fibers. Once these cells become infected they dry up the fluids surrounding these major organs of the body and tumors begin to develop. The most prevalent form is pleural mesothelioma .75% of all malignant cases are from pleural mesothelioma. The other two of mesothelioma are peritoneal, and pericardial . Contact a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer to protect your rights.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Most individuals who develop mesothelioma worked around asbestos and typically develop symptoms of asbestos disease 20 years to 50 years after exposure. In the United States, mesothelioma is blamed for 131,200 cancer deaths between 1985 and 2009 and 10 million worldwide. About 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States.

Dealing with mesothelioma is a very difficult process for the victim and the family. It requires physical and emotional strength. The victim will need a strong family and social network, and expert medical and professional advice and assistance.and a supportive and experienced mesothelioma lawyer.

More about mesothelioma

It takes a long time before mesothelioma symptoms may appear and cause suffering to the victim. It can take fifteen to twenty years for this deadly cancer to begin to show signs of damage. This presents a very difficult challenge for doctors in diagnosing the disease as well as mesothelioma lawyers proving the cause.

How will mesothelioma be treated ?

Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed a treatment procedure can be recommended and begun. The correct treatment will depend on a number of factors. They include the location of the tumor, the stage of the disease and how far the cancer has spread in the patient. The treatment for mesothelioma will depend on the age , and stage the disease is in. Because of the long and arduous treatment, attorneys and lawyers have filed class action lawsuits on behalf of victims against companies and environments that have caused this deadly disease.

There are specialized treatment centers for mesothelioma

There are mesothelioma hospitals and medical specialists located all over the country. These are facilities and dedicated to treating mesothelioma cancers

Free Legal Shield and its team of mesothelioma lawyers are ready to help. If you worked in a high risk industry and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or have lost someone to asbestos related illness, it is your right to seek compensation from those responsible for your situation. The mesothelioma lawyers of Free legal Shield are your shields of Justice. There is no upfront cost to you. A mesothelioma lawyer works on a contingency basis.

Mesothelioma Lung cancer lawyers ready to help you in:

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