Kelley & Ferraro

FDA receives reports of yet another carcinogen in BP meds

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Pharmaceutical Litigation on Friday, June 21, 2019.

Numerous patients here in Ohio and across the country are affected by recent recalls of blood pressure medications. So many drugs are recalled by the Food and Drug Administration that it is feared supplies of those not affected could run out before new, supposedly safer batches of the affected drugs are manufactured. Just when it looked like things were beginning to turn around, the FDA received a report of yet another carcinogen in these prescription medications.

For those who are keeping count, that is the fourth carcinogen found in these blood pressure medications. This time, dimethylformamide was found in part of the supply of valsartan still for sale. The World Health Organization classifies DMF, which is a solvent, as a possible human carcinogen.

Testing for impairment is part of most vehicle accidents

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

While investigating crashes, law enforcement agencies here in Ohio and elsewhere always look into the usual causes -- speeding, impairment and distraction are among the most common. The investigation into most vehicle accidents often cannot be concluded until tests for impairment are completed since it could affect whether criminal charges result from a particular accident. During this time, other potential factors are also taken into consideration in order to gain as clear a picture as possible of what happened.

The question of impairment may be holding up the investigation of a crash that took place on a recent Saturday. Preliminary reports indicate that a northbound pickup truck crossed over into the oncoming lane of travel and struck another vehicle head-on. The 40-year-old man driving the pickup truck escaped with only minor injuries, but the two occupants of the other vehicle were not as lucky.

Chemicals used in fighting fires can be dangerous for your health

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP on Monday, June 17, 2019.

Firefighters daily risk their lives while they protect their communities. Their health and safety are often at risk, although firefighters must maintain high levels of physical fitness.

The toxic chemicals used to fight fires can cause serious health concerns. Many men and women suffer due to their fire department’s use of toxic firefighting foam.

Claire's makeup puts consumers at risk for asbestos exposure

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Asbestos/Mesothelioma on Thursday, June 13, 2019.

Ohio residents with teenage girls may remember that this is not the first time the boutique store Claire's has been in the news because the Food and Drug Administration found something dangerous and toxic in one of its makeup products. Back in 2017, a concerned mother had her daughter's makeup tested, and it came back positive for asbestos. Recently, another of Claire's makeup products puts purchasers at risk of asbestos exposure.

Again, the product line involved is mostly used by and targeted for teens and young girls. Testing done by the FDA discovered asbestos fibers in the eyeshadow of its JoJo Siwa Makeup Kit. However, this time, Claire's is not alone is having to recall one of its makeup products due to the presence of this toxic material. The same issue arose in testing done on a Beauty Plus product. It's Global Contour Effects Palette 2 also tested positive for asbestos.

More investigation into deadly car accident is needed

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, June 13, 2019.

Law enforcement officials here in Ohio and elsewhere receive training in investigative techniques to help them identify the factors that caused the need for their intervention in people's lives. For instance, when it comes to a car accident, officers are trained to identify certain circumstances and factors that led to its cause. Even so, in some cases, the scene does not provide nearly enough information for an accurate assessment in the immediate aftermath of a crash.

More investigation is needed into a deadly accident that occurred in the early afternoon hours of June 7. At last report, all that was known is officers received a call shortly after 12:45 p.m. regarding a crash involving two vehicles. Upon their arrival, they discovered that a passenger in one vehicle and the driver of the other died at the scene due to the injuries they suffered in the impact.

A home's ceiling could put owners at risk of asbestos exposure

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Asbestos-Related Deaths on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Many Ohio homebuyers believe that older homes were built to last and have a certain charm. That may be true, but older homes may also contain building materials that builders no longer use due to their toxic nature. For instance, "popcorn" or "cottage cheese" ceilings could put those who live in the home at risk for asbestos exposure, especially if they attempt to remove the materials on their own.

The materials used to create these textured ceilings often included asbestos up through the early 1990s. This substance used to be in a variety of products because of its nonflammable properties, durability and low cost, among other things. The problem with the material is that it is toxic when its fibers or dust becomes airborne. For this reason, a popcorn ceiling could be an illness waiting to happen.

More than half of teen car accidents involve distracted driving

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that distracted driving injures approximately 1,000 people and kills about nine people each day in this country. Undoubtedly, some of those car accidents occur here in Ohio. The data also indicates that crashes involving teenagers involve distraction around 58% of the time. When combined with their inexperience behind the wheel, this makes them a dangerous group of drivers.

Ohio parents may think that the largest distraction for their young drivers is their cellphones, but they would be mistaken. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the largest distraction of teens behind the wheel is their passengers, which are usually within their age range. That does not mean that texting, using social media and other distractions cannot be deadly -- it only means that the most often cited distraction is those in the vehicle with the driver.

Did tenants suffer from asbestos exposure?

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Asbestos/Mesothelioma on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

Many of the buildings in Ohio have a rich history, but not all of it may be good. Living in an older apartment building could come with certain risks to the tenants. For instance, if the structure was built decades ago, the risk of asbestos exposure remains a concern. Most residents don't give it a thought since they expect their landlords to ensure they are safe from toxic materials.

Some tenants in another Ohio city recently discovered that tiles containing asbestos were being removed from the basement of their buildings. This came as a shock since the landlord failed to inform the tenants of the work. Moreover, they say that it appears the appropriate precautions were not taken to ensure they did not suffer exposure to toxic material.

Fleeing after vehicle accidents may deny victims justice

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

Whether due to fear of prosecution, disorientation or some other strong motivation, some drivers flee from crash scenes. Not only does this hinder the investigations of vehicle accidents, but it also keeps victims and their families from understanding what led to the injuries and deaths that happen. Once hit-and-run drivers are in police custody, those victims and families, whether here in Ohio or elsewhere, may find some justice and closure.

Police track some down, and some of these drivers ultimately turn themselves in, but not all. A motorcycle rider finally turned himself in the following day after crashing his motorcycle into a guardrail the night before. While he was able to flee the scene on the motorcycle, his passenger was not as lucky. The 46-year-old woman died after succumbing to the injuries she suffered in the impact.

Warmer weather often means more all-terrain vehicle accidents

On behalf of Kelley Ferraro of Kelley & Ferraro, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 24, 2019.

The end of winter and the beginning of warmer weather means Ohio residents are getting outside more just like people elsewhere in the country. Sadly, this could also signal an increase in all-terrain vehicle accidents as people participate in more outdoor activities. Many of these crashes result in severe or fatal injuries, as four people and their families recently discovered.

On a recent Sunday shortly before 12:30 a.m., troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to reports of an accident on Township Road 429. Upon arrival, they found four individuals and a wrecked ATV. The 24-year-old man identified as the driver died at the scene from the injuries he suffered in the crash. Preliminary reports indicate he lost control of the vehicle most likely due to intoxication. He and the three passengers attended a party earlier that evening involving alcohol, which was also found on the ATV.