Alerts

Cohen & Malad, LLP class action attorneys are investigating Bank of Oklahoma for charging overdraft and insufficient funds fees to its checking account customers. The investigation involves Bank of Oklahoma’s practice of charging multiple insufficient funds fees for a single transaction. Consumers with Bank of Oklahoma checking accounts may have been charged multiple overdraft or […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP class action attorneys are investigating Capital One Bank for charging overdraft and insufficient funds fees to its checking account customers. The investigation involves Capital One Bank’s practice of charging multiple insufficient funds fees for a single transaction. Consumers with Capital One Bank checking accounts may have been charged multiple overdraft or […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP class action attorneys are investigating TD Bank for charging overdraft and insufficient funds fees to its checking account customers. The investigation involves TD Bank’s practice of charging multiple insufficient funds fees for a single transaction. Consumers with TD Bank checking accounts may have been charged multiple overdraft or insufficient funds fees […]

Our class action attorneys are investigating Wintrust Bank and its wholly-owned subsidiary banks overdraft fees on customer checking accounts. The investigation involves Wintrust Bank’s practice of authorizing debit card purchases that caused overdrafts and charges to the customers’ accounts for bank overdraft fees, instead of Wintrust rejecting the transactions. If you or someone you know […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP, Carney Bates & Pulliam PLLC, and Gallagher & Kennedy have filed a class action lawsuit against LifeLock, Inc., for allegedly failing to provide promised identity theft protection services to its customers. The company offers customers several different monthly service plans that are supposed to protect and notify customers of identity theft. […]

Bank of America is facing another lawsuit for allegedly charging improper banking fees to its customers. Credit card customers of the bank claim they have been charged improper “Foreign Transaction Fees” for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency transactions. The lawsuit alleges that since cryptocurrencies are not considered actual monetary instruments by banks and governments they should […]

On July 17 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted health care professionals and patients of a voluntary recall of several drug products containing the active ingredient valsartan, used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. This recall is due to an impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which was found in the recalled products. NDMA […]

Bank of America customers are complaining about monthly service fees charged to their checking accounts without their consent. Our class action attorneys are investigating these complaints. The customers allege Bank of America closed their free eBanking Checking accounts and opened Core Checking accounts that required a $12 monthly maintenance fee without their consent. If you […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Bank of America customers who were wrongfully assessed Withdrawal Limit Fees on their personal banking accounts. Customers claimed that Bank of America failed to adhere to its fee schedule of allowing six free withdrawals per statement cycle and instead assessed $10 charges on withdrawals […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against United Community Bank on behalf of its banking customers who have checking accounts and have been charged improper overdraft fees. The lawsuit challenges UCB’s alleged routine practice of assessing overdraft fees on debit card transactions that did not overdraw checking accounts, along with multiple insufficient funds […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP along with Cohen Milstein and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against AT & T Mobility for discriminating against pregnant employees. The employees claim that the mobile phone company fired them unjustly for pregnancy-related absences, which is in direct violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act, Pregnancy Discrimination […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Indiana Members Credit Union on behalf of its members who have checking accounts and have been charged improper overdraft fees. One example of improper overdraft fees included in the lawsuit involved a member that was charged multiple overdraft fees for the same transaction when the account […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors Company on behalf of consumers who purchased specific model vehicles and alleged the vehicles contained defective air conditioning systems. The lawsuit includes the following vehicle years and models: 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban, 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2014-2016 GMC Sierra […]

Our class action attorneys are investigating complaints from MB financial customers who have paid overdraft fees on their checking accounts. Customers allege the bank provided authorizations on debit card purchases, which took the accounts to a negative balance rather than rejecting the transaction, and charged overdraft fees when the items were paid. If you or […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP attorneys are investigating complaints from owners of General Motors vehicles regarding defective air conditioning systems. Some owners have stated that the air conditioning systems in some GM vehicles crack with normal use resulting in refrigerant leaks and pressure loss leaving the system inoperable. Many of these drivers have said that replacement […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Intel Corporation on behalf of all Indiana residents who purchased Intel processors which the company recently announced could allow hackers to steal sensitive data from devices using its hardware. The lawsuit alleges Intel’s x86-64x central processing unit (CPU) suffers from a security defect that could […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit with several other law firms including Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP; Carney Bates & Pulliam, PLLC; Cuneo Gilbert & Laduca, LLP; and Mehri & Skalet against HCC Medical Insurance Services, LLC; HCC Life Insurance Company, and Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. on behalf of consumers who […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against VisionQuest Eyecare in Greenwood, Indiana, for failing to secure sensitive customer information stored in its computer database. Personal identification information and protected health information of over 85,000 patients was accessed by cyberthieves sometime before January 22, 2017 according to the lawsuit. This information includes names, […]

Mayor Joe Hogsett announced that the Consolidated City of Indianapolis hired Cohen & Malad, LLP to pursue legal action against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The mayor stated at an October 5, 2017 press conference that this legal action is an additional resource for the city in the fight against the opioid addiction epidemic sweeping across […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a drug safety announcement on May 16, 2017 that the type 2 diabetes medicine canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR) causes an increased risk of leg and foot amputations.  The announcement was based on new data from two large clinical trials.   As a result of the data from […]

Equifax reported a major data breach affecting as many as 143 million people (nearly half the U.S. population) occurred between mid-May and July 2017. The company stated cyberthieves accessed personal information including names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and some driver’s license information. The company also stated the credit card account numbers of nearly […]

Johnson & Johnson subsidiary DePuy Synthes issued a recall of its Radial Head Prosthesis System, an elbow joint replacement device, after a number of device failures were reported to the FDA. Patients may experience serious injury including bone loss, bone fracture, soft tissue damage and pain as a result of the failure of this elbow replacement […]

The FDA announced a Class I recall for Cook Medical’s Zenith Alpha thoracic endovascular graft after the manufacturer stated blood clots may form inside the device. The endovascular graft is a device used  to repair blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI), which is defined as a tear or rupture in the main blood vessel that leads […]

A jury in Los Angeles, California ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $417 million in damages to a woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder for feminine hygiene for decades. The lawsuit alleged that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn women about increased risks for ovarian cancer linked […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP attorneys are investigating claims for owners of Toyota Sienna minivans where the sliding door can open while the minivan is moving which puts them and their passengers at risk for serious injury. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. issued a recall of approximately 744,000 2011 – 2016 Model Toyota Sienna vehicles for […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP attorneys are investigating claims from Citizens Gas customers in Indiana who state they have charges for line repair service plans on their bills. The charge appears as “UtilityShield” on the monthly billing statement. If you or someone you know is a customer of Citizens Gas and has a charge for UtilityShield […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Nicor Energy Services Company for slipping charges onto Hoosier customers’ utility bills for unnecessary and worthless repair plans.  The class action lawsuit alleges that Nicor’s relationship with Indiana public utility company Vectren allows it to use Vectren’s logo, color scheme, and billing statements to charge […]

Quicken Loans, Inc. is accused of charging illegal “post-payment” interest on FHA home mortgage loans that were paid off or refinanced. “Post-payment” interest is currently not permitted on FHA loans and was only previously allowed in very specific circumstances. Quicken is the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and the largest FHA lender, yet is […]

INDOT just notified property owners along I-69 Section 6 that they will be receiving a Notice of Survey letter soon as INDOT begins survey work along the Section 6 corridor.  So what can you expect if you receive one of these letters? What is involved in the survey process? Pursuant to IC 8-23-7-26, INDOT or […]

Last week, Cohen & Malad, LLP sent notices of tort claims to Indiana state and local government agencies for failing to alert purchasers of thousands of homes in Indiana that the homes were former meth labs.  Indiana law provides for state and local government to provide notice on homes that have been flagged by law […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP, has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Illinois and Indiana insureds against Accordia Life and Annuity Company and others alleging the companies illegally canceled and converted policies. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Central District of Illinois, alleges that after Accordia took over life insurance policies from […]

There are new developments that affect more than 21,000 retired NFL football players regarding the timing of NFL concussion litigation settlement payments. Registration and certain deadlines must be made in accordance the settlement agreement. The benchmark date for most deadlines was recently changed to January 7, 2017.  This is the “effective date” and is based […]

Defective batteries are at the root of a recall issued by the FDA for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) manufactured by St. Jude Medical, Inc. The recalled devices include the Fortify, Unify, and Quadra models of ICDs and CRT-Ds.  The recall was issued after a defect was identified that could […]

Recent class action lawsuits against leading insurance companies such as Lincoln Nation Insurance Company, Phoenix Life, Transamerica Life Insurance Co., AXA Equitable, and Banner Life, allege that insurers improperly raised the “cost of insurance” on universal life the policies, which can cause the cash value of the policies to drop or the policies to lapse […]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against Navient Corporation, the largest servicer of student loans in the U.S. stating that the company “systematically” cheated borrowers.  The lawsuit alleges that Navient, which services more than 12 million borrowers, failed to respond to consumer complaints, provided incorrect information to borrowers, and improperly processed payments on […]

Central Indiana hospitals have recently notified thousands of heart surgery patients about an increased risk for life-threatening infections linked to a device often used during heart surgeries, the Stockert 3T heater-cooler device. The device is used to regulate blood temperature during open-heart procedures. IU Health, the Roudebush VA Medical Center, Community Health Network, and Franciscan […]

Actos Bladder Cancer Injury Attorneys in Indiana The FDA recently issued an updated safety notice related to an increased risk for bladder cancer for patients taking Actos and other pioglitazone-containing medicines including Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR, Duetact, and Oseni. The initial safety notice was based off interim results from a 10-year study to assess […]

Physiomesh Injury Attorneys Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon recalled Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh after two large studies revealed high revision rates. Physiomesh is implanted laparoscopically to repair ventral hernias. The studies found that patients implanted with Physiomesh experienced complications which required revision surgeries to fix problems associated with the implanted device. Complications associated with Physiomesh […]

Essure Contraceptive Injury Lawsuits   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a label change for Essure permanent birth control implants after receiving hundreds of adverse event reports from women who were seriously injured. Women suffered serious injuries including organ perforation after the device migrated from the insertion site, allergic or hypersensitivity reactions from […]

Stryker Corporation has issued a voluntary recall of its LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 hip replacement devices. The company sent an urgent recall notification to surgeons late August 2016 advising of potential hazards associated with these devices. Specifically Stryker is recalling LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40TM Femoral Heads manufactured prior to 2011. The following chart shows additional […]

On Thursday, September 22, 20166, Yahoo Inc. announced it discovered a massive data breach affecting more than 500 million user accounts. The company stated that hackers may have accessed sensitive user information including names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, encrypted and unencrypted security questions and answers, and hashed passwords. Users were told this […]

In early September 2016, ITT Technical Institute closed all 138 of its campuses, six of which were located in Indiana, shortly after the U.S. Department of Education stopped the school from enrolling new students who use federal financial aid to pay for tuition. ITT is a for-profit college that has been under close scrutiny by […]

Banking giant Wells Fargo was fined $185 million for opening customer accounts and conducting transactions without permission. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau imposed the fine on Wells Fargo, which reportedly fired approximately 5,300 who signed up nearly two million customers for fake accounts dating as far back as 2011. Wells Fargo employees reportedly opened unauthorized […]

More than 1,000 residents in the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, Indiana, are currently being exposed to dangerously high levels of lead pollution in the soil surrounding their homes according to a letter they received from Mayor Anthony Copeland. The mayor advised residents that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the ground […]

Drug maker Eli Lilly and Company is facing additional lawsuits alleging its erectile dysfunction drug Cialis places men at a higher risk for melanoma skin cancer. Several men allege that Eli Lilly failed to warn doctors and patients of an increased risk for the development of melanoma. Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of […]

Banner Health announced it discovered a data breach on July 13, 2016 which put 3.7 million customers and patients at risk for identity theft. Banner Health is based in Phoenix with locations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. The company stated cyber thieves gained unauthorized access to Banner Health patient database files. […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit June 9, 2016 against Uber Technologies, Inc. on behalf of Uber drivers in Indiana. The lawsuit alleges that Uber failed to pay appropriate wages to drivers by misclassifying drivers as independent contractors when, in fact, Uber controls the drivers like employees. Employees, unlike independent contractors, are […]

The FDA issued a safety warning on May 12, 2016, to restrict the use of fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs including Levaquin, Cipro, and Avelox. This new safety announcement will restrict use of Levaquin and other fluoroquinolone drugs and require that they not be used to treat patients with sinusitis, bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who […]

A St. Louis jury awarded $55 million to a South Dakota woman who claimed she developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products for many years. This is the second time a Missouri jury has awarded damages in litigation involving cancer claims against Johnson & Johnson for its Shower to Shower and […]

The Food and Drug Administration announced Bayer Essure birth control implant devices must include a heightened warning for patients and doctors. The Essure birth control implant is a non-surgical permanent form of birth control. The implant resembles a small spring and is made of nickel-titanium coils. It is inserted into the Fallopian tubes and encourages […]

Premier Healthcare in Bloomington, Indiana, announced a possible data breach of 200,000 patient records after a laptop was stolen from the Billing Department of its administrative office on January 4, 2016. The healthcare company states documents that can be found on the laptop contain patient name, address, dates of birth, social security numbers, financial information, […]

A Missouri jury awarded $72 million to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower and talc-based baby powder products for several decades. Lawyers argued that Johnson & Johnson knew talc-based products could cause cancer and failed to warn consumers of this risk. The jury […]

Fast-food restaurant Wendy’s reported earlier this week that it is investigating claims of a possible credit card breach at certain locations. A spokesperson for the restaurant stated that a pattern of potentially fraudulent charges to credit cards used as payment at some Wendy’s restaurants was identified by payment industry contacts. Since this pattern was identified, […]

Vizio Inc., a manufacturer of Smart TVs, faces a class action lawsuit for violating the privacy of millions of consumers. Class action lawsuits have been filed by people who purchased Vizio Smart TVs with “Automatic Content Recognition” software. The complaints allege this software enabled Vizio to monitor and identify consumer’s video viewing habits. This data, […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP class action attorneys are investigating wage claims from people hired by Amazon to deliver products to its customers via Amazon “Prime Now” same-day shipping service. Delivery drivers claim that Amazon has misclassified them as independent contractors rather than contract employees, failed to pay them for hours worked including overtime, and failed […]

IU Health Arnett Hospital located in Lafayette, Indiana, notified patients that the privacy of sensitive personal information had been compromised. Notices were mailed to patients on December 31, 2015, stating that an unencrypted USB flash drive containing spreadsheets with patient information related to Emergency Department visits between November 1, 2014 and November 20, 2015 was […]

A class action lawsuit was filed against Swagway LLC for the defective manufacture of its “Swagway Smart Balancing Electric Skateboard”, also known as a hoverboard, after consumers complained these products caught fire while operating and/or charging the battery. Recent media reports state retailers like Amazon and Target have stopped selling these hoverboards due to fire hazards. […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Illinois residents against Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company for failing to pay auto insurance premium refunds the company promised to safe drivers. Sentry’s Payback® insurance policies provided that if an insured remained claim free for five years, Sentry would “payback” half of the […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration met November 5, 2015, to discuss the risks and benefits of using fluoroquinolones on patients with bronchitis, sinusitis, and urinary tract infections. Fluoroquinolone drugs are a powerful class of antibiotic drugs and include brand names Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been linked to a list of serious […]

Class action attorneys at Cohen & Malad, LLP are investigating antitrust claims by municipalities and businesses that purchased the water treatment chemical liquid aluminum sulfate for industrial use. Liquid aluminum sulfate is used by municipalities to treat drinking and waste water. Pulp and paper companies also use liquid aluminum sulfate in the manufacturing process. On […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP is investigating consumer claims after a class action lawsuit was filed against FanDuel and DraftKings alleging the daily fantasy sports websites used fraudulent tactics and false advertising to entice consumers to enter its contests. FanDuel & DraftKings solicited their contests as skill-driven competitions suggesting that players with stronger player selection strategies […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all consumers impacted by the Excellus and Lifetime Healthcare Companies data breach. Excellus and Lifetime announced that they, along with Lifetime Benefit Solutions, Lifetime Care, Lifetime Health Medical Group, The MedAmerica Companies, and Univera Healthcare, had databases that contained personal information of approximately […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Experian Information Solutions, Inc., on behalf of T-Mobile consumers whose personal information was compromised in a data breach hack that took place between September 2013 and September 2015. Experian reported sensitive personal information of approximately 15 million T-Mobile customers was accessed by cyber thieves. Information […]

Discount securities brokerage firm Scottrade announced Friday October 2, 2015, that sensitive personal data of 4.6 million customers was compromised during a data breach occurring between late 2013 and early 2014. The company claims that social security numbers, email addresses, and other personal information was contained in the data base, but that only names and […]

Credit reporting agency Experian reported October 1, 2015 that hackers accessed personal information of more than 15 million T-Mobile customers in a massive data breach. T-Mobile uses Experian credit bureau files to run credit checks on its customers. Experian stated that cyber thieves accessed its data base in September and stole sensitive personal information including […]

Indianapolis, IN [September 28, 2015] — Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Indiana residents improperly solicited for pre-need funeral and cemetery services by Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery. The lawsuit alleges that Crown Hill violated the Indiana Pre-Need Act by directly soliciting patients in mental health and health […]

The impact of Volkswagen’s actions to cheat emissions testing via software installed in more than 11 million of its vehicles is being felt by carmakers across Europe. A German magazine, Auto Bild, reported that the International Council on Clean Transportation found some BMW diesel engines had “significantly” exceeded regulatory emissions limits. However, BMW issued a […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., on behalf of U.S. motorists who purchased certain diesel engine models of vehicles that contained software that only turned on full pollution controls when the car was undergoing official emissions testing. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also […]

New York state health insurer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced Wednesday, September 9, 2015, that it was the victim of a cyber-attack that allowed hackers access to personal information of approximately 10.5 million customers. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its parent company Lifetime Healthcare stated the breach occurred as early as December 23, 2013 and exposed client […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of more than 3.9 million consumers whose medical information was stored by Medical Information Engineering (MIE), a medical software company that contracts with numerous healthcare facilities across the United States. The lawsuit alleges that MIE failed to safeguard personal information including names, addresses, phone […]

The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into possible antitrust practices including controlling the supply of available seats and price-fixing at the four biggest airline carriers in the United States: American Airlines Group Inc., United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., and Southwest Airlines Co. according to several reports. Airline passengers filed class […]

The FDA issued a recall for the Zimmer M/L Taper with Kinectiv Technology Femoral Stems and Necks hip implants on June 19, 2015. Patients are at an increased risk for allergic reactions, pain, infections, or death related to high level of manufacturing residue on these implant components. The FDA states that revision surgery to replace […]

On March 12, 2015, the FDA issued a recall for Zimmer Persona Trabecular Metal Tibial Plate / Persona TM Tibia-Prosthesis knee implants after patients complained of complications involving loosening of the knee joint and large gaps in between knee replacement components or between bone and the components, also known as radiolucent lines. Some patients have […]

A Senate Judiciary Committee is meeting to discuss potential price-fixing activities of major U.S. contact lens makers after requests for an investigation by the American Antitrust Institute suggest that “unilateral pricing policies” used by contact lens makers are against the law. The American Antitrust Institute stated contact lens makers have set minimum resale prices on […]

Testosterone Injury Lawsuits The FDA issued a new labeling requirement on March 3, 2015, for manufacturers of prescription testosterone products to inform healthcare professionals and patients about a possible increased risk for heart attacks and strokes in patients taking these drugs. The FDA also included a caution that prescription testosterone products are only approved for […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP is investigating consumer concerns about laminate flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators. California consumers filed a class action lawsuit in December 2014 against Lumber Liquidators alleging Chinese-made laminate flooring exceeded EPA standards for formaldehyde emissions. Anderson Cooper of CBS’s “60 Minutes” reported that Lumber Liquidators is the largest and fastest-growing retailer of […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP attorneys are investigating legal claims against computer manufacturer Lenovo and advertising company Superfish based on a recently announced critical security flaw. On February 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an official Alert advising consumers that since at least September 2014 computer manufacturer Lenovo has been selling Notebook computers […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of approximately 80 million Anthem health insurance customers of Anthem whose personal information was compromised in a recent security breach.  The lawsuit alleges that Anthem failed to safeguard the personal information of current and former clients allowing computer hackers access to information such as […]

Anthem  announced February 4, 2015 that hackers accessed records for approximately 80 million health insurance customers. Anthem has reported that this breach puts personal information such as names, birthdates, social security numbers, physical addresses, email addresses, employee information, and income information at risk. Anthem is the second largest health insurer in the United States and […]

On February 3, 2015, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman accused GNC, Target, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart of selling fraudulent and potentially dangerous herbal supplements and demanded that the companies remove the products from store shelves. Affected products include:   GNC “Herbal Plus” brand Ginko Biloba GNC “Herbal Plus” brand St. John’s Wort GNC “Herbal Plus” […]

The FDA scheduled a meeting with the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee and the Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee for September 17, 2014, to discuss testosterone replacement therapy drugs and cardiovascular risk. The joint meeting will allow for public comment along with advisory committee presentations. This meeting comes after the agency […]

The FDA issued a new safety warning on Friday June 20, 2014 based on a number of reports of venous blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Earlier this year, the FDA announced it would be conducting an investigation into testosterone replacement therapy drugs for an […]

A multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been formed that will include all lawsuits filed against manufacturers of FDA-approved testosterone products. Androgel, Androderm, Axiron, and Depo-Testosterone are just a few testosterone replacement drugs that plaintiffs claim have caused serious injury such as heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolisms. The Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation granted a motion […]

The FDA has issued a recall notice for NaturaLyte liquid bicarbonate concentrate manufactured by Fresenius Medical Care, NA. NaturaLyte is used in dialysis treatment for patients suffering from kidney failure. The recall was issued after laboratory testing identified the presence of bacteria in several samples. Fifty six lots of the product are being recalled and […]

The FDA issued a safety announcement regarding the blood thinner Pradaxa. Results of a new study indicate patients who took Pradaxa had a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal bleeding over patients who took warfarin, another blood thinning drug. The study also indicated Pradaxa was associated with a lower risk of clot-related strokes, bleeding in the […]

Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil), a prescription medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure, has recently been linked to significant health problems.  In fact, in July 2013, the FDA warned that medications containing olmesartan, including Benicar, can cause chronic diarrhea, severe weight loss, and other gastrointestinal problems, also referred to as sprue-like enteropathy. The FDA warning […]

Endo Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval of its injectable testosterone product, Aveed, for the treatment of male hypogonadism. This condition is also referred to as low testosterone. The approval comes after concern regarding the safety of testosterone drugs was raised a few months ago by patients and the healthcare community. The FDA announced in January that […]

Testosterone therapy has gained a lot of attention from healthcare professionals, FDA investigators, and media over the past several months. Recent studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and Public Library of Science found men on testosterone replacement therapy demonstrated a 30% increased risk for cardiac events including heart attack and stroke. […]

Four children were hospitalized on Wednesday, February 12, after suffering suspected drug overdoses at an eastside Indianapolis in-home day care operated by Stephanie Gribble. Police arrested Gribble the next day and charged her with four counts of neglect of a dependent, one for each child. A day later, the state ordered that Gribble’s unlicensed day […]

Shortly after the FDA’s January 2014 statement that it plans to evaluate the safety of testosterone therapy, the national Endocrine Society has called for large-scale randomized trials to fully evaluate the risks of testosterone therapy. Both organizations are calling for action in the wake of three recently published studies which found a higher rate of […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced January 31, 2014, that it is investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men taking testosterone products. This investigation comes after findings from multiple studies suggest an increased risk of cardiovascular events for men on testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone replacement therapy generates more than a […]

The FDA warns physicians and patients of serious health risks associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications such as Concerta, Daytrana, Focalin/Focalin XR, Metadate CD/Metadate ER, Methylin/Methylin ER, Quillivant XR, Ritalin/Ritalin LA/Ritalin SR. These drugs containing methylphenidate and atomotxetine may cause prolonged erections in male patients, a condition known as priapism. Priapism is a […]

The FDA issued a safety notice for automated external defibrillator (AED) devices made by Philips Medical Systems and sold under the name of HeartStart. This includes approximately 700,000 devices including HeartStart FRx, HeartStart HS1 Home, and HeartStart HS1 OnSite. These devices were previously recalled due to an inability to deliver the proper defibrillator shock in […]

Reporters from Bloomberg Businessweek and the New York Times have stated that Johnson & Johnson has tentatively agreed to pay $4 billion to settle lawsuits over recalled metal on metal hip implant devices manufactured by its DePuy unit. More than 7,500 lawsuits have been filed in federal and state courts by patients who claim the […]

Women who take the oral contraceptive Safyral have the same increased risk for blood clots, stroke, and heart attack as women who take Yasmin. These medications, both made by Bayer, contain the same synthetic hormone drospirenone which has been found to increase a woman’s risk of developing blood clots. These clots can cause serious injuries […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday a “continued concern” regarding the potential increased risk of blood clots with the use of drospirenone-containing birth control pills. The FDA conducted a study which suggests there is an approximately 1.5-fold increase in the risk of blood clots for women who use drospirenone-containing birth control pills compared to users […]

A recent New York Times article highlights the concern over all metal hip replacement devices such as the one made by the DePuy division of Johnson & Johnson. There has been a surge of failures of these devices within the first six months of this year. The issue surrounding the use of these devices concerns the metal particles […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) released a safety announcement on September 17, 2010, that it is reviewing a 10-year epidemiological study to evaluate whether Actos (pioglitazone), is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Actos, is a drug manufactured by Takeda to help control blood sugar levels in adults diagnosed with Type II diabetes […]

CooperVision, Inc., the maker of Avaira Toric contact lenses quietly recalled certain lots of its product in August of this year because of an unidentified residue present on lenses. MSNBC reported October 11, 2011 on its website a growing concern from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that CooperVision, Inc. has not done an […]

An article in Men’s Journal Magazine (October 2011, Vol. 20, No.9) discusses the lasting side effects that some men have suffered from using Propecia (Finasteride), a drug manufactured by Merck, to stop hair loss in men. In addition to personal interviews with several men, Men’s Journal Magazine cites results of a study published in June […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a heightened concern about the increased risk of blood clots for women who use Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella, which are drospirenone-containing birth control pills manufactured by Bayer. The FDA recently completed a review of two 2011 studies that evaluated the risk of blood clots in women using these types of […]

In June 2011 CBS News reported that Actos (pioglitazone), manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals used to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes, has been removed from the shelves in France and Germany. A government funded study found that Actos (pioglitazone) increased the bladder cancer risk for patients taking the drug. Read more from the CBS News […]

Pradaxa, an anti-clotting drug manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, has been linked to at least 50 deaths. A recent article from Reuters states that health regulators have a heightened concern for drug overdoses due to a patient’s limited ability to filter the active ingredient in Pradaxa though the kidneys. High levels of Pradaxa can lead to […]

The FDA met Thursday December 8, 2011 to speak with a panel of experts regarding growing concern that Yaz and other drospirenone-containing drugs increase a patient’s risk of developing blood clots in the lungs and legs. Experts weighed in on this issue and cited 5 large studies that supported the argument that drugs such as Yaz and […]

An increase in the number of complications from the use of surgical mesh implants has caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to order new safety studies to be conducted on these medical devices. Between 2008 and 2010, the FDA received more than 1,500 complaints from women who suffered injuries as a result of […]

The Project on Government Oversight (POGO), a watchdog group dedicated to promoting transparent and accountable government, is asking the FDA for a re-vote regarding the blood clot risk associated with Bayer’s Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills. In a recent article by Reuters, POGO stated that four experts who had advised the FDA in December regarding […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP attorneys are investigating reported antitrust violations in the pricing of ductile iron pipe fittings used in municipal water systems. The United States Federal Trade Commission has filed complaints against the three largest U.S. sellers of ductile iron pipe fittings, McWane, Inc., Star Pipe Products, Ltd., and Sigma Corporation.  The FTC asserts […]

Scientists in Great Britain are currently conducting a study on the effects of metal-on-metal hip replacement devices and an increased risk for cancer according to a recent article in the Telegraph. In August 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, issued a recall of its DePuy ASR metal hip implant amidst patient complaints of nerve […]

The New York Times recently reported that Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of the DePuy ASR hip replacement device, continued to sell its product overseas even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration denied its approval for sale in the U.S. This information comes at a time when thousands of patients have filed complaints about injuries […]

The pharmaceutical manufacturer, Takeda, who markets the drugs Actos, Prevacid, Uloric, and others is now facing additional lawsuits from patients alleging injuries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety announcement in September 2010 that indicated an increased risk for bladder cancer in patients taking Actos (pioglitazone) for the treatment of their Type […]

Over the past several years, toning shoes have gained a great deal of attention. Early to market was Skechers, a shoe company that manufactured the toning shoe called Shape-ups. These shoes have a pronounced rocker bottom sole that creates instability for the wearer. Skechers states that the instability of the shoes causes the wearer’s muscles […]

Time magazine reported that statin drugs used to lower blood cholesterol levels have recently gained attention for causing an increased risk of Type II diabetes and memory loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new safety warning to inform patients about the effects that statin drugs such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), Zocor […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP recently submitted an amended class action complaint that details fraud committed against TRICARE beneficiaries after an employee of Science Applications International Corp., a contractor of TRICARE, had stolen from his car, unencrypted computer tapes containing personal information, social security numbers, and other data of over 4.9 million TRICARE beneficiaries. These tapes […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration – FDA released a safety alert Tuesday stating that physicians and patients should be aware of an increased risk for blood clots in women taking drospirenone-containing birth control pills. Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella are a few of the brand names of birth control pills that contain drospirenone, a man-made version of the […]

When the economy gets tough, businesses are forced to get tougher in order to make a profit or just to keep the doors open. A recent article in USA Today highlights a growing trend among American workers who have filed lawsuits against their employers for violating federal and state wage and hour laws. While doing “more with […]

Concerns about Pradaxa (dabigatran), which is manufactured by Boehringer Ingleheim Pharmaceuticals continue to mount. This drug was approved to be marketed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2010. Since that time, over 100 bleeding deaths have been reported to the agency through its Adverse Event Database. Pradaxa (dabigatran) is an anticoagulant medication used in […]

Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it plans to halt sales of many of its surgical mesh implant devices used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). POP is a condition in which the internal organs bulge into the vagina causing pelvic […]

Bloomberg Businessweek recently reported that medical device maker Johnson & Johnson failed to follow the orders of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop sales of its Gynecare Prolift surgical mesh product putting thousands of women at risk for serious injury. Documents recently made public indicate that the FDA informed Johnson & Johnson in August […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a patient safety alert for the Onyx Liquid Embolic System (Onyx) noting nine patient deaths have occurred and more than 100 incidents of catheter entrapment have been reported. How it Works Onyx is manufactured by ev3, a medical device maker that specializes in stents, catheters, and embolic protection devices. […]

Lawsuits are continuing to be filed by women who sustained serious injuries from transvaginal mesh implants for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. Injuries range from severe pelvic pain and infection to perforation of internal organs and migration of the implant itself. Transvaginal mesh implants are manufactured by several companies including Johnson & […]

Thousands of women have filed lawsuits against Bayer, the manufacturer of the birth control drugs Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella alleging serious injuries involving blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. Settlement talks began earlier this year between Bayer and many law firms who are representing the victims. A status conference held recently by […]

A California couple won a first of its kind verdict against C.R. Bard, the manufacturer of Avaulta Mesh. The jury awarded the couple $5.5 million for damages against the manufacturer of the device claiming that it knew that the mesh implant was not safe to use and failed to warn doctors and patients of the risk. Doctors began […]

Bloomberg News recently reported that Bayer has now settled over 1,800 lawsuits with women who suffered blood clots after taking Yaz or Yasmin birth control pills. Yaz and Yasmin are oral contraceptives that contain the synthetic hormone drospirenone. The FDA reviewed studies indicating drospirenone increased a patient’s risk of developing blood clots and ordered Bayer to strengthen its patient […]

An order issued on August 6, 2012 has established the newest multidistrict litigation (MDL) for the handling of transvaginal mesh lawsuits against Coloplast Corporation. Coloplast is a manufacturer of mesh devices for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Its products include Aris Transobturator Sling, Exair, Restorelle, Minitape, Omnisure, Supris […]

Patients on dialysis for the treatment of chronic kidney failure may be at a higher risk for cardiac arrest. The FDA recently issued a Class I recall on Granuflo and Naturalyte, two dialysis products manufactured by Fresenius Medical Care that are used in over 1,800 of its treatment facilities across the U.S. and sold to hospitals and clinics. […]

New information has surfaced linking popular hair-loss drug Propecia to depression. Dr. Michael S. Irwig of George Washington University has been studying the effects of Propecia on men based on reports of serious sexual side effects. His recent study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. It shows that in addition to lingering sexual side […]

Over 2 million gallons of gas were recalled on Monday August 20. BP claims the contaminated gas was distributed from its storage facilities in Whiting, Indiana and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The gasoline contains a higher level of polymeric residue which can lead to hard starting and other engine issues. The tainted gasoline was sold at over 200 gas […]

Smith & Nephew recalled the metal liner option available on its R3 Acetabular System hip replacement device after receiving patient complaints of pain and infection along with a high failure rate within the first few years of replacement. These complaints are similar to those of other metal on metal hip implant devices such as Johnson […]

Cohen & Malad, LLP has obtained a list of the gas stations that sold the contaminated BP gas from the Indiana Attorney General. Since August 20th, repeated requests have been made to BP and the Attorneys General of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin to furnish a list of the affected gas stations. BP has continued to […]

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., the manufacturer of kidney dialysis products GranuFlo and NaturaLyterecently named Ronald Kuerbitz as its new CEO and Chairman of the Management Board at the same time that hundreds of dialysis patients who use its GranuFlo product are suffering serious injuries such as cardiac arrest. Fresenius recently made headlines when the […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a fungal meningitis outbreak linked to 17,676 vials of an epidural steroid injection used to manage lower back pain and manufactured by New England Compounding Center. The contaminated vials were recalled by the manufacturer on September 26, 2012. […]

On Tuesday, October 09, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an increase in the number of confirmed cases of fungal meningitis and deaths linked to contaminated vials of an injectable steroid medication. The CDC’s website states there are 119 confirmed cases of fungal meningitis and 11 deaths across 10 states that received the […]

The fungal meningitis death toll increased to 15 on Monday October 15th when a second Indiana patient was pronounced dead due to complications related to the infection. The CDC has continued to work with the FDA to investigate the fungal meningitis outbreak. Current reports by the CDC show 205 confirmed cases of fungal meningitis and 15 deaths have occurred […]

The FDA recall issued in March 2012 for GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, manufactured by Fresenius Medical Care, has brought to the public eye an issue that the medical community has been concerned about for many years —the mortality rate of dialysis patients. Fresenius Medical Care is a large player in the dialysis market. Not only does […]

On Monday October 15, 2012, the FDA issued a new patient safety alert based on findings in its ongoing investigation into the fungal meningitis outbreak. It found two additional drugs prepared at the New England Compounding Center (NECC) with possible links to deadly infections. A patient who received an epidural injection of triamcinolone acetonide, another type of steroid […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been investigating the fungal meningitis outbreak that has now sickened over 250 people and contributed to 20 deaths. In Indiana, the number of confirmed cases continues to rise as 34 Hoosiers have contracted fungal meningitis and 2 have died. In addition to these cases, 3 patients have been […]

Officials with the CDC and FDA have now confirmed that one lot of the three potentially contaminated lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate that was recalled on September 26, 2012 did contain the fungus Exserohilum rostratum, the same fungus that was present in the majority of the patients who have tested positive for fungal meningitis. Testing […]

Drug maker Ameridose, which shares the same management team as the New England Compounding Center, issued a recall of all of its unexpired products in circulation. The epidural steroid injections manufactured by the NECC have been linked to the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak that has killed almost 30 people. While there have not been any […]

The FDA issued a safety alert and recall for Baxter Healthcare Corporation Buretrol Solution Sets. These solution sets are disposable devices used for volume control in the administration of intravenous (IV) fluids and medications. The solution sets contain a ball-valve component along with plastic tubing used to help deliver fluids and medication into a patient’s vein. The […]

A sixth death was reported as the fungal meningitis outbreak continues to sicken and kill patients who received tainted epidural steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center. Authorities have not stated which facility the patient had visited but did state that the person did not reside in Indiana. Six Indiana medical facilities had received […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Class I recall for the Olympic Cool-Cap System manufactured by Natus Medical Incorporated. The Cool-Cap is used for babies who have experienced Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). HIE is an acute brain injury that can occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen during the labor and delivery process. The Cool-Cap […]

The FDA has issued a safety warning to health care professionals and patients regarding the use of Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate) in individuals who have mechanical heart valves. Pradaxa is blood thinning drug used to reduce the risks of blood clots and stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat. Information gathered during a recent clinical […]

The FDA recently announced its approval of the weight-loss drug, Qsymia, manufactured by Vivus, Inc. The drug, originally submitted under the name Qnexa, was previously rejected by the FDA in 2010 citing safety concerns such as heart problems and birth defects. Vivus provided the FDA with additional safety data and is required to do a long-term follow-up […]

Fresenius, the manufacturer of dialysis products GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, has recently agreed to consolidate pretrial proceedings of numerous lawsuits filed in several Federal District Courts to the Federal District Court of Massachusetts. Fresenius faces hundreds to potentially thousands of lawsuits from dialysis patients who claim to have suffered serious injuries including heart attack, stroke, and […]

A New Jersey jury found that Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit failed to warn doctors and patients of risks associated with its Gynecare Prolift transvaginal mesh device. The jury awarded the victim $3.35 million in damages associated with the implantation of the transvaginal mesh device, which has been widely used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and […]

A New Jersey jury awarded a plaintiff $11.1 million to compensate for damages she alleged were caused byGynecare Prolift mesh, which is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit. The jury found that Johnson & Johnson had failed to warn the surgeon of the risks associated with the use of this medical device. This case […]

Bayer AG recently agreed to pay $24 million to settle gallbladder injury claims consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois as well as claims filed in state courts of California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This settlement comes several months after the drug manufacturer began settling injury claims for women who alleged Yaz […]

Med Prep Consulting Inc., is recalling all products compounded at its facility due to a lack of sterile conditions. The recall was issued after a Connecticut hospital that received 50ml bags of MAGNESIUM SULFATE 2GM IN DEXTROSE 5% IN WATER intravenous solution confirmed the presence of mold in the solution. In addition to the magnesium […]

On March 29, 2013, a transfer order was granted to establish multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Federal District Court of Massachusetts for lawsuits filed against Fresenius USA, the manufacturer of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte dialysis products. Consolidation of these lawsuits will help conserve resources for all parties involved in the litigation and can help provide consistent […]

Doctors and poison control experts warn parents of the danger that laundry gel packs and detergent pods pose to small children. Examples include Tide Pods and Purex UtraPacks. These brightly colored pods have a gummy texture which children easily mistake for candy. The containers that hold these pods are colorful and easy to open which […]

In 2011, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study comparing the impact of intensive-dose and moderate-dose statin therapy and found an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes in patients treated with a higher dosage of the drugs. Statin drugs such as Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, and Pravachol are commonly used to treat patients with high low-density […]

Attorneys for three women who claim they developed type 2 diabetes after taking the cholesterol-lowering drug, Lipitor, have filed a motion to consolidate all lawsuits filed against Pfizer, the manufacturer of Lipitor, in a South Carolina federal court. The consolidation of these lawsuits, commonly referred to as multidistrict litigation (MDL), allows all pre-trial proceedings to […]

A study conducted by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2011 indicated patients taking Lipitor (atorvastatin) had an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study compiled results of three large randomized clinical trials and found throughout all trials that patients taking a higher dosage (80mg) of Lipitor reported higher […]

Stryker has issued a voluntary recall of its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular hip implants due to the risks associated with the modular-neck systems of these devices. The recall states that the metal components of the modular neck hip stems carry a high risk for fretting or corrosion which can cause swelling and pain for the patient. Patients are urged […]

In 2012, Stryker Corporation issued a voluntary recall of its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular hip implants. Patients have reported serious complications and device failure associated with these hip implants. The design of the Rejuvenate and ABG II devices includes modular neck-stems featuring two metal pieces that fit inside each other. It has been found […]

The FDA issued a safety warning related to the use of oral Nizoral (ketoconazole) tablets for the treatment of fungal infections. The agency warns that use of Nizoral tablets can cause severe liver injuries and adrenal gland problems. It cautions that patients taking high doses of Nizoral for short periods of time, as well as […]

A West Virginia jury ordered C.R. Bard Inc., the manufacturer of the Avaulta transvaginal mesh implant, to pay $2 million to a woman who suffered severe injuries from the device. This is the second lawsuit to be tried against a manufacturer of transvaginal mesh devices. In February 2013, a New Jersey jury awarded a woman $3.35 million […]

The FDA has received 89 reports of illness associated with recalled lots of Chobani yogurt. On September 5, 2013, Chobani Inc., recalled multiple lots of its yogurt products with “Best By” dates of September 11-13 and October 7-13 citing possible mold contamination of the products shipped from its Idaho facility. The FDA has a full list of […]

Transvaginal mesh makers C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific, Coloplast, andCook Medical have begun settlement talks with attorneys representing more than 35,000 women who have filed complaints of serious injury associated with these medical devices, according to reports. Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, is not currently participating in these settlement discussions. Physicians have used transvaginal mesh implants […]

The FDA has issued a black box warning for Pfizer’s antibacterial drug Tygacil due to an increased risk of death associated with the use of this intravenous medication. Tygacil is used to treat patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI), complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI), and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). Serious side effects may […]