Texas Lawyers Blog

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The Texas Lawyers Blog provides useful information on the law and Texas lawyers. For more information on this Blog or a legal topic, please feel free to submit an inquiry or send an e-mail message to blog@texaslawyers.com

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit, Texas Water Accident Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Drain Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Fence Lawsuit, and Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit Information by Texas Fatal Drowning Accident Lawyer and Texas Drowning Accident Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit, Texas Water Accident Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Drain Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Fence Lawsuit, and Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit Information by Texas Fatal Drowning Accident Lawyer and Texas Drowning Accident Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

In Texas, because of the extreme heat that we experience for several months of the year, it is understandable that many Texans own pools and head to swimming pools, lakes, and rivers for water sports to cool off.  However, safety should always be a priority when dealing with swimming pools and water sports.  This is because drowning accidents, boating accidents, and pool accidents are all too common of a killer, especially for small children.  Whether a near drowning or actual drowning is caused by an incorrectly installed pool, poorly maintained pool, failure of life guards, improperly fenced pool, negligent boater, drunk boater, or other safety violations, it is important that any drowning or near drowning accident is investigated so that an additional drowning does not occur in the future.  

Defective Swimming Pool Accident Lawsuit and Unsecured Pool Accident Lawsuit Information
by Texas Defective Swimming Pool Drain Lawyer and Texas Unfenced Pool Accident Lawyer

Defective Swimming Pool Drains, Unfenced Swimming Pools, and inadequately monitored water rides can be extremely dangerous causing serious injuries including drowning and hypoxia.  Unfortunately, drowning is the second leading cause of death among children under 14 years of age and is a real danger for young children that live near unsecured pools.  Consumer Safety Groups and Organizations including the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have become aware of many dangers with defectively designed and roped pools and have issued several safety warnings about the importance of pool safety. 

There have also been several stories in the news where defective swimming pool drains have caused serious injuries to small children as well as trapped small children under water.  These defective pool drain and spa drain accidents have caused several children to have been serious injured or killed due to having body parts entrapped by the drain of a swimming pool, wading pool, or spa. Under normal conditions, pipes leading from a pool's drain, or into the pool's pumps, draw water from the pool creating suction. If something blocks the normal function of a pool drain, the amount of suction can increase as the pump draws water past the obstruction. This increased suction can entrap a small child or person, causing the person to be held underwater, which often leads to brain damage because of lack of oxygen or hypoxia. In extreme situations, defective drains in wading pools have caused a child sitting on the drain outlet to be disemboweled by extreme suction.

Texas Water Craft Lawsuit, Texas Fatal Boat Accident Lawsuit, and Texas Boat Accident Lawsuit Information by Texas Boat Accident Lawyer and Texas Water Craft Lawyer

Unfortunately, the Texas summer brings out many drunk and negligent boaters that threaten the safety of other boaters as well as swimmers.  As a Texas boating accident lawyer Jason Coomer is familiar with insurance companies and handling careless and drunk driver claims.  He understands insurance companies and can assist seriously injured people and families of persons killed in boating accidents navigate liability insurance, medical pay, and other insurance coverage. As an Austin Texas Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer, Jason Coomer helps victims of drunk drivers and boaters seek compensation, not only for property damage, but for medical costs, lost wages, future losses, impairment, disfigurement, pain and suffering, mental anguish, wrongful death, punitive damages, and other damages. If you have been seriously injured by a drunk boater or a careless boat operator or have lost a loved one in a boating accident caused by a drunk driver or a careless boater, it is important that you contact an attorney so you fully understand your rights before proceeding with a claim. 

For more information on Texas Drunk Boating Accident Lawsuits and Texas Negligent Boating Accident Lawsuits, go to our webpage on Texas Water Craft, Wave Runners, and Boat Accident Lawsuits.

 Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit, Texas Water Accident Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Drain Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Fence Lawsuit, and Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit Information by Texas Fatal Drowning Accident Lawyer and Texas Drowning Accident Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

For more information on Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuits, Texas Pool Accident Lawsuits, and Texas Negligent Boating Accident Lawsuits, go to our webpage on Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit, Texas Water Accident Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Drain Lawsuit, Texas Defective Pool Fence Lawsuit, and Texas Drowning Accident Lawsuit Information .


Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit Information by Texas False Claims Act Medicaid Fraud Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

Texas False Claims Act Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid False Billing Whistleblower Award Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Double Billing Fraud Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud False Billing Lawsuit, Texas Unnecessary Medical Treatment Relator Lawsuit, and Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit Information
by Texas False Claims Act Medicaid Fraud Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

The Texas False Claims Act is designed to prevent Medicaid Fraud including false Medicaid billing, fraudulent Medicaid billing, Medicaid kickbacks, billing Medicaid for patients that have died, and phantom Medicaid billing.  The Act offers large financial rewards to whistleblowers that properly report instances of significant Medicaid fraud.  If you are aware of Texas Medicaid kickbacks, Texas fraudulent Medicaid billing, or other Texas Medicaid fraud, and are the original source of information with special knowledge, and evidence of the fraud, it is important that you step forward to expose the fraud.  By stepping forward and exposing the fraud you can not only prevent potential criminal liability for failing to report the crime and help the State of Texas prevent future Medicaid fraud, but you can also help the State of Texas collect large amounts of money that was fraudulently taken and be given a portion of the money that is collected for being a hero that reported the Medicaid fraud and/or Medicare fraud.


Texas False Claims Act Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid False Billing Whistleblower Award Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Double Billing Fraud Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud False Billing Lawsuit, Texas Unnecessary Medical Treatment Relator Lawsuit, and Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit Information

Medicaid is a federal/state cost-sharing program that provides health care to people who are unable to pay for such care. In Texas, the Medicaid program is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. More than 3.7 million Texans are eligible for Medicaid, and there are more than 57,000 active Medicaid providers. A provider can be any person, group of people, or health care facility that supplies medical services to Medicaid recipients. Providers include doctors, medical equipment companies, podiatrists, dentists, licensed professional counselors, hospitals, adult day care centers, nursing homes, clinics, pharmacies, ambulance companies, case management centers and others.
The Texas Medicaid program costs about $30 Billion each year and is expected to continue to increase in the future.  Of this cost, it is estimated that Medicaid fraud costs are between Two Billion Dollars ($2,000,000,000.00) to Four Billion Dollars ($4,000,000,000.00) each year. 
There are many types of Medicaid fraud including:
  • billing Medicaid for X-rays, blood tests and other procedures that were never performed
  • falsifying a patient’s diagnosis to justify unnecessary tests;
  • giving a patient a generic drug and billing for the name-brand version of the medication;
  • giving a recipient a motorized scooter and billing for an electric wheelchair, which can cost three times more;
  • billing Medicaid for care not given;
  • billing Medicaid for patients who have died or who are no longer eligible for Medicaid;
  • billing Medicaid for care given to patients who have transferred to another facility;
  • transporting Medicaid patients by ambulance when it is not medically necessary;
  • requiring vendors to “kick back” part of the money they receive for rendering services to Medicaid patients (kickbacks may also include vacations, merchandise, etc.);
  • billing patients for services already paid for by Medicaid;
  • billing Medicaid for phantom patients;
  • double billing Medicaid for services;
  • upcoding services for increased Medicaid payments.
Medicaid fraud violates federal and state criminal laws and can result in significant fines and/or incarceration. Those convicted of fraud may also lose their status as Medicaid providers.  To prevent Medicaid fraud, Texas has enacted the Texas False Claims Act and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act.
 
Texas False Claims Act Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid False Billing Whistleblower Award Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Double Billing Fraud Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud False Billing Lawsuit, Texas Unnecessary Medical Treatment Relator Lawsuit, and Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit Information
by Texas False Claims Act Medicaid Fraud Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

For more information on the Texas False Claims Act or helping to prevent Medicaid Fraud including false Medicaid billing, fraudulent Medicaid billing, Medicaid kickbacks, billing Medicaid for patients that have died, and phantom Medicaid billing, please feel free to go to the following web page Texas False Claims Act Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid False Billing Whistleblower Award Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Double Billing Fraud Lawsuit, Texas Medicaid Fraud False Billing Lawsuit, Texas Unnecessary Medical Treatment Relator Lawsuit, and Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit Information

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Texas Estate Unclaimed Property, Texas Unclaimed Property Heirs, Texas Unclaimed Property Beneficiaries, Texas Estate Royalty Interests, and Texas Probate Mineral Interests

Texas Estate Unclaimed Property, Texas Unclaimed Property Heirs, Texas Unclaimed Property Beneficiaries, Texas Estate Royalty Interests, and Texas Probate Mineral Interests
by Texas Probate Royalty Interest Lawyer, Texas Estate Mineral Interest Lawyer, Texas Estate Unclaimed Property Lawyer, and Texas Probate Unclaimed Property Lawyer Jason Coomer

In Texas, the state is currently safekeeping over $2 billion in assets entrusted to it from a variety of sources, including unclaimed utility deposits, dormant bank accounts, unclaimed wages, safety deposit boxes, insurance policies and uncashed checks.  In fiscal year 2010, the state returned more than $160 million in such assets.  Many of these assets will need to go through probate before they can be distributed to the heirs of estate or beneficiaries of an estate.

In claiming lost wealth, it is usually best to check with the state where the decedent was living to determine if that person's assets have been collected by the state.  The following link can be used to check Texas Unclaimed Property.  However, this is not the only place that should be investigated as many financial institutions, oil companies, banks, trusts, large corporations, and insurance companies, keep assets for an extended period of time or send the property to other states.  For more information on collection of unclaimed property, please follow this link to Claiming Texas Estate and Probate Unclaimed Property, Mineral Interests, and Royalty Information.  

Texas Estate Unclaimed Property Lawyer, Texas Unclaimed Property Heir Lawyer, Texas Unclaimed Property Beneficiary Lawyer, and Texas Unclaimed Property Probate Lawyer Handles Probate and Estate Matters for Texas and Out of State Beneficiaries and Heirs  


It is becoming more common for family members not living close to a recently deceased relative to not know what is in the decedent's estate and not know how to clear title to mineral interests, houses, and other real property or claim personal property including bank accounts, royalty income, retirement funds, life insurance, and unclaimed property in the decedent's estate.  In instances where there are significant assets in the estate, it can often be a good idea to locate a local Texas probate attorney that can assist in collecting the estate assets and moving the estate including real estate, mineral interests, bank accounts, and houses through the probate process. 



Texas Oil Royalty Inheritance Lawyer, Texas Estate Mineral Interest Lawyer, Texas Estate Oil and Gas Royalty Lawyer, and Texas Estate Oil and Gas Lawyer
Texas is a rich state for oil and gas production.  Since the Lucas No. 1 started spurting gas and oil on January 10, 1901, many gushers and rich oil wells have made oil and gas a main part of the Texas economy.  Throughout the 20th Century, the Texas economy moved from its rural, agricultural roots into the petroleum and industrial age.  Many Texas families became extremely wealthy through their oil royalties and mineral interests making millions and hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Currently, about 2/3 of the 254 counties in Texas produce oil and there are vast amounts of wealth being made on the hundreds of millions of barrels of oil and vast amounts of gas that are produced in Texas each year.  Keeping track of who inherits this wealth and who are the rightful beneficiaries of royalties, leasing contracts, and mineral rights can often be complicated as mineral rights and royalty interests don't always transfer with surface rights.  Families and family trust funds can sometimes lose vast amounts of wealth when Texas estate mineral interests, Texas estate royalty income, and Texas estate real property is not properly probated.  If your family has lost significant Texas mineral interests, royalty income, or real estate, it can be extremely beneficial to hire a Texas estate mineral interest lawyer, Texas estate royalty income lawyer, or Texas estate real property lawyer to help probate a loved one's estate and claim estate property for the rightful heirs and/or beneficiaries.

Texas Estate Unclaimed Property Lawyer, Texas Unclaimed Property Heir Lawyer, Texas Unclaimed Property Beneficiary Lawyer, and Texas Unclaimed Property Probate Lawyer Helps
 Locate Unclaimed Texas Wealth, Estate Assets, and Non-Probate Assets (Real Estate, Oil Interests, Bank Accounts, & Stock)
In our modern society when families can be spread through the World and significant wealth can be lost, stolen, or forgotten.  It is a good idea to keep a safety deposit box with an inventory of all your assets and have people that you trust that can get access to your safety deposit box should something happen to you.  

For more information on collection of unclaimed property including Texas mineral interests, Texas royalty income, Texas unclaimed property, Texas bank accounts, Texas life insurance policies, and other Texas estate property, please feel free to follow this link to Claiming Texas Estate and Probate Unclaimed Property, Mineral Interests, and Royalty Information.  

Friday, June 10, 2011

Confidential Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit and Financial Analyst Bounty Action Lawsuit Information

Confidential Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, Financial Analyst Confidential Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, SEC Financial Analyst Incentives and Bounty Actions, Dodd-Frank Act Financial Fraud Whistleblower Bounty Actions, & other Financial Analyst Whistleblower Protection and Lawsuit Information
by Texas Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawyer Jason Coomer

Financial analysts are a select group of professionals that often have original information from their own independent analysis of securities violations.  As such, the new SEC Whistleblower Reward Program has been expanded to encourage financial analysts and money managers to become whistleblowers.  The new law and SEC rules include expanded economic incentives and protections that should encourage financial analysts and money managers to blow the whistle on significant fraud schemes.

Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, Financial Analyst Confidential Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, SEC Financial Analyst Incentives and Bounty Actions, & Dodd-Frank Act Financial Fraud Whistleblower Bounty Actions and Lawsuit Information
Expanded Definition of Original Information to Include Independent Analysis

The definition of "original information" in the SEC Whistleblower Reward Program, has been expanded from prior whistleblower reward laws to include "independent analysis".   This new expanded definition includes a whistleblower’s independent analysis or own examination and evaluation of publicly available information, if and only if that whistleblower's examination, evaluation, and analysis is determined by the SEC to provide vital assistance to the SEC staff in understanding and identifying complex fraud schemes and violations of securities law.

This expanded definition of "original information" does provide an opportunity for financial analysts, money managers, and high end advanced whistleblower to use their expertise and own independent analysis to blow the whistle on large fraud schemes and potentially make large recoveries, however, it is important to realize that these forms of whistleblower awards are new and it is not fully understood how the SEC will apply financial awards based on independent analysis.  As such, for the protection of high end financial analyst whistleblowers, money manager whistleblowers, and investors, it may be best to report the fraud through a SEC Whistleblower Reward Program Lawyer that can protect the identity of the whistleblower until it can be determined what type of an award may be offered.

Increased Economic Incentives for Financial Analyst Whistleblowers, Expanded Definition of Monetary Sanctions for Calculation of Rewards for Financial Analyst Whistleblowers, and Expanded SEC Financial Analyst Whistleblower Rewards

Under the SEC Whistleblower Program, qualified Whistleblowers shall be entitled to a recovery ranging from 10 to 30% of monetary sanctions.  These monetary sanctions are much more far reaching than prior Insider Trading Awards and include not only SEC penalties, but also disgorgements. These disgorgements can be the largest part of the potential recovery and greatly increase the economic incentive for the potential whistleblower.

A financial disgorgement is a repayment of ill-gotten gains that is imposed on wrong-doers by the courts. Thus, funds that were received through illegal or unethical business transactions are disgorged, or paid back, with interest to those affected by the action. Disgorgement is a remedial civil action, rather than a punitive civil action. As applied to the SEC violations, individuals or companies that violate SEC regulations are typically required to pay both civil money penalties and disgorgement. Civil money penalties are punitive, while disgorgement is about paying back profits made from those actions that violated the SEC's regulations.  In some instances, disgorgement payments are not only demanded of those who violate securities regulations. Anyone profiting from illegal or unethical activities may be civilly required to disgorge their profits.

Confidential Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, Financial Analyst Confidential Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, SEC Financial Analyst Incentives and Bounty Actions, Dodd-Frank Act Financial Fraud Whistleblower Bounty Actions, & other Financial Analyst Whistleblower Protection and Lawsuit Information
by Texas Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawyer Jason Coomer


It is extremely important that Financial Analyst Whistleblowers, Money Manager Whistleblowers, and High-end Investment Whistleblowers continue to expose investment fraud, insider trading, Ponzi schemes, retirement fund fraud, securities fraud, and other unlawful and illegal practices that threaten the integrity of Wall Street and the securities markets.   For more information on these Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawsuits, Money Manager Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuits, and High-end Investment Whistleblower Bounty Lawsuits, please go to the following web page:  Confidential Financial Analyst Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, Money Manager Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit, and High-end Investment Whistleblower Bounty Lawsuit Information.





Thursday, June 9, 2011

International Business Bribery Whistleblower Lawsuit and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit Information

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, International Business Bribery Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit,  Foreign Business Bribery Whistleblower Bounty Lawsuit, & Illegal Kickback Bounty Action Lawsuit Information by International Business Bribery Whistleblower Recovery Lawyer and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawyer Jason Coomer  

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits bribery of foreign officials by U.S. companies and foreign companies listed on the U.S. securities exchange.  The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) also requires such companies to maintain accurate books and records.  Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblowers that properly report violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act by a U.S. or foreign companies listed on the U.S. securities exchanges can recover a large reward for exposing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations.  

International Business Whistleblower Reward Lawyer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Recovery Lawyer, International Business Bribery Whistleblower Reward Lawyer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawyer,  SEC Foreign Bribery Whistleblower Incentive Program Lawyer, & Illegal Bribe Bounty Action Lawyer

Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the new SEC Whistleblower Incentive Program, whistleblowers with original and specialized knowledge and evidence of corporate bribery and illegal kickbacks are eligible to recover large economic awards.  By gathering this evidence and going through a lawyer, these whistleblowers can protect their identity through the process and potential collect large rewards of 10% to 30% of the monetary sanctions including disgorged funds.  

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Lawyer, International Business Bribery Whistleblower Reward Lawyer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawyer,  SEC Bribery Whistleblower Incentive Program Lawyer, & Illegal Bribe Bounty Action Lawyer by International Business Bribery Whistleblower Lawyer and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawyer Jason Coomer

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits the offer or making of payments or giving anything of value, either directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party or political candidate, or public international organization to obtain or maintain business when the offer, payment or gift is intended to influence a desired action; induce an act in violation of a lawful duty; cause a person to refrain from acting in violation of a lawful duty; secure any improper advantage; or influence the decision of a government or instrumentality.  These prohibitions preclude payments were unlawful under the laws of the country in which payment was made; payments that are not legitimate expenses directly related to the promotion, demonstration or explanation of the company’s product or services; and payments that are not made in accordance with a contract between the company and a foreign entity.  These prohibitions also include third party actions where the company knows that a payment or a gift will be provided to a government official or agency for the purpose of obtaining a contract or business. 

For more information on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Whistleblower Bounty Lawsuits, International Business Whistleblower Lawsuits, and International Business Bribery Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuits, please feel free to go to the following web page: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Award Lawsuit and International Business Bribery SEC Whistleblower Bounty Action Lawsuit Information.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawsuit, Antidepressant Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawsuit, Drug Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawsuit, Developmentally Disabled Child Lawsuit, Spinal Cord Birth Defect Lawsuit, and SSRI Birth Defect Lawsuit Information

Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawsuit, Antidepressant Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawsuit, Drug Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawsuit, Developmentally Disabled Child Lawsuit, Spinal Cord Birth Defect Lawsuit, Brain Birth Defect Lawsuit, and Birth Defect Lawsuit Information
by Texas Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

Neural tube birth defect lawsuits include drug lawsuits where a pregnant woman was on a medication during pregnancy and the drug prevented normal development of their child's neural tube resulting in brain, spinal cord, and/or other neurological problems. The neural tube is the embryonic structure that develops into the brain and spinal cord. In most pregnant women, the neural tube normally folds inward and closes by the 28th day after conception. When the neural tube fails to close completely or develop properly, defects of the brain, spinal cord and vertebrae can result in the child.  These neural tube birth defects can result in death or serious nerve damage that can cause permanent paralysis, disabilities, and severe health problems. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly.


Neural tube defects are serious birth defects caused by incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord and/or their protective coverings.  These brain and spinal cord birth defects occur when the fetus' spine fails to close properly during the early stages of pregnancy.

Spina Bifida Birth Defect Lawyer, Drug Neural Tube Defect Lawyer, Infant Spinal Cord Defect Lawyer, Drug Brain Birth Defect Lawyer, Depakote Spina Bifida Defect Lawyer, and Spina Bifida Dangerous Drug Lawyer
By Texas Spina Bifida Attorney Jason S. Coomer

Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect and it is estimated that there are approximately 70,000 people in the United State living with spina bifida.  It is an all too common birth defect in the United States affecting about approximately 1,500 new born babies each year.

In a child that has a spina bifida birth defect, the fetal spinal column doesn't close completely during the first month of pregnancy.  These children typically suffer nerve damage from the birth defect that causes at least some paralysis of the child's legs. Severe cases of spina bifida can result in full or partial paralysis and other problems such as hydrocephalus, bowel and bladder problems, and learning disabilities.

There are several forms of spina bifida and the birth defect can cause mild to severe health problems.  Myelomeningocele spina bifida is the most severe form of spina bifida.  Myelomeningocele is where the spinal cord and meninges protrude from a spinal opening.  In myelomeningocele spina bifida cases, the new born child will require surgery after birth to put the exposed nerves and cord into the spinal canal.  Children with myelomingocele are at high risk of infection until the back is closed surgically. In spite of surgery,  in these myelomeningocele spina bifida cases, some nerve damage is usually permanent and will include paralysis and bowel and bladder problems.

For more information on Spina Bifida and Spina Bifida Lawsuits, please go to the following web page on Spina Bifida Lawsuit Information.

SSRI Birth Defect Lawsuits, SSRI Neural Tube Birth Defect Lawsuits, Primary Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns (PPHN) Lawsuits, Prozac Birth Defect Lawsuits, Zoloft Lawsuits, and Paxil Birth Defect Lawsuits

A growing body of evidence indicates that several drugs and medications, if used during pregnancy, may cause serious birth defects.  These drugs include selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor SSRI antidepressants.  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used as antidepressants. Drugs included in the SSRI class are Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Symbyax, Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor and Lexapro.

These SSRI antidepressants may cause birth defects and developmental problems if taken during pregnancy.  Some potential birth defects and developmental problems include neural tube birth defects, heart defects, cleft palates, cleft lips, clubbed feet, as well as other malformations and developmental problems.  These selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs have been strongly marketed by the drug companies and are commonly used to treat depression and other disorders.

Some of the most popular SSRI antidepressants are:
For more information on SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Lawsuits, please follow this link to the following SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Lawsuit Information web page

Depakote Spina Bifida Lawsuit Information, Depakote Birth Defect Lawsuit Information, Depakote ER Spina Bifida Lawsuit Information, Depakote Cleft Palate Lawsuit Information, Depakote Malformation Lawsuit Information, Depakote Cleft Lip Lawsuit Information, & Defective Drug Birth Defect Lawsuit Information

The drug, Depakote, aka Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon, Epival, Dépakine Chrono,Valance, and divalproex sodium (USAN) is a drug prescribed to treat seizures, migraine headaches, manic episodes of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, prevention of both manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder, epilepsy, chronic pain associated with neuropathy, and migraine headaches. Further, with the increase in pharmaceutical marketing off-label use of the drug has become more prevalent including treatment of mild depression, the depressive stage of bi-polar disorder, and chronic pain such as migraine headaches.
Depakote has been linked to major birth defects in children of women that were taking this drug.  According to a recent medical scientific study, women taking Depakote had four times the risk of delivering a child with major birth defects, compared to women taking other, similar drugs.  The range of birth defects associated with Depakote is broad, however the report specifically cited neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Neural tube defects are birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord; spinal bifida is a defect affecting the spinal cord that causes paralysis of the legs. There is no known cure.

In addition to spina bifida and neural tube birth defects, other birth defects that may be caused by Depakote include cleft palate, cleft lip, heart defects, limb and digital deformities, facial dysmorphism, mental developmental delays, and (difficult) genitourinary malformations.

For more information on Depakote Spina Bifida Lawsuits, Depakote Cleft Palate Lawsuits, and other Depakote Birth Defect Lawsuits, please feel free to go to the following web page on Depakote Spina Bifida Lawsuit and Depakote Birth Defect Lawsuit Information

 Topamax Birth Defect Lawyer, Topiramate Birth Defect Lawyer, Topamax Heart Defect Lawyer, Topamax Cleft Palate Lawyer, Topamax Cleft Lip Lawyer, and Antiepileptic Drug (APD) Birth Defect Lawyer 
(Topamax and Topiramate Birth Defect Lawsuits)
 
Topiramate (brand name Topamax) is a anticonvulsant drug. It has been approved for the treatment of epilepsy and migraines, but has been aggressively marketed for many off-label uses including bipolar disorder, cluster headaches, eating disorders, obesity, fibromyalgia, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcoholism, sleep disorders, sleep-eating disorders, infantile spasms, autism, periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants after an hypoxic-ischemic injury, essential tremor, bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder, smoking cessation, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, neuropathic pain, and cocaine dependence.  If you or a loved one have been taking Topamax during pregnancy and had a child with a birth defect, it is important to seek medical assistance.

The FDA recommends that "before starting topiramate, pregnant women and women of childbearing potential should discuss other treatment options with their health care professional. Women taking topiramate should tell their health care professional immediately if they are planning to or become pregnant. Patients taking topiramate should not stop taking it unless told to do so by their health care professional. Women who become pregnant while taking topiramate should talk to their health care professional about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry, a group that collects information about outcomes in infants born to women treated with antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy."
 
The FDA has recently announced that Topiramate (brand name Topamax) causes an increased risk of development of cleft lip and/or cleft palate (oral clefts) in infants born to women treated with Topamax (topiramate) during pregnancy. If you or a loved one have been taking Topamax during pregnancy and had a child with a birth defect, it is important to seek medical assistance.  

For more information on a Topamax Cleft Liph Defect Lawsuit, Topamax Cleft Palate Lawsuit, and other Topamax Birth Defect Lawsuit, please feel free to go to the following web page on Topamax Cleft Palate Lawsuit and Topamax Cleft Lip Birth Defect Lawsuit Information.

Birth Defect Lawsuit, Pharmaceutical Birth Defect Lawsuit, Antidepressant Birth Defect Lawsuit, Drug Birth Defect Lawsuit, Infant Disability Lawsuit, Drug Birth Injury Lawsuit, Developmentally Disabled Child Lawsuit, and Birth Injury Lawsuit Information by Texas Birth Defect Lawyer and Drug Birth Defect Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

Several medications, products, and drugs have been linked to birth defects including neural tube defects, cleft palate, cleft lips, and spina bifida.  Unfortunately, through strong marketing pressure some drug companies have been continuing to push doctors to prescribe drugs to pregnant women that may cause severe birth defects.  These birth defects can result in death or injury to an infant including malformation, permanent paralysis, disabilities, and severe health problems.

For more information on Drug Birth Defect Lawsuits, Antidepressant Drug Birth Defect Lawsuits, and other Birth Defect Lawsuits, please feel free to go to the following web page on Drug Birth Defect Lawsuit Lawsuit, SSRI Birth Defect Lawsuit, and Antidepressant Lawsuit Information.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Illegal Offshore Account Tax Fraud Whistleblower Award Lawsuit, Corporate Tax Fraud Informant Reward Lawsuit, & Tax Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit Information

Tax Fraud Whistleblower Award Lawsuit, IRS Tax Fraud Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit, Corporate Tax Fraud Informant Award Lawsuit, Taxpayer Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit, IRS Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit,  Illegal Offshore Account Tax Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit, Federal Whistleblower Reward Lawsuit & IRS Whistleblower Payment for Detection of Fraud Lawsuit Information 
by Texas Illegal Offshore Account Tax Fraud Whistleblower Reward Lawyer and Tax Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawyer Jason Coomer

In 2006, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act that was signed into law included a whistleblower reward amendment that created mandatory reward language to the IRS to create a mandatory economic incentive to encourage tax fraud whistleblowers to step forward to help the government detect large scale fraudulent schemes.  By offering large potential rewards for reporting multimillion tax fraud schemes, the IRS has received hundreds of tax fraud tips from tax fraud informants regarding taxpayer fraud and massive violations of the tax code costing taxpayers Billions of dollars.  Many of the tips already received include fraud schemes of hundreds of millions and tens of millions of dollars.  It is estimated that this programs will result in hundreds of billions of dollars or even Trillions of dollars in tax fraud being detected.  

The economic incentives in the Tax Whistleblower Reward Programs are designed to encourage insider tax fraud informants and tax fraud whistleblowers with knowledge and evidence of large tax violations and tax fraud schemes to step forward and report the massive tax fraud.  The IRS is hoping that there will be several tax fraud whistleblowers and tax fraud informants that will help them detect and collect on an estimated $3 Trillion in illegal offshore accounts as well as several other tax-avoidance schemes that have been perpetrated by billionaires and millionaires as well as large corporations.

The IRS Whistleblower Reward Amendment requires the Internal Revenue Service to pay rewards to whistleblowers who exposed large scale tax fraud and taxpayer fraud including major tax underpayments, violations of the Internal Revenue Code, or other fraudulent schemes to unlawfully not pay taxes.  The IRS Whistleblower Reward Program is aimed at large multimillion dollar fraud schemes and tax violations in that the total amount of fraud or underpayment of taxes in dispute would have to exceed $2 million.

The IRS will pay the tax fraud whistleblower or tax fraud informant if the information presented substantially contributes to the collection of money by the IRS.  As such, the tax fraud whistleblower should have inside knowledge of and documentation of the tax fraud to be successful.

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To qualify for a whistleblower award under section 7623 (b), the information must:
  • Relate to a tax noncompliance matter in which tax, penalties, interest, additions to tax and additional amounts in dispute exceed $2,000,000.00
  • Relate to a taxpayer, and in the case of an individual taxpayer, one whose gross income exceeds $200,000.00 for at least one of the tax years in question
If the information meets the above criteria and substantially contributes to a decision by the IRS to take administrative or judicial action that results in the collection of tax, penalties, interest, additions in tax and additional amounts, then the IRS will pay an award of at least fifteen percent, but not more than thirty percent of what the IRS collects.  26 U.S.C. at 7623(b)(1).

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For more information on Illegal Offshore Account Tax Fraud Whistleblower Reward Lawsuits, IRS Tax Fraud Whistleblower Award Lawsuits, and other Tax Fraud Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuits, please feel free to click on the following link, Corporate Tax Fraud Lawsuits & Tax Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Corporate Illegal Kickback Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit & Contract Bribe Whistelblower Award Lawsuit Information

Foreign Corporation Illegal Bribe Whistleblower Award Lawyer, Corporate Illegal Kickback Whistleblower Reward Lawyer, Violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Recovery Lawyer,  FCPA SEC  Whistleblower Lawyer, SEC Whistleblower Incentive Program Lawyer, & Illegal Bribe Bounty Action Lawyer by Texas Corporate Bribe Whistleblower Lawyer and Illegal Kickback Whistleblower Recovery Lawyer Jason Coomer
 
Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the new SEC Whistleblower Incentive Program, whistleblowers with original and specialized knowledge and evidence of corporate bribes and illegal kickbacks are eligible to recover large economic awards.  By gathering this evidence and going through a lawyer, these whistleblowers can protect their identity through the process.

Corporations that pay illegal kickbacks and bribes to government officials and former government officials in exchange for contracts including large building projects can be brought to justice and made to pay large penalties under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and whistleblowers that bring these corporations to justice may be able to collect large economic rewards under the  Securities Exchange Act (SEC Whistleblower Bounty Actions) and the Commodity Exchange Act (CFTC Whisteblower Bounty Actions).
The Illegal Bribe Whistleblower or Illegal Kickback Whistleblower may be entitled to not only the amount of the illegal bribe or kickback, but the benefit of the illegal bribe or kickback.  In cases where $100,000.00 bribe is made to obtain a $100 million building project, the Illegal Bribe Whistleblower or Illegal Kickback Whistleblower may be entitled to 10 to 30% of the $100,000,000.00 and the $100,000.00 translating into a $10 million to $30 million award.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Prohibitions, Securities Exchange Act, Illegal Bribes, Illegal Kickbacks, and the SEC Whistleblower Incentive Program

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) (15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq.) is a United States federal law known primarily for two of its main provisions, one that addresses accounting transparency requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and another concerning prohibitions of the bribery of foreign officials.  Through the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the anti-kickback and anti-bribery provisions of the Act prohibit any person from making use of interstate commerce corruptly, in furtherance of an offer or payment of anything of value to a foreign official, foreign political party, or candidate for political office, for the purpose of influencing any act of that foreign official in violation of the duty of that official, or to secure any improper advantage in order to obtain or retain business.

The prohibition includes any U.S. or foreign corporation that has a class of securities registered, or that is required to file reports under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.  This Act includes any individual who is a citizen, national, or resident of the United States and any corporation and other business entity organized under the laws of the United States or having its principal place of business in the United States.  The Act defines any person to include both enterprises and individuals. 

By violating the Securities and Exchange Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, large corporations including both some foreign corporations and domestic corporations can be subject to SEC penalties, disgorgement, restitution, and interest.  If a whistleblower provides the specialized knowledge and evidence to detect the violations, that whistleblower can receive from 10% to 30% of any recovery made be the SEC.
The whistleblower or whistleblowers can be any individual including an employee of the fraudulent corporation, competition of the corporation that missed out on the contract because of the illegal bribes or illegal kickbacks, or a group of individuals with specialized knowledge and original evidence of the violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

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For more information on International Corporate Fraud Whistleblower Compensation Lawsuits, SEC Foreign Corporation Illegal Bribe Whistleblower Reward Lawsuits, Corporate Illegal Kickback Whistleblower Bounty Actions, Commodity Fraud Bounty Claims, and other Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Whistleblower Reward Lawsuits, please click on the following link, Corporate Illegal Kickback Whistleblower Recovery Lawsuit & Corporate Contract Bribe Whistelblower Award Lawsuit Information.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Mass "For Profit" Medicine Creates Economic Incentives for Medicare Fraud and Medicaid Fraud

Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, Systematic Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, Medicare Recipient Whistleblower Lawsuit, Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit, Systematic Medicaid Fraud Lawsuit, and Medicare Compliance Fraud Lawsuit Information
by Texas Medicare Fraud Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

Medicare fraud and Medicaid fraud are becoming one of the fastest growing and most lucrative crimes in the United States.  It is estimated that Medicare fraud and Medicaid fraud costs tax payers between $70 Billion and $230 Billion each year.  One of the reasons for the rapid growth of Medicare Fraud and Medicaid Fraud is that many large "for profit" medical services including hospitals and medical systems have moved to assembly line mass production of medical services that value maximizing profits over the individual needs of the patients. This maximization of profits can easily turn into systematic Medicare fraud or systematic Medicaid fraud. 


Many Large "For Profit" Health Care Providers Become Medical Assembly Lines for Patients, Provide Mass One Size Fits All Medical Services for Patients Regardless of Individual Medical Need, and Commit Systematic Medicare Fraud and/or Medicaid Fraud
by Texas Medicare Fraud Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

In the modern age of medicine, large "for profit" health care providers have turned traditional medical practices where doctors knew their patients and were able to spend significant time with their patients into large "for profit" billing machines where many patients are run through an assembly line and the patient is lucky to spend 10 or 15 minutes with a doctor.  These "for profit" patient mills often tend to provide one size fits all services despite the individual needs of the patient.  In many of these large "for profit" medical systems, patients are nothing more than a number or a Medicare number that can be billed.  

The large "for profit" hospitals and health care systems, often view patients through their billing departments as ways to make a profit by billing for expensive and unnecessary services as long as the services can be billed to the person's Medicare number.  Regardless of the patient's actual needs, the ability to bill Medicare for services becomes a driving force as to how the person is treated in the medical system.  By maximizing the amount that can be billed to Medicare or other third party payers, the large health care provider is able to maximize their revenue and profits regardless of what the patient actually needs.  The patient's needs often become secondary to the need to maximize profits. 

The need to overcome economic incentives that could turn medical providers away from the best interests of patients was understood and the basis in passing the Stark Laws and Anti-kickback Laws.  Hopefully, new whistleblower protections and expanded False Claims Act laws may also help curb negative economic incentives and profit driven health care providers that are placing profits over the needs of patients.  

In situations where the health care provider is driven by profit instead of a patient's needs, the traditional doctor patient relationship is violated.  The patient's trust in the health care provider can then often be misplaced.  Where the traditional expert advice of a medical doctor was once in the patient's best interest, the "for profit" health care provider can now be working against a patient's best interest and to only be maximizing profits.

Further, many "for profit" health care providers have separate billing departments, accountants, and administrators whose jobs are to maximize the hospital or health care system's profits.  These billing departments, accountants, and administrators, can sometimes determine that by making systematic changes including upcoding, phantom billing, or other Medicare fraud, that the hospital's or health care system's monthly, quarterly, or annual profits can be increased.  By slowly and continually making these systematic Medicare fraud changes, the hospital can continue to increase profits and the incremental changes can be extremely hard to detect. 

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(Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Law Suits)

If you are a hospital administrator, nursing home administrator, physician, nurse, respiratory therapist, coder, accountant, dentist, health care coordinator, coding specialist, or other health care professional that is aware of Medicare fraud, it is important that you report the Medicare fraud.  As a Medicare fraud whistleblower you not only can recover a portion of the recovery if the fraud is properly reported, but it can help avoid potential criminal liability.  Medicare fraud lawyer, Jason S. Coomer helps whistleblowers that are aware of systematic Medicare fraud including health care providers that are committing upcoding, illegal kickbacks, charging for unnecessary services and procedures, charging for services not provided, double billing, or bill padding.

Through Health Care System Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits, Hospital Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits, and other Health Care Fraud Lawsuits, billions of dollars have been recovered from individuals and organizations that have committed health care fraud and stolen large amounts of money from the government. It is extremely important that Hospital Administrator Whistleblowers, Health Care System Whistleblowers, and other Medicare Fraud Whistleblowers continue to expose fraud schemes including off-label marketing schemes, illegal kickbacks, fraudulent billing practices, hospice fraud, nursing home fraud, dentist Medicaid fraud, and other Medicare Fraud that cost hundreds of billions of dollars.   

Feel free to clicking on the following link for more information on Hospital Systematic Medicare Fraud Lawsuits and Health Care System Medicare Fraud Lawsuits: Hospital Systematic Medicare Fraud Lawsuit and Health Care System Medicare Fraud Lawsuit Information.

Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, Systematic Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, Medicare Recipient Whistleblower Lawsuit, Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit, Systematic Medicaid Fraud Lawsuit, and Medicare Compliance Fraud Lawsuit Information
by Texas Medicare Fraud Lawyer Jason S. Coomer

Medicare fraud and Medicaid fraud scams are costing the United States hundreds of billions of dollars and are threatening the Medicare benefits and Medicaid benefits of millions of Americans.  The cost of systematic Medicare fraud and systematic Medicaid fraud includes nursing home Medicare fraud, home health care service Medicare fraud, hospital Medicare fraud, therapist Medicare fraud, dentist Medicare fraud , and other health care provider Medicare fraud that systematically and knowingly commits upcoding Medicare fraud schemes, double billing Medicare fraud schemes, unnecessary service Medicare Fraud schemes, and other fraudulent Medicare billing schemes.  By billing for services not provided or needed, many fraudulent health care providers have found it extremely profitable to exploit the current Medicare and Medicaid system.  

As such, the United States Department of Justice and Texas Medicare Fraud Lawyer, Jason S. Coomer, are encouraging Medicare Fraud Whistleblowers with evidence of systematic Medicare fraud or systematic Medicaid fraud to step up and blow the whistle on Medicare fraud and Medicaid.  For more information on a being a Medicare Fraud Whistleblower or Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower that could be entitled to a large recovery for exposing systematic Medicare Fraud or Medicaid Fraud, feel free to click on the above links or the following link: Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, Systematic Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, Medicare Recipient Whistleblower Lawsuit, Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuit, Systematic Medicaid Fraud Lawsuit, and Medicare Compliance Fraud Lawsuit Informatio.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Medicare Recipient Whistleblower Lawsuits and Medicare Recipient Medicare Fraud Informant Lawsuits

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(Medicare Recipient Whistleblower Lawyer Jason S. Coomer)

Medicare recipients that properly report significant Medicare fraud can become eligible to collect large economic rewards for exposing large fraudulent systematic Medicare fraud schemes that cost taxpayers millions of dollars. By checking your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), comparing it to medical records, and gathering evidence of the systematic Medicare fraud, a Medicare recipient may be able to prove systematic Medicare fraud that can result in a large Medicare fraud recovery for the government and a large whistleblower recovery for the Medicare recipient.

A sharp Medicare recipient that can recognize the systematic Medicare fraud and is able to gather sufficient evidence of the systematic Medicare fraud, can work with a Medicare Recipient Whistleblower Lawyer to prepare a claim under the Federal False Claims Act.  In working with a Medicare Recipient Whistleblower lawyer, the Medicare recipient can work to gather and organize evidence of the systematic Medicare fraud and as a whistleblower use the original and specialized information of significant fraud to be the first to file regarding the specific Medicare fraud.  If this is done correctly, the Medicare Recipient and their lawyer can save taxpayers millions of dollars and recover a large reward for reporting the fraud. 

For more information on how a Medicare recipient with original and specialized evidence of systematic Medicare fraud including double billing, phantom billing, illegal kickbacks, upcoding, and/or bill padding can become a Medicare Recipient Fraud Whistleblower, please feel free to click on the following link: Medicare Recipient Whistleblower Lawsuit Information.