Florida Injury Attorney Blog

Adam Mason, a 31-year-old Pensacola resident, was awarded $7 million by a Florida jury in his dangerous drugs lawsuit against Swiss drug manufacturer Hoffman-La Roche. The drug maker failed to warn Mason that using the acne drug Accutane could lead to a gastrointestinal disease called inflammatory bowel disease.

Mason had to have surgery to remove his colon after he developed the disease. Mason says that because of the surgery he can no longer work as a welder. Mason also was able to obtain settlements from his doctor and West Florida Medical Center after he filed medical malpractice lawsuits against them.

His case is 1 of over 400 inflammatory disease-Accutane-related cases against the Swiss drug maker. In another case, Andy McCarrell won $2.6 million for his lawsuit that cited similar side effects.

Accutane is a controversial acne drug that has been linked to depression, birth defects, suicidal tendencies, and psychological disorders. A USA Today news article from 2004 says that Hoffman-La Roche opted not to issue stronger warnings about potential side effects because they were worried the warnings would negatively affect sales.

Hoffman-La Roche now includes in its packaging that Accutane can lead to possible psychological side effects. The packaging also warns users that Accutane use can lead to inflammatory bowel disease (but not many details are provided). It also continues to insist that the connection between IBD and Accutane is not definite.

In 2004, an FDA researcher recommended to a US Senate panel that the acne drug be investigated in case a recall was warranted.

A drug manufacturer can be held liable for a dangerous or defective drug if a user becomes injured, sick, or dies from taking the medication. Sometimes, a drug maker will send a drug into the marketplace without conducting proper testing. A drug may also come with insufficient warnings about potential side effects and proper use.

In some instances, drug manufacturers may promote and manufacture a drug in a way that generates sales rather than ensures the users’ safety. These are negligent actions by pharmaceutical makers who can be held liable for personal injury or wrongful death.

Jury awards local man $7 million, Pensacola News Journal, October 12, 2007

Accutane Victim Awarded $7 million in Florida Lawsuit, News Inferno, October 12, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Accutane, American Osteopathic College of Dermatology

Accutane, Roche USA Pharmaceuticals

Continue reading " Florida Jury Awards Pensacola Man $7 Million In Products Liability Lawsuit Against Accutane Manufacturer Hoffman-La Roche " »

Two people were injured early Monday morning in Pembroke Pines, Florida during a shooting at the Marabou Café. The female victim, Tampa resident Julia Kenesha Cornibert, sustained a gunshot wound to her right arm. She was taken to Memorial Pembroke Hospital where she was treated and later released.

The male victim, a 31-year-old man whose name had been withheld by police, was shot several times. He underwent surgery at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

There were about 500 people at the nightclub when the shooting took place.

Police are looking for the gunman. According to reports, shootings have taken place before outside the nightclub. This is the first shooting incident to reportedly occur inside the club.

Inadequate Security Cases
If you or someone you love has been injured on a premise because the property owner or manager did not provide proper or sufficient security, you may have grounds to file an inadequate security claim against him or her.

In Florida, landowners, business owners, property managers, apartment managers, shopping mall owners, nightclub owners, landlords, building owners, and other people that own or are in charge of a premise are supposed to provide proper security. Security alarms, security personnel, secure parking, and security cameras are some of the many security measures that a premise owner or manager can put into place.

If a premise owner or manager knows that there is a risk that a crime may be committed on the property and he or she doesn’t take the proper measures to prevent the crime from happening, the premise owner or manager can be sued for personal injury or wrongful death if someone is injured or killed on the premise as a result.

Rape, physical assault, shootings, stabbings, and robbery are some of the crimes that can take place on a premise that doesn’t have proper security.

As the victim of a premises liability crime caused by inadequate security, you are entitled under to receive compensation for your injuries.

2 shot in Pembroke Pines nightclub, Sun-Sentinel.com, October 8, 2007

2 injured in Pembroke Pines club shooting, Miami Herald, October 8, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Inadequate security: the new liability crisis, Allbusiness.com, July 1, 1993

Continue reading " Two People in Florida Sustain Gunshot Injuries from Shooting at Marabou Café Nightclub in Pembroke Pines " »

As of October 1, the No-Fault Law in Florida no longer exists. The Florida No-Fault law mandated that every driver in the state purchase $10,000 worth of PIP (Personal injury protection) and $10,000 PDL (Property damage liability). The coverage protected the driver—regardless of whether another party caused the motor vehicle accident. Now, drivers are no longer required to have PIP.

PIP
Under the No-fault Law, Florida required all drivers with a Valid Florida tag to purchase PIP. The coverage provided personal injury coverage regardless of who was at fault in causing a motor vehicle crash. PIP covered the driver, passengers, family members that resided with the driver in his or her home, and anyone that the driver had granted permission to drive the motor vehicle (up to their coverage’s maximum). A driver was also covered by PIP if he or she was hit by a motor vehicle while walking on the streets as a pedestrian or while riding a bicycle.

PDL
Property damage liability provides coverage for damages sustained by other motor vehicles if a driver (or family members using his or her vehicle) was responsible for causing the traffic collision.

BIL
Bodily Injury Liability covers permanent and serious injuries and wrongful death to others (up to a certain financial limit) if the driver with BIL caused the motor vehicle crash.

Serious injuries sustained in a car accident may include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, burn injuries, neck injuries, severed limbs, internal injuries, and wrongful death.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, which recently released its 2006 Florida Crash Statistics Report:

• 256,200 traffic accidents in Florida last year.
• 3,365 people died in these accidents.
• 214,914 people were injured.
• 115,834 of the traffic accidents resulted in property damage but no personal injuries.

Florida lawmakers are scheduled to meet this week to determine whether Florida’s No-Fault Law should be renewed.

Florida No-Fault Law is no more, WINK News, October 1, 2007

Florida Motor Vehicle Insurance, FAQs, Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles

2006 Florida Crash Statistics (PDF), Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles

Related Web Resource:

Florida's Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, Flsenate.gov (PDF)

Continue reading " Florida’s No-Fault PIP Insurance For Motor Vehicle Accidents Expires " »