Tag: baltimore defective product law firm

More Bad News for Smith and Nephew

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Smith & Nephew continues to issue additional recalls for its defective hip implant devices. By now, Smith & Nephew has established a clear pattern of manufacturing faulty and dangerous hip devices that harm rather than help innocent users of those products. In June of 2012, Smith & Nephew issued a recall of its R3 Acetabular System hip implant, followed by a voluntary market withdrawal of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) Femoral System in June of 2015. In 2016, Smith & Nephew was forced to recall three additional hip implant products.

In August of 2016, Smith and Nephew recalled its Tandem Bipolar Hip System because of a manufacturing error that caused the device to fall apart inside the patient’s body, often within just a few weeks of surgery. Smith & Nephew manufactured the bipolar shells for this device out of specification. In issuing the recall, Smith & Nephew admitted that its negligence in manufacturing these devices could lead to a failure of the device that would require a revision surgery. They were forced to make this admission after product complaints and clinical study data showed a much a higher rate of problems for this device when compared to similar hip implants on the market.

In November of 2016, Smith and Nephew recalled its Modular SMF hip stem and Modular REDAPT hip systems. They again admitted that patients implanted with these devices may face a greater risk of the need for revision surgery based on data they collected.  Most of the problems were “metal related.” This means that like other Smith & Nephew metal-on-metal hip implant devices, many users of this product experienced dangerously high levels of chromium and cobalt in their blood. This forced innocent users of this defective product to undergo unnecessary revision surgeries.

Sadly, although time marches on, the story for Smith & Nephew remains the same. By continually putting profits ahead of the safety of individuals using its defective products, those persons are put at risk for suffering from harmful medical consequences. Our experienced lawyers fight for individuals who have been harmed by defective products. If you or a loved one has been injured or required revision surgery following a Smith & Nephew or other defective hip implant, the attorneys at the Yost Legal Group will investigate your lawsuit claim. For a free consultation, please call us at 1-800-YOSTLAW.

 

Glyphosate Added to California List of Cancer-Causing Chemicals

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According to the Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular herbicide Roundup, will be added to a list of known carcinogens in the state of California. Monsanto, the maker of RoundUp, has been in a legal battle with consumers who claim that the company inadequately warned users of the risk of cancer associated with the product. This listing, which goes into effect on July 7, 2017, is a victory for the over 800 individuals who have sued Monsanto claiming that RoundUp caused their cancer.

Monsanto is already fighting back, calling California’s decision “unwarranted on the basis of science and law.” Initially, the company attempted to block the addition of glyphosate to the list in trial court, but was unsuccessful.  OEHHA has announced that the listing of glyphosate will proceed, requiring companies in California that sell the chemical to add warning labels on packaging. California’s decision to officially classify glyphosate as a carcinogen and require a warning label on the product is a welcome advancement for those fighting against Monsanto’s irresponsibility.

If you or a loved one has non-Hodgins lymphoma cancer that may have been caused by exposure to Roundup, the experienced Mass Tort lawyers at The Yost Legal Group are here to help. Call The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) for a FREE, confidential, no-obligation consultation. At The Yost Legal Group, there is no fee or expense unless you recover.

Smith & Nephew Multi-District Litigation Comes to Maryland

Posted on by YostLaw

People from all over the United States suffering from injuries due to Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) and R3 Acetabular system hip devices are now closer than ever to receiving the compensation they deserve. On April 5, 2017, a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) was created to combine over 40 federal cases into one proceeding before one judge. The cases will be presided over by Judge Catherine C. Blake of the United States District Court of Maryland in Baltimore. This MDL allows for plaintiffs to maintain their right to a jury trial while benefitting from the efficiency and consistency of rulings by one judge.

Victims of the defective Smith & Nephew hip devices are in severe pain due to premature failure of the devices.  With normal use, components of the implant rub together causing metal particles to be released into the bloodstream. These metal particles cause elevated blood metal levels of Chromium and Cobalt called Metallosis. The side effects of Metallosis include severe hip and leg pain, tissue and bone death, loosening of the device, and pseudotumors.  These Smith & Nephew hip devices, which were supposed to improve the lives of hip replacement patients, have instead led to difficult complications and the need for revision surgeries.

The Maryland MDL gives victims new hope. They can now join together to fight for justice against Smith & Nephew. This is just the latest wave of lawsuits plaguing the medical device industry. Several other MDLs have already been formed to manage cases against hip device manufacturers like Stryker, DePuy, and Zimmer. Although it may take several years for the MDL proceedings to advance to the point where the first cases will be tried, there is no doubt that the consolidation of these Smith & Nephew claims is a step in the right direction.

Our experienced lawyers fight for individuals who have been harmed by defective products. If you or a loved one has been injured or required revision surgery following a Smith & Nephew or other defective hip device, the attorneys at the Yost Legal Group will investigate your potential claim and lawsuit. For a free consultation, please call us at 1-800-YOSTLAW.

Study Shows Cell Phone Use May Be Linked to Brain Cancer

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A recent federal study conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) found that radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by cell phones is linked to an increased risk of brain cancer. The study, which cost $25 million dollars and was conducted over a 2 ½ year period, showed that RF radiation can promote the growth of two types of tumors – glioma and schwannoma.

Although these results were obtained during experiments performed on rodents, the authors feel that this study “could have broad implications for public health.” The study showed that the incidence rate of malignant glioma and schwannoma tumors increased with exposure to RFR.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently denies that there is any scientific evidence to support the link between cell phone radiation and the risk of brain tumors. However, the results of this study suggest that more research must be done on this topic in the interest of protecting public safety and health. The researchers of this multi-million dollar study wrote that the results “appear to support” the conclusion that RF radiation may indeed be carcinogenic.

Every year, there are 25,000 malignant brain tumors diagnosed in the U.S. Malignant brain tumors are the most common cause of cancer-related deaths for people between the ages of 15 and 39, and about 80% of malignant brain tumors are gliomas.

To read more about the results of this study, click here.

The authors of this study believe that there still is not enough data to declare definitively that cell phone radiation has no link to cancer. More research on the potential link between cell phone radiation and brain tumors is still being conducted. At The Yost Legal Group, our goal is to inform and educate consumers about potential health risks.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective or unsafe product, call The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529). When you call, you will receive a FREE, confidential consultation with one of our experienced Baltimore Product Liability attorneys.

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