Year: 2020
Bayer to settle US Essure contraceptive claims for $1.6 billion
Conceptus, Inc.’s product Essure was an implantable contraceptive device used by millions of women in the U.S. and abroad. Germany-based Bayer AG acquired Conceptus in 2013 for $1.1 billion. In 2016, the FDA required a safety warning on Essure’s label and Bayer stopped selling it in 2018. Unfortunately, thousands of women experienced adverse effects using
When a dangerous or defective product gets sold on Amazon, who is liable?
Under products liability law, anyone involved in the sale or distribution of a dangerous or defective product may be considered strictly liable for any harm that product causes. “Strict liability” basically means that the injured person need not prove the company was negligent. It is enough that they sold or distributed a faulty product that
Should you trade cars with your teenager?
Compared to older drivers, teens crash about four times as often relative to the number of miles driven. We know instinctively that teens are at a greater risk for a car crash. That’s why some parents buy their teenage sons and daughters cheap old junkers to drive. “It’s understandable that parents don’t want to shell
Popcorn ceilings: What’s the risk of asbestos exposure?
If you watch television programs or read magazines about home improvement, you have likely heard that popcorn ceilings are now considered “outdated.” This has led many families to look into removing their popcorn ceilings, whether they are simply refurbishing their home or looking to sell their house. Be aware, however: these common textured ceilings could
What’s the problem with underage drinking and driving?
If you’re under 21, you can be convicted of DUI if you are caught driving with a blood alcohol level of .02% or higher. It’s a low bar, but the consequences can be just as serious as they are for an adult driver. Underage drinking is a serious problem in the United States. According to the National
Is ammonium nitrate safe to store?
Before a large amount of ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded recently in Beirut, Lebanon, many people were unaware of how dangerous the compound can be. The fertilizer is an odorless, crystalline material that is also used as an industrial explosive. You may be familiar with the 2013 Texas fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people. That
You’re drunk. You’re not going to drive. How do you get home?
When it comes to avoiding drunk driving, half the battle is having a plan. Alcohol impairs your judgment, which can make it harder to come up with a plan. And if your Plan A doesn’t work out, it can be difficult to come up with a Plan B. That’s why it’s important to have a solid
Is it safe to rely on your car’s driver assist system?
Much of the promise behind automated and semi-automated vehicles is the promise of safety. In theory, these systems are better drivers than humans, who are prone to all sorts of inattentiveness, rule-breaking and poor judgment. But is that theory a reality? Not yet, according to the traffic safety group AAA. For the second time since 2018,
Why might you be denied a restricted license after a DUI?
If you have been convicted of DUI or refusal to submit to a breath or blood test in Tennessee, your driver’s license can be revoked for a period of time. For a first offense, it will be revoked for a year; two years for a second offense. Even after a conviction, however, you may still
Another setback for J&J in cancer claims related to talc products
Plaintiffs have filed over 20,000 lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, many of which claim that their talc products are contaminated with asbestos and caused ovarian cancer or mesothelioma with routine use. About 1,000 ovarian cancer claims are filed in state court in New Jersey, where J&J is headquartered. J&J has intentionally worked to transfer much