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

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

SSRI Birth Defect Claims

Avoidable birth defects are one of the most devastating problems that can occur to a family and a new baby. Parents who should be celebrating the birth of a new child, are often caught off guard when their child is born with severe disabilities and often do not realize that someone may be responsible for the birth injury or defect including drug manufacturers that hid information about medications that can cause birth defects. The family is typically busy taking care of the child with the serious health problems and often does not know that the birth defect was preventable. When they discover the probable cause of the preventable birth defect they are often filled with anger and rage. To find out that their child will have permanent health problems or that they lost their baby because a drug company may have hid research and did not provide an adequate warning of a product's safety can be extremely difficult.

Some medications that have been linked to birth defects include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants (SSRIs). Women that have taken SSRIs after the 20th week of pregnancy have been found to have babies with a 6-fold increased risk of developing persistent pulmonary hypertension, a life-threatening lung disorder. Infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs and do not get enough oxygen to their bodies and may become very sick or die. For more information on potential Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressant Birth Defect Claims, please go to the following SSRI Birth Defect Claim Information Page.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Texas Inheritance Law

Traditional lines of inheritance are breaking down and many assets are being lost to the next generation. Many people with stocks, bonds, oil interests, jewelry, and real estate do not always keep a good inventory of their assets and unfortunately they often die or become incapacitated without telling their loved ones what bank accounts they have, where they keep certain assets, or what real estate, stocks, or other valuable assets they own.

Unlike in many movies and on television, there is often not a team of lawyers and investigators brought in to scour the globe looking for long lost heirs. It happens, but someone needs to get the ball rolling. Unless one of the heirs or a family member or family friend steps up and files a suit with a probate court, property can go unclaimed and become lost. Sometimes the government steps in to reclaim the assets, other times scavengers come in and take it.

An inheritance lawyer can help protect a person with assets from scavengers that come in and try to take estate assets. An inheritance lawyer can also help family members that live far away from a deceased or incapacitated loved one reclaim assets or clear title to property.

As a Texas inheritance lawyer, Jason Coomer helps families clear title to property and reclaim assets and their rightful inheritance. For more information on Texas inheritance law or Texas inheritance lawyer, Jason Coomer, go to the following website:

http://www.texaslawyers.com/coomer/texasinheritance.htm

Friday, July 6, 2007

Texas Will Contest Claims

There are several reasons that a Will may be contested including 1) the Will was written under the influence from another person, 2) the Decedent was not of sound mind when the Will was written, 3) the Will is a forged or fraudulent document, 4) the Will is not up to date and leaves out children or does not take into account a divorce or remarriage, 5) the Will was not witnessed or signed correctly, and 6) the Will was improperly done and does not comply with Texas law.

Click here for information on Will Contests from a Texas Will Contest Lawyer

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Asbestos Secondary Exposure Claims

Many families along the Houston Ship Channel were supported by workers that were exposed to high levels of asbestos fibers. Many of these workers unknowingly brought asbestos fibers and asbestos dust home exposing their wives and families to toxic dust fibers that were inhaled. This secondary exposure has led to many secondary exposure claims. These secondary exposure claims are becoming more common in Texas especially along the Houston Ship Channel area as more and more wives and widows of asbestos workers are now coming down with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. If you are the spouse or family member of an asbestos worker and are experiencing severe symptoms including shortness of breath, coughing up blood, night sweats, swelling of the face, weight gain or loss, persistent chronic cough, you may want to be screened for asbestos diseases.

Please follow this link for more information on Secondary Asbestos Exposure Claims

Asbestos Product Dumping

In addition to domestic exposure, some companies have taken asbestos products that cannot be sold in the United States and have sold the product in other countries. This product dumping of dangerous asbestos insulation, asbestos block, and other asbestos products can cause serious problems including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other health problems. Texas companies that dump dangerous products in other countries and cause significant harm can sometimes be brought into the Texas courts to answer for their wrongful dumping and be made to pay money compensation for their wrongful acts.

For more information on Asbestos Product Dumping and Asbestos Products, go to the following web page.

Asbestos Products and Mesothelioma Claims

Today despite OSHA regulations it is estimated that 1.3 million United States employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.

Asbestos may also be found in Cement Pipes, Elevator Brake Shoes, Cement Wallboard, HVAC Duct Insulation, Cement Siding Boiler Insulation, Asphalt Floor Tile, Breaching Insulation, Vinyl Floor Tile, Ductwork, Flexible Fabric Connections, Vinyl Sheet Flooring, Cooling Towers, Flooring Backing, Pipe Insulation (corrugated air-cell, block, etc.), Construction Mastics (floor tile, carpet, ceiling tile, etc.), Heating and Electrical Ducts, Acoustical Plaster Electrical Panel Partitions, Decorative Plaster, Electrical Cloth, Textured Paints/Coatings, Electric Wiring Insulation, Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels, Chalkboards, Spray-Applied Insulation, Roofing Shingles, Blown-in Insulation, Roofing Felt Fireproofing, Materials Base, Flashing Taping Compounds (thermal), Thermal Paper Products, Packing Materials (for wall/floor penetrations), Fire Doors High Temperature Gaskets, Caulking/Putties, Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops, Adhesives, Laboratory Gloves, Wallboard, Fire Blankets, Joint Compounds, Fire Curtains, Vinyl Wall Coverings, Elevator Equipment, Panels Spackling Compounds, Automotive Parts, Elevator Equipment Panels, Ductwork, Electrical Panel Partitions, Electrical Cloth, Cooling towers, and Chalkboards.

Asbestos Exposure can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers that can be fatal. For more information on asbestos products and asbestos exposure claims, go to the following web page:

http://www.texaslawyers.com/coomer/asbestosproductsanduse.htm

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Boat, Jet Ski, & Water Craft Accidents

Every year negligent, careless, and drunk boat & water craft operators cause boating accidents that kill and seriously injure a large number of Texans. In many of these boating accidents, alcohol and young inexperienced operators are the cause of the accidents. In the Texas Hill County, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lake LBJ, Lake Buchanan, Canyon Lake, Inks Lake, Town Lake, Medina Lake, and Granger Lake are some of the major places for water recreation and where accidents occur. Many of these accidents are actually covered by insurance and people seriously injured by careless, inexperienced, or intoxicated boat & jet ski operators may have a potential claim for compensation.

For more information on boating accident claims, jet ski accident claims, & other water craft claims follow the below link

Automobile Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

Texas drunk drivers cause thousands of automobile accidents which kill and injure thousands of Texans each year. Under Texas law, a driver is considered drunk or under the influence if they do not have the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body or if they have a blood alcohol concentration of over .08. It is against Texas law for drunk drivers to operate motor vehicles, water craft, or air craft.

For more information on Drunk Driver Automobile Accident Claims follow this link

Defense Base Act

Blackwater, Halliburton, Kellogg, CACI, Brown & Root (KBR), Bechtel, and Dyncorp are all American companies that contract with the U.S. Government to work in foreign countries. Many of these overseas jobs can be high risk and carried out in dangerous conditions. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed while working for a United States Government contractor please contact attorney Jason S. Coomer to determine what time limits may apply to your possible claim.

http://www.texaslawyers.com/coomer
jsc@texaslawyers.com
1-866-474-1477 toll free

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Advanced Medical Optics Voluntarily Recalls Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting health care professionals and their patients who wear soft contact lenses about a voluntary recall of Complete MoisturePlus Multi Purpose Solution manufactured by Advanced Medical Optics of Santa Ana, Ca.

The company is taking this action as a precaution because of reports of a rare, but serious, eye infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis, caused by a parasite. The link between the solution and the infection was identified as a result of an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Consumers who wear soft contact lenses should stop using the solution, discard all partially-used or unopened bottles and replace their lenses and storage container.

"We believe the company acted responsibly in taking this voluntary action and support their decision to be proactive in the interest of public health," said Daniel Schultz, M.D., director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "FDA and CDC are working closely with the company to collect additional information and we will continue to alert consumers and advise them as more information becomes available."

Acanthamoeba keratitis may lead to vision loss with some patients requiring a corneal transplant. The infection primarily affects otherwise healthy people who wear contact lenses.

Consumers should ask their doctor about choosing an appropriate alternative cleaning/disinfecting product and seek immediate treatment if they have symptoms of eye infection as early diagnosis is important for effective treatment. The symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis can be very similar to those of other more common eye infections and may include eye pain or redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, sensation of something in the eye or excessive tearing but Acanthamoeba is more difficult to treat.

It is estimated that Acanthamoeba keratitis infections occur in approximately 2 out of every 1 million contact lens users in the United States each year. However, in a multi-state investigation to evaluate a recent increase in Acanthamoeba keratitis cases, CDC determined that the risk of developing AK was at least seven times greater for those consumers who used Complete MoisturePlus solution versus those who did not. Additional information regarding the CDC results is available at the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm56d526a1.htm.

"The ongoing CDC investigation is a collaborative effort," said Michael Beach, M.D., a Division of Parasitic Diseases team leader with CDC. "We are working with FDA, state, territory, university, and clinical partners in an effort to further understand whether usage or contamination of this solution led to these Acanthamoeba infections."

All contact lens users should closely adhere to the following measures to help prevent eye infections:

  • Remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming.
  • Wash hands with soap and water and dry them before handling contact lenses.
  • Clean contact lenses according to manufacturer guidelines and instructions from an eye care professional.
    • Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting solution each time lenses are cleaned and stored. Never reuse or top off old solution.
    • Never use saline solution and rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither solution is an effective or approved disinfectant.
  • Schedule regular eye exams with your eye care professional
  • Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye care professional.
  • Store lenses in a proper storage case.
    • Storage cases should be irrigated with sterile contact lens solution (never use tap water) and left open to dry after each use.
    • Replace storage cases at least once every three months.

FDA and CDC want to gather information related to Acanthamoeba keratitis in contact lens users. Report adverse events related to these products to MedWatch, the FDA's voluntary reporting program: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm; Phone: (800) 332-1088; Fax: (800) 332-0178; Mail: MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852-9787.

Consumers who believe they are in possession of the recalled product may call the company at 1-888-899-9183.

Additional information about Acanthamoeba infection is available from the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/acanthamoeba/index.htm.