Kelley & Ferraro

Some businesses still don't take asbestos removal seriously

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Asbestos on Monday, September 21, 2020.

The construction business is full of dangers that workers can see and feel. However, it is often the unseen dangers that can have the most lasting effects, such as exposure to asbestos. When construction companies here in Ohio and elsewhere fail to take the removal of this toxic material seriously, people can ultimately suffer from serious and deadly health conditions as a result.

For instance, a roofing company in another state was working on a roof replacement project. During the demolition of the existing roof, materials containing asbestos were found. It was alleged that the company contradicted accepted asbestos removal practices with regard to those materials. To make matters worse, the the presence of the toxic material was not a surprise to the contractor, yet it failed to inform the proper authorities before the removal began.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day is fast approaching

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Mesothelioma on Saturday, September 19, 2020.

September 26 may just be another day on the calendar, another day to go about one's business, but it also marks something special. It is a day dedicated to bringing awareness to mesothelioma and the devastating effects it has on those who suffer from it. Sadly, numerous Ohio residents have been diagnosed with this terrible disease over the years, and many more have had to watch their loved ones suffer through and ultimately succumb to it.

According to a recently published article about Mesothelioma Awareness Day, every year, about 3,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the United States. Some of them are construction workers, some of them are do-it-yourself renovators, some may work in fields where asbestos exposure is not common, and a few of them are average consumers who trusted the products they brought into their homes to be safe. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how they got it; none of them deserve it.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals hid Elmiron drug injuries information

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Pharmaceutical Litigation on Thursday, September 17, 2020.

Living with a chronic health condition can be debilitating. Unfortunately for some people in Ohio, the medications prescribed for these conditions end up causing drug injuries far more harmful than the conditions themselves. This is often the result of pharmaceutical companies prioritizing their own profits over patient safety.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals manufactures the drug Elmiron, which has been used to treat a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis since 1996. At the time, clinical trials did not appear to show any relation between Elmiron and negative side effects related to vision. But over recent years, more and more people who have been put on Elmiron have developed serious eye problems while taking the drug, including severe vision loss and even blindness.

Zantac recall leads to federal investigation into drugmakers

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Zantac Recall on Thursday, September 10, 2020.

Most people in Ohio and across the country believe that medication prescribed by their doctor or that they can buy over the counter is safe. After all, tests and approvals are needed before they can be put on the market. However, some drug manufacturers may not disclose important information about possible dangers, and as with the recent Zantac recall, investigations into those manufacturers can take place.

It was recently reported that a federal investigation is looking at Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Zantac and its generic versions. Investigators are working to determine whether the drugmakers may have known about cancer-causing elements of Zantac and a generic version of the drug. The investigation is focusing on whether the companies failed to abide by the False Claims Act by not reporting that the drug contained NDMA, a suspected carcinogen.

Drug injuries: Is a pharmaceutical company liable in your case?

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Pharmaceutical Litigation on Monday, September 7, 2020.

Millions of people in Ohio and across the country take prescription drugs. There are numerous reasons why a physician might prescribe a specific medication for a patient. When a person suffers drug injuries, it sometimes results in litigation against the pharmaceutical company.

If a pharmaceutical manufacturer fails in its obligation to warn physicians about the potential side effects or dangers of a specific drug, the company may be named as a defendant if a patient suffers injury and files a lawsuit in a civil court. The primary duty of a pharmaceutical company, however, is to the physician, not the patient. Whether an Ohio patient has grounds to sue a drug manufacturer directly depends on the specific facts of a particular case.

Mislabeled medications could cause drug injuries

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Pharmaceutical Litigation on Thursday, September 3, 2020.

Living with a chronic disease can be difficult, but advancements in medicine and technology have made it possible for many people to live long, happy lives despite their health issues. However, without the correct medication and dosage, these same individuals can suffer drug injuries. This might sound like an unlikely event, but the drug company Mylan recently issued a recall after it shipped out medications that were incorrectly labeled.

Ohio patients who have heart rhythm disorders might rely on the drug amiodarone to help regulate their heartbeats. Amiodarone was one of two drugs involved in a potentially fatal mix-up in which it ended up in packaging for the drug tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid is used for hemophilia to reduce or prevent hemorrhaging during certain dental operations.

Are mesothelioma risks hiding in your home?

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Mesothelioma on Thursday, September 3, 2020.

The once widespread use of asbestos has left generations at risk for developing a fatal cancer. Every year, around 3,000 people learn that they have this deadly disease called mesothelioma. This is not just a problem of the past, either. Degrading asbestos is a source of new and ongoing exposure in Ohio.

Starting in the 1920s, asbestos was widely used in construction and other industries for more than 60 years. During that time, manufacturers put asbestos in things like plaster, heating ducts, roofing tiles, vinyl floors, insulation and more. It is very likely that any building built before 1980 has asbestos, regardless of whether it is commercial or residential.

Purdue Pharma could pay $13 billion in pharmaceutical litigation

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Pharmaceutical Litigation on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

Pharmaceutical companies may act as if they are on the side of the consumers, doing their best to provide the safest medications to help them live the healthiest lives possible. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Purdue Pharma may have to pay $13 billion in fines after investigators discovered the company most likely played an active role in creating and fueling America's opioid crisis. Ohio victims of the opioid crisis may be eager to see how this pharmaceutical litigation unfolds.

Prosecutors are still collecting evidence of both civil and criminal misconduct at Purdue Pharma. There are currently multiple investigations focusing on different allegations, including one investigation looking at conspiracy charges as well as violations of drug safety and anti-kickback laws. Another investigation is looking into allegations that the company defrauded government health care programs like Medicare. This is not the first time that Purdue has been at the center of the investigation, either. In 2007, the company paid around $600 million in penalties, and three of its executives pleaded guilty to misbranding the drug OxyContin.

The serious implications of long-term asbestos exposure

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Asbestos on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

There are times when Ohio employees who work in certain types of jobs may be exposed to things that can make them seriously ill. Toxic exposure sometimes has immediate detrimental health effects, while asbestos exposure may not result in serious health complications until years or decades later. Those who become ill due to this type of exposure are at a high risk for grave illnesses, including cancer, and they may have legal options available to them.

Cancer is one of the most common results of long-term asbestos exposure. Because it may be decades between initial exposure to the onset of the illness, it is not always easy to pinpoint where it took place. Even if the sick individual is certain it is because of his or her job, it will be necessary to prove this to have a valid claim. This is why it is critical to work with an experienced legal ally who can develop a strong case, starting by proving the source of the asbestos contact.

Elmiron use linked to loss of vision: Are you at risk?

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP on Friday, August 21, 2020.

Three large pharmaceutical companies are facing multiple personal injury lawsuits from patients who used their medication Elmiron. The lawsuits claim the companies knew the medication could cause damage to patients' eyesight.These victims were all prescribed the medication and later experienced serious damage to their vision. Examples include loss of night vision, optic neuritis and severe vision loss.

What is Elmiron used for?