Washington Injury Attorney Blog

A Wisconsin man is suing the manufacturer of a lawnmower, MTD Products, Inc., and Home Depot, Inc., the distributor of the riding lawnmower after it flipped and he sustained serious injuries when the lawnmower flipped and struck him reports The Record of Madison/St. Clair.

The man, Matthew Cauble, said he was following the manufacturer's instructions when driving the MTD Shift-On-The-Go lawn tractor up and down a slope instead of driving it across. According to Cauble, the lawnmower's transmission slipped and it started to roll backwards. He jumped off of it and the transmission re-engaged and the mower blades hit Cauble.

In his dangerous/defective products suit, Cauble claims that MTD's design of a tractor was flawed because it was not "reasonably stable" on slopes and was prone to overturn when accelerating. His suit also claims that Home Depot sold a tractor that was defective and unsafe.

Cauble is asking for a judgment of more than $250,000 and other relief. Cauble had considerable medical costs due to his injuries.

In filing a defective product suit, the claims are usually based on negligence, strict liability, breach of contract, breach of warranty or guaranty under the Uniform Commercial Code. Washington State has a Washington Products Liability Act which sets forth rules and responsibilities to the manufacturers and sellers of defective or dangerous products and makes it easier for an injured person to recover compensation for damages.

Product liability can include the product manufacturer, manufacturers of component parts, the wholesaler and the retailers.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a defective product, you will require a personal injury attorney to help establish legal fault. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in representing people in personal injury cases.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has provisionally agreed to a penalty settlement with Mattel Toys and its subsidiary, Fisher-Price, for importing more than one million toys from China in 2007 that violated the federal lead paint ban.

This is the third largest fine in CPSC history.

The toys included in the recall:

• Elmo Light Up
  
• Musical Pal
  
• Big Bird Light Up Musical Pal
  
• Dora's Talking House
  
• Go Diego Go Antarctic Rescue
  
• Sesame Street Birthday Figure Pack.

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OSHA has fined a Spokane, Washington company, Graham Construction and Management, $25,200 after a bridge collapse in southwest Idaho late last year that injured 14 workers.

According to a report in The Seattle Times, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued four citations for safety violations, each of which carry a $6,300 fine . Graham Construction claims the accident was not their fault but the fault of a company which provided prefabricated bridge girders for the project.

The accident occurred on October 27, 2008 during a concrete pour at the Robinson Boulevard overpass on Interstate 84. The fourteen construction workers fell approximately 30 feet and suffered injuries including fractures, lacerations and a broken back.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to negligence including construction accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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Posted In: Construction Accident , Dangerous Products , General Negligence , Serious Personal Injuries , Slip, Trip and Fall

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a media release stating that consumers should stop using Hydroxycut Products, dietary supplements, linked to at least one death and associated with severe liver damage in some people because they may be dangerous products. The Hyroxycut products are some of the best-selling weight-loss products with more than nine million units in sales in 2008.

The FDA says they have received 23 reports of "serious health problems [associated with the product]" including jaundice and elevated liver enzymes. These two symptoms are linked with potential liver damage which might require a transplant. Other symptoms associated with the use of this supplement include cardiovascular disorders and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage which can result in other serious health problems including kidney failure.

Hydroxycut products are made by lovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and are distributed by lovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. The dietary supplements are marketed for weight loss, as fat burners, as low carbohydrate diet aids and for water loss using "Muscle Tech" and lovate brand names. The FDA warns consumers not to use any of the following items and to return them for a refund:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

lovate has agreed to recall these products. Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not being recalled because they have different ingredients.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered serious illness due to dangerous products and the families of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your injuries including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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The Seattle Times reports that 12 people, were injured at the Puyallup Fairground when a children' ride overturned on its side. According to the report five children and one adult were taken to local hospitals for treatment of injuries. Eight other people, including mostly children, were treated for cuts and bruises at the accident site. On child who was taken to hospital was said to have a leg injury.

The accident happened around 6:40 pm on Friday night on a ride called The Lolly Swing. The people who were most injured were the ones who hit the ground when the ride toppled.

Accident victims were taken to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma and Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup.

The Washington State Labor & Industries had inspected the ride on Wednesday said a fair spokeswoman. The cause of the accident is being investigated.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to defective and dangerous products or due to someones negligence. With our help, you may recover compensation for your injuries.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087- or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a news release regarding a voluntary recall of girl's shoes manufactured in China due to the surface paint on the sole containing excessive levels of lead which violates federal lead paint standards. Nordstrom department store began as a shoe retailer in Seattle and its corporate headquarters and flagship store are located in downtown Seattle.

The shoe which are sold exclusively at Nordstrom stores across the United states carry the Nordstrom brand. All recalled shoes have "Nordstrom" printed on the insole and include the following six shoe styles:

1. “Clarice-Fab” flats are bone colored with a bow.
2. “Eva-Fab” are bone colored T-strap sandals.
3. “Fern-Fab” are ankle strap sandals sold in bone, pink, white, blue polka-dot or pink polka-dot.
4. “Lilly-Fab” are fuchsia gingham ballerina flats with a bow.
5. “Rita-Fab” are ankle strap dress shoes sold in ivory linen, pink linen, white linen, cafe satin, silver satin or white satin.
6. “Vivi-Fab” are open-toe dress shoes in bone, white, green polka-dot, lavender polka-dot or yellow polka-dot. 

Contact Nordstrom for a full refund or exchange.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to dangerous or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-455-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued, in conjunction with Seattle Cotton Works of Bellevue, Washington, a voluntary recall of the firm's hooded sweatshirt. The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood which could pose a strangulation hazard.

The CPSC issued guidelines in 1996 that recommended alternate closures at the neck and short drawstrings at the waist of children's jackets and sweatshirts for clothing in sizes 2T to 12. The CPSC issued their recommendation saying that drawstrings are a hidden hazard which led to the deaths of 22 children and 48 non-fatal incidents prior to 1996 when drawstrings got caught on playground equipment, bus doors, cribs, etc. The majority of death were on playground slides when the knot on the drawstring got caught on the top of the slide. Victims ranged from 2-8 years or age. The CPSC's guidelines are voluntary.

While no injuries have been attributed to the Seattle Cotton Works garments, Seattle Cotton Works is recalling approximately 40,000 hooded sweatshirts sold through Kohl's Department stores. Call Seattle Cotton works at (800)533-8922 click here for more information: http://www.seattlecottonrecall.com/

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to dangerous or defective products. Washington State has a Uniform Commercial Code which allows people injured by a defective or dangerous product to hold the manufacturer or responsible parties liable.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free and confidential case review.

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A Kent, Washington company, Lucy's Enterprises , has issued a recall on their chicken burger product. The recall includes 13,776 pounds of frozen ground chicken products because they may contain plastic and bone fragments. Specifically, the company is recalling chicken burgers distributed nationally by Trader Joe's markets. The chicken burgers are sold in 16-ounce packages as "Trader Joe's, Chile Lime Chicken Burgers" with the date code "3158" on the side of the box.These may be dangerous products and pose a choking hazard.

Trader Joe's and Lucy's have received some customer complaints about finding the foreign materials in the chicken patties. There have been no reports of injuries at this time. Lucy Enterprises Customer Relations Department number is (253(872-0783 and Trader's Joes number is (626)599-3817.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a Class I Recall and considers the product a High health risk. Check their web-site to find out more: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_008_2009_Release/index.asp

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries due to defective products. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, contact The Farber law Group today. With our help, you may recover your medical bills and compensation for damages.

Call us at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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Nine fighters have won a civil lawsuit against Federal Signal Corporation, a distributor of lights and siren systems for fire trucks reports the Chicago Tribune. In the civil suit, the firefighters said that their hearing loss was noise-induced and caused by the fixed volume sirens on fire trucks, engines and ambulances.

Federal Signal has had numerous hearing lawsuits brought against them, mostly by firefighters from Cook County, Illinois. While the results of the recommended award was not made public, this seems to be one of the first successful suits brought on behalf of firefighters against the company.

Federal Signal says they will appeal the verdict and says it plans to aggressively fight to overturn the results of the verdict.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury law firm specializing in serious injuries caused by defective and dangerous products or due to the negligence of another. Our attorneys represent clients with eye injuries, hearing loss and brain injuries.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

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Faye Brown, who had part of her scalp ripped off in a bizarre accident at Grand Prix Raceway in Lakewood back in January of 2007, is asking Washington State legislators to require protective guards be required over moving parts on amusement park rides.

Brown suffered severe injuries to her scalp and became bald after her pony tail got caught in the rear axle of a go-cart she was driving. After the accident, Grand Prix Raceway installed protective guards and created signage regarding securing ones hair. The legislation sponsored by Senator Dan Swecker of Rochester would require protective guards be installed on all rides across the state.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and those killed in accidents due to the negligence of another or due to defective or dangerous products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue

Information for this blog is from Seattle's KOMO-TV.

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The Seattle Times reports that Erik Anderson, 38, was killed in a freak bowling alley accident when he was attempting to dislodge a bowling pin from the basement bowling alley at Spokane Community College. According to the report, Anderson's neck was broken by the machinery and he apparently died instantly.

Anderson was a popular running coach and instructor at Spokane Community College. He was teaching a bowling class when the accident occurred around 11:30 am on Thursday.

Athletes and students at the college were devastated by the loss of the popular track coach and teacher. Anderson leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.

The report said that there was a common problem with pins getting jammed at the bowling alley. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is investigating the cause of the accident.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed due to defective and dangerous products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free case consultation.

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Now that the Holiday shopping season is soon upon us, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSSC) has a list of toys that gift buyers should take note of because of safety concerns.

In 2007, the CPSC had reports of 18 toy-related deaths and they estimate that there were 170,000 hospital emergency room visits due to toy related injuries suffered by children under the age of 15.

Top 5 toy hazards:

• scooters and riding toys -- if you purchase a scooter or a riding toy including skateboards and in-line skates, be sure they are age appropriate and that protective gear such as helmets and padding are also provided.
  
• small balls and toys with small parts -- these types of toys can be a hazard to children, especially under the age of 3 because they may choke on them. Avoid purchasing small balls and toys with small parts for children under the age of 5.
  
• balloons -- balloons can be especially dangerous to children under the age of 8. Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
  
• magnets -- children under the age of 6 should not play with magnets. When swallowed, they can cause severe injury and even death.
  
• battery chargers and adapters -- may cause burn hazards to small children

Parents can sign-up to have toy re-call notices e-mailed to them. Visit https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been severely injured and the families of those killed due to dangerous products or the negligence of others.

If your child has suffered a severe toy-related injury, contact The Farber Law Group to insure your rights are protected.

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A Florida jury has awarded a Pensacola man a $7 million settlement after he became gravely ill with inflammatory bowel disease after taking the medication Accutane. Accutane, manufactured by Roche, is used to treat cases of severe acne.

Adam Mason, 31, developed Crohn's disease after he took Accutane for nine years. Mason claimed that Roche failed to adequately warn of Accutane's risks.

Roche is facing more than 400 lawsuits claiming that Accutane caused inflammatory bowel disease and that drug labels and warnings were not adequate.

Common side affects:

• Acne flare up
• Dryness of skin, lips and mucous membranes
• Cuticle infection
• Itch
• Skin peeling
• Dry eyes
• Raised liver enzymes

Infrequent side affects:

• Severe acne flare up
• Raised blood glucose
• Fatigue

Rare side affects:

• Impaired night vision
• Menstrual disturbances
• Optic neuritis
• Pancreatitis
• Corneal opacities
• Hypertension
• Psychosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Birth defects if a woman becomes pregnant while taking the medication

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing people with severe personal injuries due to medical malpractice, unsafe products and accidental injury.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning that Carter's tag-less baby clothes may have caused 400 babies to develop a rash on their backs. The clothes in the 2007 line, were made in foreign countries and have a heat-transferred "tag-less" label. It appears that some babies have had an allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in the ink.

For more information about the "tag-less" labels, see the Carter's web-site: http://www.carters.com/Corporate/tagless_message.aspx

The allergic reaction seems to be of the "contact dermatitis" variety and clears up after a few days of not wearing the garment.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to dangerous products and foodborne disease.

Contact The Farber law Group for a free case evaluation.

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In the past few years, hunters have been increasingly using tree stands for hunting. From a tree-stand perch, a hunter is out of the deer's field-of-vision and also out of their range for scent detection allowing hunters to have an excellent vantage point for hunting. Many tree stands are mounted 10 to 30 feet or more above the ground level. As the use of tree stands have become more commonplace, there have been many serious injuries including internal injuries, spinal cord injury, brain injury, paralysis and death among hunters who have had falling accidents involving tree stands.

North Carolina had four serious hunting accidents in two weeks of September including two fatalities. Investigators found that hunters that fell were not using a fall-restraint system.

Hunters fall for many reasons and lack of proper safety precautions and equipment is one of them. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in conjunction with the Treestand Manufacturers Association, found that 82% of all hunters suffering from a fall injury were not wearing a safety device.

Recommended safety precautions include

• Test your tree stand regardless of whether it is homemade or manufactured.
  
• Hunt with a partner or group and rendezvous at designated times.
  
• Do not drink while hunting.
  
• Maintain three points of contact when climbing up and down a tree stand ladder as with any ladder.
  
• Use a haul line to carry your equipment up into the tree stand; keep your hands free for climbing. 75% of all tree stand falls are while climbing up or down the tree.
  
• Check to make sure safety equipment is in good repair.
  
• Make sure you install your tree stand in a healthy tree, not one that is decayed, leaning or without rough bark.
  
• Wear a full body harness.

For more information see the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's website, Use of Elevated Stands & Other Techniques Tree Stand Safety. Visit the Treestand Manufacturers Association site for an Online Treestand Safety Course.

This information has been brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured because of slip, trip and fall accidents through no fault of their own. Sometimes a manufacturing defect or someone else's negligence causes an accident. In this, you need to contact a personal injury attorney who can help you recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

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Posted In: Brain Injury , Dangerous Products , Serious Personal Injuries , Slip, Trip and Fall , Spinal Cord Injury

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 190,000 MacGregor and Mitre folding soccer goals after a young child became entangled in a net and was strangled to death. The agency recalled the goals, distributed by Regent Sports Corp. of Hauppauge, N.Y and sold nationwide, because they say the netting has dangerous sized gaps; The gaps in the net are 20 inches square and they should be less than 17 or greater than 28 inches.

This is not the first time soccer goals have been responsible for deaths. In May, we reported on the Consumer Product Safety alert which cited 21 deaths because movable soccer goals, if not anchored properly, had a tendency to topple over, sometimes causing massive head injuries. In Washington State, a 22 year old Bellevue man was killed when a goal post fell onto his head. In Woodinville, a 5-year-old girl received massage head injures when struck by a goal post and a 16 year old Yakima girl was seriously injured when a goal fell on her.

Every year dangerous or defective products cause thousands of injuries to consumers in Washington State. The Washington Products Liability Act (RCW7.72) describes the legal set of rules concerning responsibility for the manufacture and/or sale of defective or dangerous products to consumers. These rules sometimes make it easier for an injured person to recover damages.

If you or a loved one was injured due to a result of a dangerous or defective product, you'll want an experienced personal injury lawyer who knows the ins and outs of Washington Products Laws. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience representing people with serious personal injuries and wrongful death claims due to dangerous products.

Contact The Farber Law Group today and we'll provide and free and confidential review of your case.

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A potentially carcinogenic chemical, Dioxin, has been found ain Seattle's South Park neighborhood, a site that has already been found to have PCB contamination.

According to King 5 News, it is believed that Malarky Asphalt Company contaminated the soil before it closed.

Contaminations levels are 10, 20 and 30 times greater than acceptable government levels according to the report.

Dioxin is a term that refers to a family of compunds that are created through burning, chlorine bleaching and in manufacturing processes. Some dioxins are correlated with an increased likelihood of some cancers.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Personal injury and wrongful death specialists for more than 30 years in the greater Seattle area, we represent people with serious personal injuries due to the negligence of another person or company.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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The two owners of a Cowlitz dairy farm have plead guilty to a charge of "distribution of adulterated food" as a result of a E-coli outbreak caused by milk from their dairy, reports The Seattle Times. Michael and Anita Puckett, owners of the Dee Creek Farm, will be fined $100,000and may serve up to one year in prison.

In December 2005, there was a major E-coli outbreak in Washington State traced back to milk the dairy distributed. Eighteen people became ill and three children were hospitalized with HUS, a severe kidney disease which often leads to lifelong health problems and permanent kidney damage.

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated the E-coli outbreak, they found that the dairy did not have sanitary conditions. The dairy did not provide hand washing facilities and they could not prove that they tested for the bacteria which is required of a licensed dairy. In addition, Dee Creek Dairy distributed unpasteurized milk which is against the law unless one has a license to do so. The Puckett's did not have a license.

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)is a life threatening condition that is a result of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacterium . The Center for Disease Control reports that there are approximately 73,000 cases of E-coli O157:H7 infection per year in the U.S. resulting in approximately 60 deaths. Undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized dairy products, cured meats and unpasteurized juices are often the culprits.

Many times an E-coli outbreak can be traced to the negligence of the food producer in the packaging or manufacturing process. In the case of this Cowlitz dairy, the Puckett's did not follow many of the sanitation requirements to produce their product.

In preparing a lawsuit for a case like this, the personal injury attorney must prove negligence. Because HUS is often a life-long condition, damage awards can be significant because the victim should be compensated for current and future medical costs and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has become ill because of food poisoning or a foodborne illness, contact The Farber Law Group. We have received significant financial awards for our clients in past cases involving a fast food operator in Washington State.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the Food and Drug Administration has asked Johnson & Johnson to place a "black box" warning on their foot and leg ulcer cream, Regranex, after studies show that people who used three or more tubes of the product have a five-fold risk of cancer and death.

A "black box" warning is the FDA's highest warning level. In issuing the warning, the FDA does not advise health care professionals to discontinue prescribing the product, but they advise physicians to weight the benefits against the risks for each patient.

Regranex is manufactured by Ethicon, a division of Johnson & Johnson. Regranex gel is prescribed to treat dangerous foot and leg ulcers in patients who have diabetes.

Approximately 750,000 people have been prescribed Regranex since it was approved by the RDA in 1997.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a Bellevue, Washington based attorney group representing people with medical malpractice, damage from dangerous products and personal injury claims.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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The Seattle Times reports that the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has shut down two construction cranes in Seattle and one construction crane in Renton. This comes in the wake of a fatal crane accident in New York City which killed two people.

In stopping use of the cranes, the Department of L&O said that there may be structural and electrical problems with the cranes manufactured by Sun Cranes. The Times story said that an electrical worker was severely burned on one of the cranes in January.

In 2006, a crane collapse in Bellevue, Washington killed a Microsoft attorney while he watched TV in his condo across the street from a construction site. In the aftermath of that accident, the Department of Labor & Industries started drafting a safety law which would regulate crane operators but this law is not slated to take effect until Jan. 1, 2010.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are experienced construction attorneys and represent victims in matters of serious personal injuries or wrongful death. At The Farber Law Group, our lawyers are familiar with laws regarding 3rd parties and construction-related injuries. While money cannot fully compensate for a serious or debilitating injury or the loss of loved one, compensation for medical expenses and lost earnings can help insure a stable future for you and your family.

Contact us today for a free case consultation.

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The Seattle Times reports that Public Citizen, a national non-profit public interest organization, is circulating a petition asking the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to remove the Ortho Evra birth control patch from the market within six months citing risks of blood clots, stroke and death to users. Ortho Evra birth control patches are manufactured by Ortho-McNeil, a division of Johnson&Johnson.

Public Citizen's petition drive is called "Not My Patch" and is based on research which compares the contraceptive patch to standard oral contraceptives and says the patch is a dangerous product that needs to be recalled. The study found that women using the patch have 60% higher estrogen levels than standard oral contraceptives. Higher estrogen levels puts them at a much higher risk of blood clots which can lead to stroke and death. The study also cites an increase in other side effects including painful periods, nausea, breast discomfort and vomiting.

The Ortho Evra web-site markets the patch as "convenient birth control" and targets it to young women. However, more than a few young women have experienced serious side effects including death. One young woman collapsed on the subway and died at the age of 18 when a blood clot formed and went into her lung. Other young women as young as 18, 19 and 20 years of age suffered strokes while using the medication.

The patch was first sold in 2002. In January of 2008, the FDA approved a third update to Ortho Evra's label to warn of potential blood clots. Since the FDAs warnings, the use of the patch has dropped from 9.9 million prescriptions in 2004 to 2.7 million in 2007.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious side effect due to the Ortho Evra birth control patch, you need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Farber Law Group we are experienced in representing the victims of defective or dangerous products and in helping victims recover compensation for their injuries. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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The Seattle Times reports that a Food and Drug Administration study raises concerns about adolescent diabetics using insulin pumps. While The FDA supports the use of insulin pumps in teenagers who have diabetes, they want consumers, their physicians and hospitals to be aware of potential complications due to the use of the medical devices including 13 patient deaths and 1,500 injuries.

Infusion pumps are becoming more common in the treatment of Type I diabetes in adolescents and are used by tens of thousands teenage patients.

In the study Adolescent Use of Insulin and Patient-Controlled Analgesia Technology published in the May issue of Pediatrics, the study looks at problems related to use of the pump by adolescents:

• Incorrect use of the pump, sometimes due to inadequate instruction
  
• Alarm problems
  
• Catheters that loosened or occluded
  
• Bent cannula
  
• Screen display problems
  
• Device malfunction which caused over delivery of medication or failure to deliver medication
  
• Patients disconnecting the pump for exercise
  
• Carelessness

The study highlights the special issues of using the pump with teenage patients and urges proper education and parental oversight. The FDA urges consumers and practitioners to device-related problems through the FDA Medwatch program: www.fda.gov/medwatch

If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one died due to the malfunction of a medical device, you need to contact a personal injury attorney to insure your rights are protected. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in representing victims of malpractice and defective or dangerous products. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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KOMOTV.com in Seattle, Washington reports that a test by Consumer Reports finds that the Broil King Signet 90 BBQ grill, manufactured by Onward Manufacturing Company Ltd. of Canada is an unsafe product.

Consumer Reports purchased several of the King Signet grills and found that "the firebox on the grill melted." KOMOTV.com reports that the editors of Consumer Reports declare that, "Broil King Signet 90 is a dangerous product and you should not buy or use [one]."

Onward Manufacturing Company has placed a recall on the product and provides consumers with a replacement baffle that they can install which should keep the firebox from melting. View the recall notice here: http://www.broilkingbbq.com/notice_us.html

Thousands of consumers are seriously injured every year by dangerous products. In Washington State, a statute called "Washington Products Liability Act" or WPLA. RCW 7.72 sets forth the legal rules concerning a manufacturers' responsibility for manufacture and sale of defective or dangerous products. These rules sometimes make it easier for an injured person to recover damages. The statue of limitations on liability cases can be up to 12 years.

This information has been brought to you as a service of Washington Personal Injury, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a defective or dangerous product, contact The Farber Law Group. At The Farber Law Group, we are experienced in representing the victims of defective or dangerous products and in helping victims recover compensation for their injuries.

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Both The Seattle Times and The Seattle Post Intelligencer report today that Fosamax©, a medication to treat osteoporosis, appears to double a woman's chance of having atrial fibrillation, a sometimes serious heart condition.

Fosamax© is manufactured by Merck & Co. A generic version, alendronate, was approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 2008. Fosamax© has also been linked to another serious condition, osteoncrosis of the jaw, also known as jaw necrosis or jaw death. Osteonecrosis can cause parts of the jawbone to deteriorate, causing an extremely painful condition that can lead to jaw removal.

The Seattle, Washington study which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine was done by Group Health in Seattle and the University of Washington. The study, which followed 719 women with atrial fibrillation, compared them with 966 women who did not have the condition. The study found that the women who had taken Fosamax©, had an 86% higher incidence of the condition.

Atrial fibrillation can result in irregular heartbeats (heart palpitations), shortness of breath, fatigue, blood clots which can cause strokes, and congestive heart failure.

Dr. Philip Mease, an osteoporosis expert at Swedish Medical Center who was not involved in the study, cautions women not to suddenly discontinue the medication. The Group Health study said, "it is important to carefully weigh the benefits against the possible risk of atrial fibrillation in women who have only modestly increased fracture risk and in women who have risk factors for atrial fibrillation, such as diabetes, mellitus, coronary disease or heart failure."

Osteoporosis is a condition that strikes women far more often than men, affecting 25 million Americans a year. It causes bone loss and when the bones become weak and thin they can easily break.

If you or a loved one has experienced any serious side effects after using Fosamax© such as atrial fibrillation or osteonocrosis, you need to contact a personal injury attorney to ensure that your rights are protected. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience of representing people with serious personal injury and malpractice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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Posted In: Dangerous Products , Medical Malpractice

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Washington D.C. -- Two senators have introduced a bill to congress which would require that all stoves sold in the United States be sold with brackets which would prevent them from tipping over. In addition the bill requires that the devices be installed. Over the past twenty years, a hundred people have been seriously injured or killed because a stove tipped over on them. Some stove tipping victims were severely burned due to hot foods and liquids spilling onto them and a few people have been crushed to death by a stove.

U.S. Congressmen Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Vito Fossella (R-NY) presented H.R. 5753 to Congress in April.

In a $546 million class action settlement agreement, Sears has agreed to provide anti-tip devices for free for 4 million stoves that they sold.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of a stove tipping, contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing the victims of a serious personal injuries due to defective products. Contact us today for a free case consultation.

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Posted In: Burn Injuries , Dangerous Products

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A jury in Snohomish Superior Court awarded Paramjit Singh of Mount Vernon, Washington a $40.1 million settlement after a defective medical device burned his heart during surgery. Singh then had to undergo a heart transplant and is forced to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life and has other serious health complications including facing a kidney transplant.

Singh underwent a cardiac bypass surgery at Everett Medical Center in 2004 when a device manufactured by Edwards Lifesciences overheated, burning his heart. Singh's heart stopped and could not be restarted. He had to be kept on a medical heart device for weeks until a heart could be found for a transplant.

Singh's lawyers presented evidence to the jury that Edwards Lifescience was aware that the of a potential problem with the device since 1998 but did not recall the device or warn hospitals and patients. Of the damages, $8.35 were punitive. Punitive damages are not generally allowed in Washington Court but the allowed them because Edwards Lifescience is located in California where punitive damages are allowed.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured or killed because of medical malpractice or a defective product, contact The Farber Law Group immediately. We have more than 30 years experience in representing victims of serious personal injury. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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Two recent medical studies found that Bayer’s anti-bleeding product, Trasylol, generically known as Asprotinin, is dangerous. Trasylol or Asprotinin, given to heart bypass surgery patients by their physicians to stop bleeding and reduce blood transfusions, was found to cause patients to die at a much higher rate than patients given other anti-bleeding drugs. The drug also caused a higher rate of kidney failure requiring patients to go on dialysis.

Although it is not clear why patients who took Trasylol died at a higher rate than patients given other medications, two recent medical studies reached that conclusion. They found that 6.4 percent of patients who were given Trasylol died within 30 days of the surgery, a rate nearly 2½ times higher than patients who got another drug or who received no treatment for excessive bleeding. At one year after surgery, almost 16 percent of Trasylol patients had died, approximately 2½ times higher than patients using an alternative medication.

According to the Associated Press, Bayer, who was aware of the this information, including the preliminary results from their own study, failed to present this evidence to the Food and Drug Administration, claiming the medical studies were flawed. But according to Dr. Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, it is Bayer’s reasoning that is flawed, “I just don’t know how much further evidence you need.” Wolfe also said that federal health officials should pursue criminal charges against Bayer for withholding information from FDA.

Trasylol has been on the market for 14 years and was used by doctors to treat hundreds of thousands of heart bypass patients each year. Bayer stopped selling the drug last fall, after a study was halted because of deaths among patients taking Trasylol.

Injuries or death resulting from dangerous drugs are often quite complex, and establishing legal fault requires the assistance of an attorney knowledgeable in this area of the law.

At The Farber Law Group, we are experienced in representing the victims of dangerous drugs and in helping victims or their families recover compensation for those injuries. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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A blood thinner – Heparin – which contained ingredients from a manufacturing plant in China has been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after it was linked to 19 deaths and 800 serious drug reactions The Seattle Times reported today. The contaminated medication is manufactured by Illinois-based Baxter Healthcare who recalled the product last month. Heparin is a drug thinner which is given to patients who are undergoing heart surgery or kidney dialysis to prevent blood clots. Heparin was recently in the news when an over-dosage amount was given to the twin infants of actor Dennis Quaid. In Quaid’s case, his twins were given 1,000 times the amount of recommended dose of the drug; Quaid has filed suit against the hospital and manufacturer in his case.

The severe reactions to the tainted medication include a large drop in blood pressure and difficult breathing. The FDA is currently investigating the plant in China that manufactures the ingredients for the drug and it appears that the Chinese plant was never inspected due to confusion with the plant’s name.

Washington state law allows for personal injury claims for persons who have been seriously injured or killed by defective prescription medications. Compensation can include:

• Wrongful death
• Loss of wages
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

If a loved one died after they were given heparin or if you had a serious complication after you received heparin, you may deserve compensation for damages. The Farber Law Group is a personal injury firm with 30 years experience. Call us today to discuss your claim.

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Two Bellevue, Washington construction workers were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being struck by construction equipment. The workers were installing guy wires on 118th Av SE when the accident occurred. According to KOMO news, “The hydraulic equipment that they were using to dig the hole malfunctioned, swung around and struck two of the five workers, seriously injuring them.” Construction accidents occur far too frequently and if they are the results of negligence, the injured person should contact an attorney who is experienced in construction accidents and worker's compensation laws.

Construction accidents resulted in 87 deaths in Washington State alone in 2006 according to U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. In 13 of those 87 deaths, the workers were hit by a piece of equipment as in this Bellevue case. Worker’s compensation covers most injuries that occur at the work place. However, in the case of faulty equipment, the equipment manufacturer, installer or owner could also be liable for damages.

A worker in who has been hurt while at work should seek the counsel of a construction lawyer. Accidents like the one that happened in Bellevue can be very serious and debilitating. The cost of rehabilitation, loss of wages and the inability to work for a long period of time can have serious financial consequences to a family.

The Farber Law Group specializes in the field of construction site accidents in the Pacific Northwest. They are familiar with all areas of construction site law and can utilize their knowledge to help prove negligence or blame from third parties. Often a work place injury goes beyond the scope of worker compensation laws. They can insure that all OSHA workplace rules and regulations had been followed properly. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a construction site accident, contact The Farber Law Group, a firm that specializes in personal injury claims, who can help you receive all the compensation you deserve.

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Posted In: Construction Accident , Dangerous Products

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