Defective Products

Over the last few years, there have been countless news stories about lithium-ion batteries and the role they play in causing products to combust. Hoverboards, Samsung phones, laptops, and now e-cigarettes: all these explosions seem to come back to the batteries in the devices. It is not necessarily that all lithium-ion batteries are dangerous; we…

The agricultural product Roundup is the most commonly used product in the world for eliminating unwanted plants and weeds. Roundup’s manufacturer is Monsanto, the agrochemical giant responsible for manufacturing products like DDT, Agent Orange, and bovine growth hormone (BGH). Over the last few years, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto, alleging that its…

With a recent decision in February 2019 to release information previously concealed from the public concerning defective medical devices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is making the dangers of many medical devices more visible to the American public. Over the last two decades, the FDA has permitted manufacturers to provide reports in quarterly installments…

The District Judge who oversaw federal litigation regarding the link between cancer and Roundup weed killer rejected Monsanto’s bid to exclude certain evidence of regulatory manipulation during the first phase of the trial. Reuters reports that United States District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that the company’s alleged manipulation of scientific studies and regulators was “super relevant”…

Defibrillators are electrical devices used to treat heart conditions like arrhythmia, which is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. A defibrillator’s job is to deliver an electric shock to the heart, effectively jolting it back to its normal rhythm. When we hear the word “defibrillator,” many of us think about the…

In July 2018, several drug companies started recalling dozens of lots of heart and blood medications – specifically valsartan, losartan, and irbesartan – after tests found the drugs had trace amounts of impurities and carcinogens. These recalls have been ongoing into early 2019. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating the underlying causes…

(This is part of a series, presented by McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, titled “Life on The Bleeding Edge: How the FDA Won’t Keep You Safe.” To learn more, please read Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.) In July 2018, the medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturer Bayer released a statement that they would…

In July of 2018, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall notice for a number of drugs containing valsartan, a medication used in the treatment of high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. The batches, which had been manufactured in China, contained traces of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) – a cancer-causing carcinogen. In early August,…

On July 20, 2018, Bayer announced that it would finally stop selling Essure, a form of birth control that was supposed to cause permanent female sterilization, at the end of 2018. On July 27, 2018, Netflix released a documentary titled The Bleeding Edge, a film about the $400 billion medical device industry – and which…

One great way to beat the summer heat here in South Carolina is to hit some amusement parks, local fairs, or water parks. Whether you’re visiting South Carolina or a local looking to visit popular parks like Family Kingdom Amusement Park or O.D. Pavilion Amusement Park, theme and water parks are a fun option for…