Thornton Law Firm Blog

Birth Defects Such As Spina Bifida Linked To Prescription Painkillers

Birth Defects Such As Spina Bifida Linked To Prescription Painkillers

Thornton Law Firm currently represents over 100 children with one of the most devastating types of birth defects, neural tube defects, arising from exposure to toxic chemicals and other hazardous substances. Neural tube defects are disorders of the central nervous system and involve such conditions as spina bifida (incomplete development of the spine), anencephaly (the skull does not close completely and part of the brain may be missing), and encephalocele (the brain is pushed through an opening in the skull).

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Bard Settles 2nd Bellwether Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit

Bard Settles 2nd Bellwether Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit

C.R. Bard recently settled the second federal Avaulta transvaginal mesh bellwether case just before trial which was scheduled to start last week. The settlement terms between Bard and the plaintiff, a North Carolina woman named Wanda Queen, are undisclosed. The announcement was made by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin, who presides over all six surgical mesh consolidated federal multi-district litigation (MDL) dockets. Besides the Bard consolidated cases, Judge Goodwin presides over litigation involving American Medical Systems, Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., Coloplast Corp., Cook Medical, Inc., and Ethicon, Inc.

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Three Year Anniversary Of DePuy ASR Recall Approaches

Three Year Anniversary Of DePuy ASR Recall Approaches

DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., recalled the DePuy ASR™ XL Acetabular Hip System on August 24, 2010, three years ago this coming Saturday. The three-year statute of limitations applicable to Massachusetts claims (and claims in states with a similar limitations period) could possibly expire in many cases at the end of this month. DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, recalled its ASR Hip System because of an exceptionally high failure rate and resulting metal poisoning. DePuy’s Pinnacle® metal-on-metal hip system, which remains on the market today but is being phased out by J&J, is experiencing similar failures.

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Transvaginal Mesh Implant Verdict: Bard Ordered To Pay $2M In Damages

Transvaginal Mesh Implant Verdict: Bard Ordered To Pay $2M In Damages

On August 15, 2013, a West Virginia jury awarded Donna Cisson a $2 million verdict, $250,000 in compensatory damages and $1.75 million in punitive damages, against C. R. Bard for injuries caused by its transvaginal mesh implant Avaulta. Donna Cisson’s attorneys presented evidence that her vaginal mesh implant caused bleeding, constant intractable pain and bladder spasms. Ultimately Cisson endured several surgeries to remove much of the surgical mesh; she still has 22 inches of mesh inside her body and the constant pain.

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DePuy Orthopaedics Femur And Tibia Implant Gets Highest-Risk Status

DePuy Orthopaedics Femur And Tibia Implant Gets Highest-Risk Status

The FDA and DePuy have issued a class-1 recall, the highest alert, of DePuy’s femur and tibia implant called the LPS Lower Extremity Dovetail Intercalary Component. This is because this device has the potential to fracture when the patient walks normally or conducts normal activities – like ascending stairs, or rising from a chair. People weighing over 200 pounds or with high activity levels are at higher risk of fractures.

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