Smoking and TB - A Dangerous Duo

A Message From Senior Attorney Robert Jackson 

We have come a long way from the days of Doctors smoking Cigarettes, claiming health benefits. As we know, smoking is detrimental to health, leading to diseases from Asthma to Cancer.

Smoking puts people at higher risk of developing tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is caused by an infectious bacteria. It leads to lung problems and, in some cases, death.

The disease first attacks immune cells called macrophages in the body. Often, the macrophages win that battle and are able to ward off infection. But in people who smoke, smoke particles clog up these immune cells. The macrophages become full of toxins from cigarettes and aren't able to move as quickly as needed. That makes the bacteria more likely to evade the body's defenses.

Tuberculosis has become a cause for concern among the general population. The Centers for Disease Control have found that the number of cases in the US rose last year for the first time in nearly 25 years.

Protect yourself and loved ones from falling victim to this disease. 

Call 1.800.FAIR.PLAY for more information. The Sanders Firm cares.

Allegations Chemo Drug Taxotere Causes Permanent Hair Loss

ARCH 21, 2016By: Whitney TaylorDANGEROUS DRUGS

The chemotherapy drug Taxotere has been touted as a powerful cancer fighter for many years, helping those with some types of cancer find effective treatment for their illness.

However, one of the potential side effects related to Taxotere, permanent hair loss, has not been widely publicized by the drug’s manufacturer, Sanofi. Patients who have not been warned about this potential side effect may be diagnosed with permanent alopecia after their cancer treatments.

Now, some of those patients are considering legal action against Sanofi, claiming lack of adequate warnings left them at a distinct disadvantage when choosing their cancer treatment.

What is Taxotere?

Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug prescribed to treat some types of breast, lung, stomach, prostate, and head and neck cancers. It is also currently under investigation for the treatment of additional cancers, including ovarian, bladder and pancreatic cancers. The drug is given intravenously and dosing depends on the type of cancer and the patient’s height, weight and overall health.

Taxotere and hair loss

Taxotere is linked to numerous side effects common with other chemotherapy medications, including nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, and hair loss. However, while temporary hair loss is a common byproduct of some chemotherapy treatments, permanent hair loss is not typical. In fact, Taxotere is the only medication at this time that has been linked to reports of permanent hair loss among some cancer patients.

No warning of permanent alopecia

To date, the warning label for Taxotere in the US has not indicated the drug could cause permanent alopecia or hair loss. This has left some chemotherapy patients vulnerable to permanent disfigurement without knowledge that they were putting themselves at risk. Even more troubling is the fact that other chemotherapy medications that are just as effective as Taxotere are not linked to permanent hair loss.

Despite the lack of a proper warning, studies have indicated permanent alopecia may be a risk with Taxotere for some time. According to a recent product liability lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in California, a 2005 study known as the GEICAM 9805 demonstrated that nearly 10 percent of the test patients that took Taxotere in this study suffered persistent alopecia that lasted at least 10 years and five months. In 2006, a Colorado oncologist noted that more than six percent of the patients he treated with Taxotere continued to suffer with hair loss for many years after their treatments.

In December 2015, the FDA acknowledged there have been reports of permanent hair loss in some patients using Taxotere. That announcement by the FDA preceded a label change for the product, noting the possibility of permanent hair loss.

Seeking legal action

Now, individuals like the plaintiff in California are filing lawsuits against Sanofi, alleging the company did not provide adequate warnings about alopecia risks. Those plaintiffs are seeking damages for their permanent disfigurement, asserting that if they had known about this risk with Taxotere, they would have chosen a different chemo drug.

The plaintiff in California is seeking damages in excess of $75,000, which necessitated the lawsuit filing in federal court. This plaintiff, like others now pending in courts across the country, states in her complaint that Taxotere use left her with “severe and permanent injuries that are lasting in nature.”

Product liability lawyers at The Sanders Firm are are currently reviewing cases involving Taxotere hair loss. For a free evaluation of your case, contact our offices today at 1-800-FAIR-PLAY.

A Personal Note From Partner, Ed Nitkewicz

         Advocate For Your Children!

I have been a personal injury attorney since 1992 when I was admitted to practice law in New York.  Since then, I have represented scores of people who were injured in automobile accidents, through medical negligence and from product defect. I have tried complex cases before juries  in both the Federal and State Courts of New York. Notwithstanding my resume, I was unprepared for my most important case ever: representing my own son on the Committee for Preschool Special Education for the South Huntington School District. You see, my son Edward was diagnosed with Autism in early 2001.  After he was diagnosed, I was emotionally devastated and cared little about acronyms such as IDEA, CPSE, CSE, LRE, or IEP. Instead, I wanted my son to be "all better."  I wanted to believe the speech teacher who told me that there was a little boy wrapped up inside this "shell" who just needed a little help getting out. I wanted him to have every treatment and therapy he was entitled to have as soon as he was supposed to have them. And I was angry that my poor child was developmentally disabled, angry enough to nearly alienate anyone from the education team who dared utter the word "no" to me. All parents of children diagnosed with autism or other developmental disability grapple with fear and anger over not just the disability but the overwhelming process of securing services for our children. Many parents fight with their school districts. Others sit quietly relying on the special education process to provide for their child. In almost all instances, we worry that we are not doing enough for our children.

When do I need an attorney or an advocate for my child? Hiring an advocate or attorney costs money. However, when communication has broken down between you and the district, consultation with a quality advocate or attorney can help you avoid further litigation (and the cost of it). This is often accomplished by bridging a communication impasse or by teaching you techniques to harness your emotions and to concisely ask for what you believe is most appropriate for your child's unique needs. You can always call The Sanders Firm for a consultation: 1.800.FAIR.PLAY

News From The Sanders Firm!

NHTSA Summit Aimed to Reduce Number of Vehicle Fatalities

NHTSA Summit Aimed to Reduce Number of Vehicle Fatalities

March 14, 2016 By: Laura Woods Car Accidents

The number of motor vehicle fatalities in the U.S. is on the rise. In an attempt to combat this increasingly dangerous issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has held a series of 2016 Summits, as a way for highway practitioners and activists to get together to find ways to make U.S. roadways safer.

March 10-11 NHTSA Summit

The most recent NHTSA Summit was held on March 10th and 11th in Washington, D.C. Guests attended a myriad of panel discussions, seminars and speeches, designed to help find ways to reduce the number of traffic accidents. Topics included:

• Behavioral countermeasure strategies used in traffic safety throughout history and the experiences shared by practitioners in charge of implementing these plans.
• Evidence-based strategies in other fields that have proven effective and could potentially work to make positive changes in traffic safety programs.
• Potential alternative evidence-based approaches and their feasibility to work when applied to traffic safety measures.
• Innovative ideas that have yet to be tested and their potential to change traffic activities.
• A long-term 25-year approach to traffic safety and a discussion of how to greatly reduce the number of roadway fatalities during this time period.
• Thoughts on how big data, behavioral economics and behavioral and social sciences can be used to help reduce the number of traffic injuries and fatalities — and eventually get the total number down to zero.

Time will tell if the NHTSA Summit will result in any major policies to make U.S. roadways safer for drivers and passengers, but the meeting gave key leaders and activists a chance to start the conversations needed to make much-needed changes happen.

NHTSA releases crash statistics

During the first nine months of 2015, a statistical projection by the NHTSA revealed that approximately 26,000 people died in traffic accidents. Sadly, this is a 9.3% increase from the same time period in 2014, when the number of traffic fatalities was 23,796. Seat belt use doesn’t seem to be the issue, as the number of people buckling up increased to 88.5% in 2015 from 86.7% in 2014.
Statistics for 2015 have yet to be revealed, but drunk drivers were involved with 31% — 9,967 — of all traffic fatalities for 2014. Among those, 69% of drivers had a BAC of .15 or higher, which is nearly double the legal limit of .08.
In Jan. 2016, the Obama administration took a giant step towards eliminating all traffic fatalities by proposing a 10-year, $4 billion investment in self-driving cars. The NHTSA said it will strive to achieve unified regulations for all self-driving cars in the country. Regulators are urging automakers to run trials of these innovative cars, using incentives such as granting exemptions to automakers from regulations on a maximum of 2,500 models for road-testing.
According to automakers, partially self-driving cars could hit the market in a matter of a few months to a few years, while fully self-driving models will likely take a few years or even decades.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, it’s important to stand up for your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages, so don’t miss out on payments that are rightfully yours. Call 1.800.FAIR.PLAY to schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney at The Sanders Firm.

 

Puerto Rico - Paradise For Business

When you think about thriving business, do you think about Puerto Rico? Puerto Rico is a fantastic place to do business! 
The workforce is educated and hungry for decent jobs. And when they get them they are tremendously hardworking and loyal. More importantly there are currently incredible tax savings being afforded to businesses that relocate to Puerto Rico, including a law commonly referred to as Act 20. There is also Act 22 which can reduce a new Puerto Rican resident's effective tax rate to only 4%. 

Another great perk is that Congress can afford Puerto Rico the same bankruptcy protection afforded to a US State. Therefore it can seek some relief in getting the protection it needs from its creditors. Another default by the PR Government on it's debt is imminent and Congress must act to help PR avoid economic collapse, just as it would do to bailout a large corporation like General Motors or a major US city like Detroit. Both are thriving now and with a little help Puerto Rico can recover and thrive.

By opening an office in Puerto RIcan and employing over fifty (50) Puerto Rican residents, our Firm is doing it's part to help spark the economy. Our firm is also helping Puerto Rican citizens bring claims where they were defrauded by UBS into buying Puerto Rico bonds which have lost almost half of their value. People both in Puerto Rico and outside Puerto Rico who bought Puerto Rican bonds should speak to an attorney to protect their rights to bring a claim.