Personal Injury

Please contact us for a free consultation if you or a loved one is a U.S. Military Veteran who:

1. 1. Has served and/or were trained or deployed to serve in combat during the years of 2003-2015
      wherein you were furnished and used 3M ® dual sided Combat Arms ™ Earplugs, Version 2
      (CAEV2)
   2. Was diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus (“ringing in ears”) after enlistment with no prior
      history of hearing loss or tinnitus prior to enlistment
   3. Has no non-military related history of excessively loud noise exposure in the past

In some cases, Davol, Inc.’s Composix Kugel Mesh hernia repair patches may fail following surgical insertion, causing multiple potentially life-threatening complications.

Essure® is a permanently implanted birth control device inserted in a woman’s fallopian tubes without an incision. This device promotes the occurrence of scar tissue in the fallopian tubes that is intended to act as a barrier to prevent sperm from reaching and fertilizing eggs.

Essure® Adverse Health Effects can lead to serious health problems and in some instances be fatal. See the following examples of possible side effects:

1. Improper placement leading to chronic pain, migration or expulsion
2. Life-threatening ectopic pregnancy
3. Migration of the device or a device component (in some cases, the device may even ‘disappear’ in the body, becoming undetectable even through standard scanning)
4. Puncture or tear of the uterus or colon
5. Chronic pelvic pain
6. Severe migraines and allergic reactions to the device or device components

IVC (Inferior Vena Cava) are filters implanted in the main blood vessel moving blood from the lower body to the heart were designed for the prevention of blood clot movement to the heart or lungs. Often used in patients unable to use blood thinner medication these cage-like or spider-like implants sometimes move or fragments may break off and move causing serious injuries or side effects as follows:

1. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
2. Difficulty removing the filter
3. Embolization (movement of the entire filter or filter fragments to the heart or lungs)
4. Fracture of the filter
5. Migration of the filter to another area of the body
6. Perforation of the inferior vena cava
7. Tilting of the filter

During gynecological surgery laparoscopic power morcellation devices (LPM) were designed to be a less invasive procedure for the removal of uterine fibroids in both hysterectomies and myomectomies. The FDA has discouraged use of LPM procedures for the removal of uterine fibroids due to the danger that the fibroids could contain cancerous tissue that may be then spread inside the abdomen and pelvis of the patient.

Use of laparoscopic power morcellation in gynecological surgery could result in leiomyosarcoma (cancerous uterine fibroids) a gynecologic cancer, uncontrolled growth of fibroids in the abdominal area or other areas of the body, or an occult malignancy (a cancer from an unknown source).

Faulty defibrillator leads that could shock patients at unnecessary times or fail to fire when needed.

Metal-on-metal hip replacement devices may cause painful and serious side effects, including infection, implant dislocation, bone loss and hip fractures.

Mirena® (levonorgestrel) insertable intrauterine devices were designed and marketed for birth control for up to five (5) years.

Adverse and in some instances fatal health effects have been experienced by women using Mirena®. See the following examples of reported possible side effects:

1. Embedment in and/or perforation of the uterus

2. Intestinal perforations or obstruction

3. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), sometimes referred to as pseudotumor cerebri (PTG), resulting in the following symptoms:

• Double or blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Severe headaches or swelling of the optic nerves (papilledema)

4. Required hysterectomy

The use of transvaginal mesh implants to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have unfortunately created more health problems in thousands of women causing permanent and painful injuries sometimes requiring one or more corrected surgeries. The following is a list of potential problems associated with these transvaginal mesh implants:

1. Chronic vaginal drainage
2. Erosion of the vaginal tissue
3. Feeling as though something is protruding from the vagina
4. Lower back pain
5. Mesh trim or removal in doctor’s office
6. One or more surgeries to repair or remove mesh
7. Pain during intercourse
8. Perforations of the bowel, bladder or blood vessels
9. Pressure or feeling of “fullness” in the lower abdomen
10. Reoccurrence of POP or SUI
11. Urinary problems
12. Vaginal bleeding
13. Vaginal infections
14. Vaginal pain not related to intercourse
15. Vaginal scarring

Actos® is an orally administered diabetes drug prescribed to help control type 2 diabetes that may be linked to an increased danger of bladder cancer.

Actos® or Duetact® use for over one year in treatment of type 2 diabetes may cause bladder cancer. Long term use of Actos®, generically known as pioglitazone or Duetact®, which contains pioglitazone, have been associated with increased risk of bladder cancer. One interim analysis of a 10 year observational study indicated there may be as much as a 40% increase in bladder cancer when taking Actos® for more than one year.

The use of acne medication Accutane® has been linked to a number of severe side effects, including gastrointestinal issues, birth defects and suicidal depression.

Effexor® is an antidepressant medication prescribed for treatment of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders in adults. Use of Effexor® while pregnant may possibly result in severe birth defects. Examples of such birth defects are the following:

1. Anal atresia (complete or partial closure of the anus)
2. Cleft lip and/or cleft palate
3. Club foot
4. Craniosynostosis
5. Congenital heart defects, atrial or ventricular septal defects (hole in heart)
6. Infant omphalocele (abdominal wall defects)
7. Neural-tube defects

These incretin mimetic drugs may be linked with the increased danger of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

If you suffer from type 2 diabetes and have been prescribed Januvia®, Victoza®, Janumet® or Byetta® you may be three times more likely to acquire pancreatic cancer. The prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association April 2013 publication reflected results of a study indicating the use of Byetta® or Januvia® by type 2 diabetic adults was “associated with significantly increased odds of acute pancreatitis.” Pancreatic cancer may result from chronic pancreatitis.

Gastroenterology, a medical journal, published 2011 study results indicating diabetics taking Byetta® or Januvia® were six times more likely to report pancreatitis as opposed to diabetics using other drug treatments. Pancreatic cancer reports by diabetics using Byetta® were 2.9 times more likely than those using other drugs while diabetics using Januvia® were 2.7 times more likely to report pancreatic cancer than those using other drugs.

Januvia® (sitagliptin) is a once a day pill prescribed for type 2 diabetics associated with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Victoza® (liraglutide) is a once daily injection used in treatment of type 2 diabetes that has been associated with the danger of pancreatitis and also medullary thyroid cancer.

Janumet® (sitagliptin and metformin) is a tablet prescribed for type 2 diabetes associated with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Byetta® (exenatide) is an injectable prescription for type 2 diabetics associated with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Lipitor® (atorvastatin) marketed to aid in lowering bad cholesterol levels has been linked to type 2 diabetes in women.

The Archives of Internal Medicine cited a January 2012 study wherein postmenopausal women taking Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) are at an increased danger of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The following year in 2013 another study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine determined that “a wealth of evidence has established that cholesterol-lowering statin…do increase the risk of new-onset-diabetes,” with greater chances of development in women and the elderly.

Lipitor® has been branded as “the best-selling drug in the history of pharmaceuticals.” Lipitor® is marketed for its ability to potentially benefit patients in danger of heart attack or stroke that suffer from or may be at risk for heart disease.

The use of anticoagulant Pradaxa® by those suffering from afib has been linked to serious side effects and even fatal bleeding.

Several prescription and common over-the-counter drugs including Advil® and Motrin® have been associated with a severe and potentially fatal skin disease known as Stevens – Johnson Syndrome.

Severe adverse reactions to certain prescribed as well as common over the counter medicines may harm skin and mucous membranes. This condition known as Stevens – Johnson Syndrome (SJS) manifests as flu like symptoms with the accompanying spread of a red/purple rash and blisters. Ultimately the top layer of skin dries and is shed. Failure to timely treat SJS could result in the following:

1. Blindness
2. Hearing loss
3. Organ failure
4. Death

1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol^®)
2. Allopurinol^®
3. Carbamazepine (mood stabilizers such as Tegretol®)
4. Celebrex® or other Cox-2 inhibitors
5. Dilantin^® and Phenytoin^®
6. Ibuprofen (Advil^® and Motrin^®)
7. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Daypro^®, etc.)
8. Sulfa antibiotics

Talcum powder a.k.a. baby powder, talc powder and body powder has for years been a daily regime for women in the perineal (genital) area as a hygiene aid. Unfortunately, this product has been linked significantly to the increase of risk of ovarian cancer.

The renowned Mayo Clinic advises that the testosterone hormone can be beneficial in the maintenance of male bone density, muscle strength and mass, fat distribution, sex drive, sperm production and red blood cell production. However, according to the FDA recent March 3, 2015 notice “…there is a possible increased cardiovascular risk associated with testosterone use” therefore FDA requirements now mandate that testosterone replacement products manufacturers modify their labels “to reflect the possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with testosterone use.”

Earlier on June 19, 2014, the FDA notified testosterone replacement product manufacturers of the requirement to issue a general warning regarding the risk of blood clots in veins on all such drug labels.

As men age testosterone levels diminish often leading to a diagnosis of hypogonadism (a medical disorder sometimes referred to as “low T” or low testosterone. In November of 2013 the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) advised of an association between testosterone replacement supplements with an increased danger of death, heart attack and stroke.

Tylenol medications have in some instances been known to result in serious liver complications, liver failure and even death within one week of intake.

Acetaminophens can also lead to severe and sometimes life threatening skin disorders such as Stevens – Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Tylenol is sometimes taken for pain along with other medications containing acetaminophen already prescribed for patients. The resulting accidental overdose of acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States.

Viagra® and Revatio® are two drugs used in treatment of totally different medical problems. However, sildenafil is the generic term for both drugs. Sildenafil acting as a PDE-5A inhibitor blocks enzymes that cause the decrease of blood flow volume in particular locations. Such activity has been associated with an increase in the dangerous and sometimes fatal skin cancer melanoma in men.

Xarelto® is marketed to lower the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in afib patients and is also prescribed to prevent and/or upon occurrence treat blood clotting problems resulting from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

Xarelto® has been linked to the following serious medical conditions:

1. Pulmonary embolism
2. Severe, uncontrolled bleeding resulting in hospitalization
3. Stroke
4. Death

Xylocaine®, a topical anesthetic, has been linked to serious side effects in infants and children when used off-label to treat teething symptoms.

Zofran® is a prescription drug originally approved and marketed for treatment of nausea associated with chemotherapy or surgery patients. Zofran® was later marketed and prescribed for “off label” use in treatment of morning sickness experienced by mothers in their first trimester of pregnancy. Severe birth defects such as congenital cardiac (heart) defects (malformations) and oral clefts (cleft lip and/or cleft palate) have been associated with the use of Zofran® in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Zoloft® is a prescription drug for the treatment of serious depression in adults. Zoloft® is also prescribed for obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and social anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adults.

Unfortunately Zoloft® has been associated with an increased risk of birth defects when used during pregnancy examples of which follow:

1. Heart (cardiac) defects (hole in heart)
2. Cleft lip and/or cleft palate
3. Craniosynostosis
4. Clubfoot (one or both feet turn downward and inward)
5. Abdominal wall defects (infant omphalocele)
6. Anal atresia (complete or partial closure of the anus)