Blog | Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorneys

Recent Developments in Mesothelioma Treatment

by Andrew S. Wainwright | Jan 11, 2017

During the first part of the twentieth century, many construction companies began using carcinogenic asbestos fibers in their building materials, including drywall, insulation, and ceiling tiles. Unfortunately, it was several decades before the general public discovered the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, an aggressive and often deadly form of cancer. Although companies have since discontinued using almost all materials that contain asbestos, many individuals continue to suffer from this illness as a result of asbestos exposure. Fortunately, in the last ten years, doctors have made great strides in treating mesothelioma.

Invokana Cases Consolidated in MDL

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | Jan 3, 2017

The Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation transferred all existing Invokana (canagliflozin) and Invokamet (canagliflozin/metformin) cases alleging ketoacidosis and kidney disease from federal courts across the country to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on December 7, 2016. A total of 55 cases alleging injuries from these diabetes drugs were transferred from Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia and West Virginia to a consolidated docket before the Honorable Brian R. Martinotti.

Invokana and Invokamet are classified as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 drugs (a/k/a SGLT2 inhibitors). SGLT2s work by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing blood sugar. This lets the sugar leave the body through the urine, and thereby lowers blood glucose levels. SGLT2s are prescribed for Type 2 diabetes.

All Wrapped Up

by Patricia M. Flannery | Dec 22, 2016

For over 25 years, every December the employees of Thornton Law Firm LLP purchase and wrap hundreds of presents for families and children living in transitional housing provided by Heading Home, a fantastic charity aiming to end homelessness in greater Boston.

Families with children remain the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. There are an estimated 4,100 homeless families Massachusetts alone, including 839+ families who are living in motels.

Heading Home serves nearly 1,600 homeless people in Greater Boston annually. Their clients are both individuals and families spanning all ages, from infancy (and even pre-natal care) to elderly. A typical homeless family consists of a single mother in her 20s with 1-3 children; the majority of their family program participants are young single mothers. People with disabilities are disproportionately homeless; they also provides specific services for individuals with disabilities both directly and via partnerships with housing development corporations. Heading Home also provides its clients with critical services such as life skills, financial literacy, and job training.

Super Lawyers Awards – 2016

by Patricia M. Flannery | Dec 19, 2016

By: Patricia M. Flannery, Esq. Published on December 19, 2016 Super Lawyers is a national rating service that recognizes attorneys from over 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and achievement. The selection process includes rigorous...

Essure Permanent Birth Control

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | Dec 16, 2016

Essure, Bayer’s permanent birth control device, was recently ordered to carry a black box warning by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). A black box warning is the FDA’s highest level of regulation, meaning that the product may cause death or serious injury. In addition, all patients must now complete a Patient Decision Checklist before having the device implanted. This action by the FDA follows years of complaints by women who received the Essure implant and suffered a number of serious injuries which they attribute to the device.

Stryker Issues New Hip Implant Recall

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | Dec 8, 2016

Stryker Corporation has notified physicians and hospitals of an Urgent Medical Device Recall of its LFIT Anatomic Cobalt Chrome V39 femoral heads manufactured before 2011. Stryker received what it called a “higher than expected” number of reports from doctors of taper lock failure.

J&J Ordered To Pay $1 Billion in Hip Implant Case

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | Dec 2, 2016

A jury in Dallas federal court ordered Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics unit to pay more than $1 billion dollars to six Pinnacle hip recipients who suffered serious medical complications from their DePuy Pinnacle hip implants. The jury found that the metal-on-metal Pinnacle hips were defectively designed, and that J&J and DePuy failed to warn patients and doctors about the risks.

J&J To Pay $70 Million in Talc Ovarian Cancer Verdict

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | Oct 28, 2016

A St. Louis jury awarded a California woman $70 million dollars in her lawsuit claiming that years of using Johnson & Johnson’s talc baby powder caused her ovarian cancer. This is the third straight multi-million dollar award against Johnson & Johnson for women who developed ovarian cancer after using J&J’s talc baby powder or Shower to Shower powder. Despite the verdicts, Johnson & Johnson continues to sell talcum powder products throughout the world.

Zecuity Migraine Patch May Cause Burns and Scarring

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | Jun 20, 2016

The Zecuity Migraine Patch (sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system) is being investigated by the FDA for potentially causing serious burns and permanent scarring. The manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, has temporarily stopped selling, marketing and distributing the Zecuity skin patch after receiving what the FDA described as “a large number” of serious adverse skin reactions.

Defective Mask: $32.8M Mesothelioma Verdict

by Andrew S. Wainwright | May 17, 2016

By: Andrew S. Wainwright, Esq. Published on May 17, 2016 A California jury awarded $32.8 million dollars to a foundry worker and his wife for his developing mesothelioma after breathing asbestos while wearing a defective respirator sold by American Optical...

J&J To Pay $55 Million for Talc Ovarian Cancer

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | May 5, 2016

A South Dakota woman was awarded $55 million dollars against Johnson & Johnson for developing ovarian cancer after decades of using J&J talcum powder products. The verdict is the second successive multi-million dollar verdict against Johnson & Johnson in the past two months for women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder for many years.

J&J DePuy Ordered To Pay $502 Million for Pinnacle Hips

by Marilyn McGoldrick, Esq. | Mar 18, 2016

A federal jury awarded over $500 million dollars to 5 patients who claimed injuries from their Johnson & Johnson DePuy Pinnacle metal hip implants. The verdict is the second largest verdict in the United States this year.

Thornton Law Firm Blog