Metal Hip Replacement Failure Lawsuits
When metal-on-metal hip replacement implants fail, they increasing the amount of wear and produce debris particles (ions) of cobalt and chromium, which are alloys used in the implants. These cobalt and chromium ions can cause erosion of bone and loosening of the implants. In some cases cobalt and chromium toxicity concentrated around the metal-on-metal implant can cause death of tissue cells (called necrosis), including those of the muscles, tendons, nerves and bones. This causes permanent damage and disability.
Are you worried about metal hip replacement failure? Has your doctor found traces of cobalt and chromium in your blood but told you to wait and see if there is a problem?
Our law firm can help. Attorney David Szerlag is lead attorney for our cobalt and chromium poisoning cases. He and our litigation team have filed several lawsuits against one manufacturer of metal-on-metal hip replacement implants, DePuy Orthopaedics, owned by Johnson & Johnson, and he is investigating cases involving other manufacturers. Contact David for a free consultation.
- David is involved in getting our metal hip replacement failure lawsuits through multidistrict litigation (MDL), a process like a class action lawuit.
- If you hire our law firm, you will not have to pay any upfront fees, and we are not paid unless you win.
- David’s experience includes a leading roll in recently obtaining tens of millions of dollars for people injured by another medical product.
Novartis Recalls OTC Drugs That May Contain Other Drugs
Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. (NCH) is voluntarily recalling all lots of select bottle packaging configurations of Excedrin® and NoDoz® products with expiration dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier as well as Bufferin® and Gas-X Prevention® products with expiration dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier, in the United States.
The recalled products may contain stray tablets, capsules, or caplets from other Novartis products, or contain broken or chipped tablets. These over-the-counter products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers and retailers. Click the link for a complete list of products.
Different products mixed in the same bottle could result in consumers taking the incorrect product and receiving a higher or lower strength than intended or receiving an unintended ingredient. This could potentially result in overdose, interaction with other medications a consumer may be taking, or an allergic reaction if the consumer is allergic to the unintended ingredient. NCH is not aware of adverse events reported with the issues leading to the recall.
The NCH facility in Lincoln, NE has voluntarily suspended operations and shipments to accelerate maintenance and other improvement activities at the site. The company is notifying its distributors and customers and is arranging for return of all recalled products. Wholesalers and retailers should stop distribution and return the affected product using Novartis Product Return information that is being provided to them.
NCH plans to gradually resume operations at its Lincoln, NE site following implementation of planned improvements and in agreement with the FDA. The facility produces a variety of products mainly for the US market with annual sales value of less than 2% of Novartis Group sales. At this stage, it is not possible to determine when the plant will resume full operations and the full financial impact of these events. NCH will take a one-time charge currently estimated at USD 120 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, relating to the recalls and improvement work at the Lincoln, NE facility.
If you have legal questions about an illness, hospitalization or medical event that may be associated with this recall, contact the attorneys at PritzkerOlsem P.A. for a free consultation.
Attorney David Szerlag Quoted by Lawyers USA in Article About Avastin Vision Loss Cases
Attorney David Szerlag of our law firm was quoted in the October, 2011, edition of Lawyers USA in an article discussing cases of blindness resulting from an off-label use of Avastin and lawsuits against Genentech, the maker of Avastin, and the Veteran’s Administration. The following is an excerpt from the article, “Off-label Avastin use is linked to blindness” by Sylvia Hsieh:
Attorney David Szerlag
David Szerlag, an attorney at Pritzker Olsen in Minneapolis, said he has a 52-year-old client in Virginia and a 91-year-old client in Satatoga, Calif., who lost their vision within days of an eye injection of Avastin. Both patients were told by doctors that their vision loss is permanent, Szerlag said.
“We have been signing up individuals from various states — South Carolina, Virginia and Illinois — who are complaining of the same symptomology. Starting to hear from clients around the country makes me think it’s not an isolated problem,” Szerlag said, noting that he is still in the preliminary stages of investigating the cases.
If your loved one lost his or her vision after having an injection of Avastin, contact attorney David Szerlag for a free consultation.
Avastin Eye Infection Lawsuit for Vision Loss
Our attorneys are investigating eye infections and vision loss caused by Avastin that was repackaged by pharmacies into syringes for use as macular degeneration treatment. The evidence suggests that during the repackaging process the Avastin became contaminated with dangerous bacteria, primarily Streptococcus (including oralis, viridans and other serotypes). When the contaminated Avastin was injected into patients’ eyes, the bacteria caused infections that, in many cases, led to total vision loss.
Attorney David Szerlag is our lead attorney for these cases. He has won millions for people injured by medical products.
Repackaged Avastin Causing Vision Loss in Several States
People from several states have reported vision loss after injections with Avastin repackaged by pharmacies. Outbreaks of eye infections from the repackaged Avastin have been reported in the Miami, Florida area, the Los Angeles, California area, and Nashville, Tennessee. The pharmacies that supplied the repackaged Avastin involved in these outbreaks were located in Hollywood, Florida, Nashville and Los Angeles.
We have also been contacted by people in South Carolina and Illinois. We are gathering evidence for Avastin eye infection lawsuits, and our attorneys are available for a free case review.
Repackaging sterile drugs without proper aseptic technique can compromise product sterility, potentially putting patients at risk for microbial infections. People are losing their vision because pharmacies are negligently repackaging Avastin.
If you or a family member contracted an eye infection and suffered vision loss after treatment with Avastin, contact our attorneys for a free consultation. Our attorneys have held leadership positions in multidistrict litigation (MDL) lawsuits. MDL is like a class action lawsuit but only the pretrial proceedings are consolidated.
Repackaged Avastin eye infections may have affected people in other states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Reclast Kidney Failure: Free Consultation with Lawyer
Our attorneys are available for a free consultation regarding Reclast kidney failure. Attorney David Szerlag
is our lead attorney for these cases. Mr. Szerlag recently won millions for people injured by an over-the-counter medical product (not Reclast) that caused kidney failure after use. He is now investigating the causal relationship between Reclast and kidney failure (renal failure).
Reclast is a zoledronic acid injection approved for use to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. It is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. For over two years, cases of acute renal failure requiring dialysis or having a fatal outcome (at least 16 deaths) following Reclast use have been reported to FDA.
Finally, Novartis has submitted and the FDA has approved an update to the drug label for Reclast (zoledronic acid) to better inform healthcare professionals and patients of the risk of kidney failure. This is too late for the many people who suffered kidney failure after use of Reclast, and Novartis should be held accountable.
Our attorneys represent people in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against drug manufacturers like Novartis. They have won millions for our clients. Attorney David Szerlag played a leadership role in multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the manufacturer (not Novartis) of another medical product that caused kidney failure. MDL is like a class action lawsuit but it only consolidates pretrial procedures.
States where Reclast may be sold: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Avastin Lawsuit: Free Consultation with Lawyer Regarding Eye Infection
At least 12 serious eye infections (endophthalmitis) have been caused by injections into the eye of repackaged Avastin (bevacizumad) that was contaminated with Streptococcus bacteria. These reported cases were in the Miami, Florida area.
Investigators traced the tainted Avastin injections to a single pharmacy located in Hollywood, Florida. The pharmacy repackaged the Avastin from sterile injectable 100 mg/4 mL, single-use, preservative-free vials into individual 1 mL single-use syringes. It is suspected that the repackaging process was not done with proper aseptic technique, which allowed Streptococcus bacteria to contaminate the Avastin.
This pharmacy should be held accountable for the injuries and blindness that it caused. These cases are even more egregious because the FDA has not approved of the use of Avastin for macular degeneration or other eye problems. Avastin is approved as a cancer drug.
To date, three clinics are involved in this outbreak of Streptococcus endophthalmitis. Because the pharmacy distributed the repackaged Avastin to multiple eye clinics, other clinics may be involved. Health care professionals should ensure that drug products are obtained from appropriate, reliable sources and properly administered. It appears that the clinics that used the repackaged Avastin on the 12 outbreak victims did not take the care needed to make sure the repackaged Avastin was safe to use. In addition, Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) has been approved by the FDA for wet age-related macular degeneration, so one wonders why the clinics used the unapproved, repackaged Avastin instead of an approved drug.
Fred Pritzker is our lead attorney for cases involving contaminated medical products that cause serious infections. He and his team of lawyers have won millions for people injured by defective medical products and represent people throughout the United States. Contact our law firm for a free consultation regarding lawsuit against the pharmacy and others responsible for your loved one’s eye infection and vision loss.
