Legal

The Legal section covers court rulings, statutory changes, liability trends, and key developments in Alabama and federal law that shape personal-injury claims. We explain how case law and regulation affect claims strategy, statutes of limitations, damages, and the rights of injured people pursuing justice.

ConAgra Issues Massive Banquet Pot Pie Recall

ConAgra Foods Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska stopped production of its Banquet turkey and chicken pot pies at a Missouri plant after linking over 165 cases of salmonella poisoning to the pies. While at least thirty people have ended up in the hospital as a result of eating the pies, ConAgra contends that t

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 12 Oct 2007

Lithonia Lighting Recalls Fluorescent Ceiling Light Fixtures Because of Potential Shock Hazard

Litholia Lighting, in conjunction with the CPSC, is recalling about 50,000 Lithonia Lighting Nickel End Wrap Fluorescent Ceiling Light Fixtures because of a potential shock hazard. A wire inside the light fixture can come loose, which could pose an electrical shock hazard to consumers. So far there

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 9 Oct 2007

Ultrasound Contrast Agents To Get FDA Warnings

The federal government is planning on requiring warnings for certain contrast agents used with ultrasound technology. These contrast agents are used to improve diagnoses of heart problems in patients evaluated with ultrasound imaging equipment.The contrast agents are sold under the brand name Defini

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 9 Oct 2007

E. Coli contamination prompts hamburger recall

The Associated Press reported that 21 people in eight states may have become ill from e. coli contamination in frozen hamburgers from Topps Meat Company. At least three of the people affected by the tainted beef have been hospitalized, according to an article on consumerist.com. Topps, based in New

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 3 Oct 2007

MRI Gadolinium Contrast Agents Get Black Box Warning

The U.S. FDA indicated that it would start adding its strongest ‘black box’ warnings to gadolinium based contrast agents used in MRIs by May of next year. There are five different types of gadolinium based contrast agents, and the FDA has evidence enough to suggest a causal connection between the ag

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 2 Oct 2007

NAACP Names Ameriquest in Lawsuit

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has brought a lawsuit against 11 major mortgage lenders, including Ameriquest Mortgage, for singling out black people for costly subprime loans.Angela Ciccolo, an NAACP attorney, and Austin Tighe, an attorney representing the pla

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 26 Sep 2007

Woman Files Suit Against Ameriquest for Foreclosure

A 70-year-old Florida woman is fighting the foreclosure of her home after Ameriquest refinanced her mortgage three times since 2001, promising to help her lower her monthly payments and interest rate, only now her payments have more than doubled.She is challenging the foreclosure claiming Ameriquest

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 22 Sep 2007

Soft Crib Bumpers May Do More Harm Than Good

A study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics September issue, showed that soft crib bumpers have caused a number of infant deaths over the years. Researchers reviewed three U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission databases for deaths related to crib bumpers and crib-related injuries from 1985-200

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 21 Sep 2007

California Recalls 56,000 Lunch Boxes Due to Lead Toxin

The California Department of Public Health recalled 56,000 lunch boxes on Thursday, citing unsafe level of lead in the paint coating the boxes. The lunch boxes appeared to have been made in China, and were handed out at Public Health fairs and several other events in California. The lunch boxes urge

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 21 Sep 2007

FDA Issues Warnings on Schizophrenia Drug Haldol

The FDA issued serious new warnings about Johnson and Johnson’s schizophrenia drug Haldol, generically known as haloperidol. The drug was reported to have caused several life-threatening heart conditions in patients using the medication at higher than recommended dosages or taking the drug intraveno

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 18 Sep 2007

Study shows increase in drug deaths reported to FDA

The Chicago Tribune reported that a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed a big increase in the number of drug deaths and injuries reported to the FDA between the years of 1998 and 2005. This may shed some light on recent problems that have arisen with the government agency

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 17 Sep 2007

Top Mattel Exec Apologizes to Congress

The chief executive officer of Mattel, Robert A. Eckert, testified to senators about the company’s recent problems regards its toys. In testimony before a Senate subcommittee, Eckert discussed with senators how the recent recalls had left his company particularly exposed at an awkward time of the ye

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 13 Sep 2007