Plane Crash: It Happens in Threes

While it might be true that more people die in automobile crashes than in air accidents, there seems to be an increasing number of planes running into distress, resulting in death or disaster for those unlucky enough to be on board when the plane either falls from the sky, or refuses to get off the ground.

Case in point: a pilot lost his life just this morning when the cargo plane he was attempting to fly crashed during takeoff at Barnstable Municipal Airport at Hyannis.

According to a spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the plane was 500 feet down the runway when it crashed just after 10am this morning. Although it was not known if the plane was in the air, or had wheels still on the tarmac at the point of impact, it is known that the pilot, who was not identified, was the only person in the cargo plane when it crashed. The plane was owned by Wiggins Airways of Manchester, New Hampshire.

Plane Crash: Parachutist Sues for Injuries

When the single-engine Cessna P206 plane crashed into a field in Lawrence County last month, two people were killed. One of those killed was a parachutist who had exited the plane as it was spiraling downward, out of control. Sadly, the doomed skydiver didn't survive after her reserve chute deployed too early, and became entangled in the tail. Beyond the fatal injuries she suffered, one can imagine the horror of her last moments.

It has yet to be determined if the families of two parachutists killed in the crash--the doomed jumper entangled by the tail, and another who died in the plane's fuselage as it hit the ground--will be launching lawsuits. However, a surviving parachutist who suffered a broken right leg as she exited the out-of-control plane has filed suit against the skydiving company that oversaw the doomed flight, the owner of the company and the pilot of the downed plane, who survived but was critically injured.

California Software Developers: A Reality Check on Overtime, Overdue

It would be an interesting exercise to focus a webcam on a roomful of computer workers--and a clock--to gauge just how many hours you, and your colleagues are working, and to guess as to whether or not you're being paid the overtime you may be owed for working those long hours.

The fact remains that there are strict rules for the payment, or exclusion of payment of California overtime for development professionals.

Even though the threshold levels have changed in favor of the employer, you still might be in the position of being stiffed for the overtime that is officially your right. That denial might be happening simply because your employer is dishonest. Or, it may be happening simply because you haven't verified what your classification is, and how the work you actually do, actually compares to the classification your employer has bestowed upon you.

Checking Criminal Records

Since 9/11, Americans have become very security conscious. It is increasingly common for job seekers to find that a prospective employer checks criminal records, as part of the hiring process. Many companies are even conducting background checks on long-time employees. As a result, some people are finding that youthful indiscretions that had been previously overlooked are coming back to haunt them once their criminal records checks are completed.

Tragic Boating Accident: He Didn't Stand a Chance

With the approaching summer comes the season for boating accidents, as landlubbers take to the lakes in record numbers for some sun and some fun on the water. But all too often there is tragedy, as witnessed by the death of a boater just a week before summer on the Columbia River near Finley, in Washington State.

A 74-year-old man was boating with his wife on a 30-foot Tollycraft cabin cruiser, when they were hit from behind by another boat. The Tollycraft was in actual fact anchored, about 200 feet from shore along the Columbia River in Benton County, when a 28-foot Chaparral cuddy cabin day cruiser carrying four passengers slammed the Tollycraft from behind. The collision happened around 8pm on June 14th.

According to an eyewitness who was fishing along the riverbank, the Chaparral launched up over the stern of the slightly larger cabin cruiser, completely ripping off a blue canopy that covered the length of the boat. The two vessels eventually broke apart, and the Chaparral started drifting downriver.

Railroad Worker Injuries: Life and Death on the Rails

Life on the railroad can be tough, and is anything but the romanticized image of big, tough men (and women) happily slugging it out with a smile on their face and coal dust in their lungs. Given the dynamics of the tracks, the size of the trains and the various substances, dusts and chemicals inherent with running, and maintaining a rail service, life is anything but easy and ones' health is anything but assured given the risks associated with railroad worker safety.

Case in point is David Gibbs, a rail worker with Union Pacific Railroad based in Steelville, Illinois. Employed as a signal maintainer, Gibbs filed a complaint under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA 1908) in US District Court earlier this month alleging that Union Pacific failed to provide him with a safe place to work.

Unauthorized Mobile Content: Consumers are Fighting Back

It's called 'cramming' and it's got nothing to do with studying for an exam. Cramming is the latest catch phrase for unauthorized mobile content that shows up on your cell phone bill that you didn't authorize. You didn't order it, didn't ask for it, and didn't subscribe to it--at least knowingly. And yet you continue to get billed by a third party for something you hardly even know exists, let alone use.

Thankfully, people are fighting back. The proof is in the number of class action lawsuits that have been filed by mobile phone users fed up with unauthorized third-party billing, and last week a major announcement by AT&T Mobility that it would settle a group of class action suits, and issue refunds to consumers who are out-of-pocket for services they never used and didn't want.

It's easy enough to do. According to the Utilities Consumers Action Network (UCAN), a not-for-profit advocacy group based in San Diego, a consumer can subscribe to everything from ring tones, to horoscopes to a joke-of-the-day and never know it. Perhaps you have filled out a form, or entered a contest that required the inclusion of your cell phone number.

California Software Developers Overtime: We Feel Your Pain

Okay, so you're a California software developer. You love what you do, and you make a decent living at it. You reside in one of the most glorious places on earth--but you don't necessarily love your life. That's because you also love your wife and your kids, and your hobbies, but you have no time for them because you're spending 80 hours a week staring bug-eyed into a computer monitor. Worse, you're denied overtime that you think is your right under the California overtime statutes.

And enough with the "hey, you're one of the team" and "we're all in this together" BS. You haven't seen the sun in days; you're putting on weight because you don't have the time to run anymore. Your son hit his first home run in Little League while you were a no show--again--and your lovely bride is not bothering to return your emails anymore.

Zurn Pex Plumbing Leaves Homeowners Fretting Over Fittings

There's little doubt as to the advantages of Zurn PEX plumbing systems over traditional copper: the material is lightweight and easy to handle, and much less expensive. Not quite as popular with thieves, either. It offers freeze damage resistance, and prevention of lime, and mineral build-up.

And with fewer fittings, proponents say there are fewer installation errors. However, some of those fewer fittings have been known to fail prematurely, causing leaks and damage to homes.

Let's get married, let's get more information about it

A civil union between two people whether religious or otherwise is commonly called a wedding; reforms to the law and attitudes regarding marriage have seen a number of important changes in recent years. The ceremony is an opportunity to perform a traditional service and celebrate with friends and family. the law requires that the couple sign the marriage certificate in front of witnesses before the marriage can be legally accepted. Traditionally, the woman getting married is the bride and the man the bridegroom usually abbreviated to groom; they are then referred to by the title husband and wife, once they are married.

Rail Worker Fatigue: Tired, and Working the Trains

A tired worker is a threat to himself as well as those he serves. In the case of a railway worker diagnosed with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder (CRSD), the impairment from lack of sleep could carry significant consequences, and falls within the responsibility of Norfolk Southern Railway according to a FELA lawsuit that has recently been launched.

The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) was enacted at the turn of the last century in response to a spate of injuries and deaths suffered by rail workers on the then-humming rail lines. While rail service has fallen from its once-lofty perch, the institution is still alive and viable--and the risks for rail workers are, too.

Different Wedding Services, know about it

Whilst there are many interpretations of a wedding, generally speaking they are still a religious or legal union between two individuals; many changes to the service have occurred in recent years. Despite the religious aspect to a marriage, it is still a legal matter; the law requires that the couple sign the marriage certificate in front of witnesses before the marriage can be legally accepted. A woman taking part in the ceremony is called a bride, a man called a bridegroom; once they are married they known as the wife and husband.

TACA Plane Crash: Airport a Disaster Waiting to Happen

Lawyers representing those injured or traumatized, or the families of those killed aboard the commercial airliner that crashed in Honduras May 30th, may have no shortage of entities on which to attach blame for the plane crash, given the ultimate design, and the history of the airport.

It was May 30th when the Airbus A-320 touched down at Toncontin International Airport on its second attempt, skidding past the end of the runway and barreling into a hill, killing the pilot and two passengers. Two people were killed on the ground in their cars crushed by the hulk of the Airbus plane.

The pilot, with over 11,000 hours of flight logged in the air, aborted his first attempt to land due to poor visibility. On his second attempt, he touched down in the middle of what is already one of the shortest runways in the world--a runway that was also wet, which worsened braking.

How to identify junk faxers

The good news is that you can always find out who is sending you the junk faxes if you follow the steps below.

First use this page: How to identify the fax broadcaster

If you get an unsolicited fax, follow this procedure (one of the first three is almost always guaranteed to work):

California Labor Law: Contractors Who Don't Play By the Rules

So you're a construction worker in California. And you've been following the news reports about the construction crane accidents in Manhattan, and even though you're not working on, or anywhere near a crane you wonder if everything is on the up-and-up with your employer. Well you have California Labor Law on your side.

You would be happy to know that there are various California labor laws and statutes that protect you from an abusive employer. You should also be happy to know that the Labor Standards Enforcement arm of the Labor Commissioner's Office keeps a close eye on things.

Truck Accident: Tragic Tangle with a Tractor-Trailer

She was a soccer player--caring, and fun-loving. When a classmate's dog died, she baked the grieving owner cookies. That's the type of person Sydney Aichs was. And that's why so many friends and loved ones are mourning her death to a truck accident after her small car was rammed by a tractor-trailer running a red light. The 16-year-old Virginian was pronounced dead at the scene while the truck driver, Kenneth Barbour, 54, escaped unharmed.

The Waynesboro man would be later charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving. If convicted of the first charge, he faces up to 10 years in prison, together with an additional year in jail and a $2,500 fine if also convicted of the lesser charge.

Unum: Healthy Employees, Unhealthy Practices

A company with a reputation for denying legitimate claims and throwing the lives of well-meaning policy holders into chaos has again been honored with an award recognizing its commitment to the health of its employees. Unum took home a Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award from the National Business Group on Health this month, its third such win.

This Jeckyll-and-Hyde personality trait inherent with the nation's largest insurance provider makes for an interesting, if not troubling twist as reports keep coming in from consumers and policyholders shaken to the core by Unum's alleged efforts to deny their claim, or berate them over the continuation of payments for legitimate needs.

Asbestos Mesothelioma: A Death Sentence Has Its Price

The family of a pipe fitter who has since died from an asbestos-related disease is launching a second lawsuit against a collection of 35 companies. The lawsuit was filed in May, and states that the defendants should have warned workers and consumers about the dangers of asbestos, and asbestos mesothelioma.

The late Ernest L. Edwards had earlier filed a lawsuit and received a settlement. However, subsequent to his death Edwards' family is suing with regard to "a different malignant asbestos-related injury" that the family claims resulted in Edwards' premature death.

New York City Crane Collapse Update: A Bad Weld May be at Fault

In the aftermath of the latest construction crane collapse in New York City that claimed two lives yesterday, focus is being placed on a potentially faulty weld in an integral part of the crane structure.

The larger issue, however--and one that has been the subject of much debate over the past 24 hours--remains how this could have happened in view of the stringent tightening of regulations that was the result of a March 16th collapse that took seven lives. Commenting to a reporter from the New York Times on Friday Louis J. Coletti, who is president of the Building Trades Employers' Association, said "you've seen some new regulation put into place by the City, but today we're talking about an incident where every regulation has been followed."

Yamaha Rhino Rollovers: Two Die in Two Separate Rollovers on the Same Day

An all-terrain vehicle that may be more familiar to people lying on its side than on all four wheels is the subject of yet another lawsuit alleging a dangerous design, as users of the popular Yamaha Rhino ATV continue to suffer serious injuries, or even death.

Ryan Rogers, of Bossier City, Texas claims that he was injured while riding in a Yamaha Rhino that rolled towards the passenger side. While his suit does not specify his injuries, or break out the alleged defects of the vehicle in which he was riding when injured, the lawsuit is just one of hundreds that have cited Yamaha, and the Rhino ATV for design flaws such as a high center of gravity and tires that are too narrow--attributes which are said to invite rollover accidents, even at relatively low speeds and on relatively flat surfaces.

Second Construction Crane Toppled in Two Months, One Person Killed

A second construction crane accident in New York City in two months is raising questions about the safety of building, and infill construction practices in city centers and highly populated areas. Early reports say one person was killed when a construction crane toppled in New York City this morning, and the incident is eerily similar to an event that happened earlier this Spring when a huge construction crane toppled to the ground in New York, killing seven people, injuring dozens of others and scaring an entire city half to death.

How does this keep happening?

The construction day had barely begun this morning on the Azure, a high-rise condo going up at 333 East 91st street in New York City. According to eyewitness Joe Quinn, he had started work at 7am this morning along with 24 others as part of a crew stationed on the roof of the building. According to Quinn, in comments published moments ago in the New York Times, the turntable that attached the crane to the tower "came right off. Boom..." The startled 25-year-old observed that there was no weight on it whatsoever, and therefore wasn't stressed in any particular fashion. "It wasn't hooked up to anything," Quinn said. "The disk came off where it attaches to the tower.

"I ran like hell."

Zurn PEX: the Ticking Time Bomb Behind Your Walls

The retired doctor from Minnesota must have been thanking his lucky stars that he was home when his upstairs bathroom sprung a leak above the ceiling. He was there to shut the water off before thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars might have been done as a result of a defective Zurn PEX brass fitting.

Others haven't been so lucky, and more are joining a class action lawsuit against Zurn Industries, alleging a defect in the brass fittings that join lengths of PEX, or cross-linked polyethylene pipe, together.

Few in the industry, including plumbers, have anything bad to say about the actual PEX pipe, which is a flexible and less expensive alternative to far more expensive copper products. The flexibility is a godsend, given the prior requirement to accomplish literally hundreds of cuts and joins in a typical structure, while working with a rigid product like copper. PEX, in contrast, can be easily threaded and dramatically cuts down on installation time, as well as cost. PEX is also thought to be a worthy improvement on the problem-prone polybutylene piping.

50+ Address and Telephone Number Records Companies

This information index is designed to direct you to a public record vendor specializing in an information category you need.

The list below consists of public and private address and telephone number information companies. All vendors are listed in alphabetical order along with and their web address.

Canceling Your Credit Card: A Novel Idea Recorded on Phone

I don't normally do this, as those of you who read my blog well know, but I just finished reading an extremely interesting post on canceling your credit card. Seems it was written by this guy, Bob Rankin, who simply wanted to lessen his load (as I'm sure many of us do, these days) by canceling a credit card, one that he no longer needed . . .

Securities / Stock Fraud: Big Boys Roll the Dice, the Little Guy Loses...

Not that his team is in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Well, at least not this year. But on the night that the pre-eminent hockey championship launches before a sea of ribald hockey fans far removed from California, the owner of the Anaheim Ducks hockey club has resigned as Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Broadcom Corp after allegations of securities fraud.

A civil complaint has been filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Henry Samueli, alleging that he backdated 232 million stock options in an effort to make them more valuable. Samueli, it has been reported, denies the allegation--and of course is presumed innocent of the charge until proven guilty. Such is the court of public opinion, however, which automatically assumes that someone is guilty the instant a charge is laid.

Are Background Checks an "Inherently Governmental" Matter?

Pennsylvania officials gambled and lost in having the state Gaming Control Board rather than state police handle some aspects of background checks on applicants for casino licenses.

SuperShuttle International Inc: Allegations that Drivers are Made to Pay the Freight

In a case that gets right down to where the rubber hits the road, employees of a California shuttle company are hoping that a class-action lawsuit will shift their case into overdrive, and force their employer to ante up millions of dollars in unpaid overtime.

Employees of SuperShuttle International Inc. allege that their employer has misclassified them as 'independent contactors' and / or 'franchisees' over a four-year period. Such designations would allow the company, the suit alleges, to do an end run around State labor laws and statutes governing basics such as minimum wage and overtime pay.

Menu Foods Agrees to $24 Million Settlement in Tainted Pet Food Case

Pet owners impacted by the massive Menu Foods tainted pet food recall of last year will soon be making a trip to their bank, provided a US $24 million dollar settlement offer is approved by the courts.

The pact was agreed to in principle back in April. However, on May 22nd came the signal that an agreement with all parties had been reached, subject to court approval, which is expected this Friday.

If approved, any and all pet owners impacted by the Menu pet food recall will be eligible for compensation for any, and all documented expenses related to the illness, or death of their pet--including veterinarian bills, or burial costs. Pet owners who may have been forced, or elected to take time off work could also expect compensation for time lost on the job. Burial expenses would also be covered.

Deadly Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis: Who Dropped the Ball?

Imagine driving to work, as you do every day, only to have the bridge underneath you suddenly give way and collapse. That's what happened to scores of people last year after an unsafe bridge in Minneapolis simply gave up, killing 13 people and injuring 145.

Now it's been revealed that not only was the bridge not safe, but that transportation officials were told for 17 consecutive years that the bridge was not safe. They allegedly did nothing about it.

We all recall the images last August 1st, of heaving asphalt, crumpled steel and what was left of cars and their passengers trapped therein, disappearing into holes. Pity the people driving underneath the bridge at the exact instant the structure, with all its weight, fell in on top of them, killing them instantly or horribly maiming them for life--not to mention the psychological impact of having something like that happen to you. The images were disturbing enough for those of us watching the disaster unfold on television, from the comfort of our own homes.

The tragedy is that it appears it could have been prevented.

Writer vs. Sun Microsystems in California Labor Law Case

Yet another California Labor Law class action is brewing in the sun-kissed State, in support of a technical writer for Sun Microsystems who claims she was denied legitimate overtime.

Dani Heonemier was happily employed by another firm when the company was purchased by Sun Microsystems in 2005. However, Heonemier's relationship with her new employer proved anything but sunny, after she soon found herself sometimes working 60 hour work weeks, often without breaks and most often without overtime.

The technical writer is accusing Sun Microsystems of unfairly treating about 300 technical writers, and is challenging the company's assertion that technical writers qualify as exempt from overtime pay according to the provisions in California Labor Law governing overtime pay.

Tainted Heparin Investigation Continues, Lawsuits Keep Coming...

As the tainted heparin issue continues to reverberate around the globe, lawsuits continue to mount as those harmed by contaminated heparin, or the families of those who have died, seek compensation in the face of a complex and convoluted environment.

In a word, whom do you blame? The manufacturer, for sourcing the tainted heparin from China in the first place? Or the government, for not providing the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the necessary tools to police imports? In Missouri, they're suing the manufacturer -- in this case, for allegedly waiting too long to initiate a recall.

Asbestos Mesothelioma: From the Shop Floor to Hollywood

He may have lived half the world away in England, but Ken Myring died from a horrid disease that can root out anyone, anywhere - and asbestos exposure is almost always the cause of asbestos mesothelioma. Myring lost his brief battle and died in December at the age of 82, and now his widow is searching for his former coworkers.

Your life's work should earn you a comfortable and restful retirement. It shouldn't kill you and rob you of the leisure you spent a lifetime setting aside. But that's what happened to Myring. All he did was get up in the morning and go to work at Sketchley, a hosiery factory on Rugby Road at Hinckley, in southwest Leicestershire, England. From 1939 to 1982 he went to work faithfully every day, working in an environment where the steam pipes were lagged with asbestos, and the steam presses were covered with an asbestos blanket. Even the roof of the factory, made from corrugated asbestos cement sheets, could have released asbestos fibers that led to Mr. Myring's fatal condition.

Ford Parts Backlog: Owners Get Short End of the Stick

Imagine receiving a recall notice for a fairly serious problem with your Ford vehicle - one that could cause your vehicle to catch fire. So you duly respond to the recall, only to be told that there aren't enough parts, and that you'll have to wait. The parts backlog means you're continuing to drive a dangerous vehicle that could catch fire at any moment.

Even when it's just sitting, parked in the driveway.

Such is the frustration of hundreds of thousands of Ford owners who have received recall notices for faulty cruise control systems. At issue is a faulty switch that could produce a short in the electrical system. Some owners have experienced fires while driving. However, others have seen their vehicles go up in flames parked in the driveway. One family completely lost their house when their Ford Explorer caught fire in the garage. Both the truck, and the home were completely destroyed.

Asbestos Found in Children's Toy

A children's toy allegedly containing harmful asbestos has resulted in state and federal lawsuits filed on May 2, 2008 in California. Named in the lawsuits are Planet Toys Inc. and CBS Broadcasting Inc. after asbestos was allegedly found in a line of popular CSI toy science kits modeled after the equally popular CSI drama series.

Planet Toys manufactures the toys, which are licensed by CBS.

Icy Hot Patch = Severe Burns For Many

The voluntary recall by Chattem Inc of its high-profile line of Icy Hot Pain patch must have been frustrating for a company that looked to the product with so much promise when it was launched in 2001. However, the company could not deny the fact that users were complaining of severe burns and skin irritations, and had little choice but to commence an urgent recall this past winter.

Critics maintain the company waited too long to pull the trigger, with adverse event reports coming in as long as 14 months before the recall was announced. The Icy Hot Patch is air-activated, and is designed to start off cool, then evolve to a sustained but gentle heat, replicating the long-held belief that icing a sore muscle first, followed by heat therapy, is the best way to ease the pain and soothe sore, aching muscles. Directions suggest that a patch can be worn for up to eight hours safely.

Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Gone Wrong

Colin Dorrian was a promising law school student when he sought relief from a chronic dry eye condition by undergoing Lasik laser eye surgery. However, rather than improving his vision and freeing him from his contacts, the procedure left him with so much eye pain and fuzzy vision that after six years, he took his own life.

"As soon as my eyes went bad, I fell into a deeper depression than I'd ever experienced, and I couldn't get out," the doomed man wrote in his suicide note.

Lasik surgery has exploded in popularity in recent years, as clients with increasing amounts of disposable income and the vanity needed to throw away their glasses and contacts for good, go under the knife at a cost that averages about $2000 per eye. Radio, TV and magazines burst with advertisements for a procedure that boasts a high success rate--and indeed the vast majority benefits with 20-20 vision, or better.

Real Estate Overcharges: Others Get Rich on Your Money

You know what they say--look after the pennies, and the dollars will look after themselves. So it stands to reason that unscrupulous agents and officials involved with various real estate transactions are doing quite nicely pocketing extra money from real estate overcharges. Money that is rightfully yours.

There is little doubt that a real estate transaction is a complicated process, and to the average Joe it can be overwhelming. Not so, however, for the various officials and agents we hire to steer us through the process. They do this every day of the week, vs. a handful of times in a lifetime for us. As a result, it's not hard to pull the wool over our eyes.

Botox Critics Continue to Lobby for Black Box Warnings

As critics of Botox continue to lobby for black box warnings regarding the potential for the toxin to migrate away from injection sites to affect muscular function that could allegedly prove injurious or even fatal to a patient, the drug best known for its cosmetic indication is currently being studied for the potential treatment of headache.

Allergan Inc., the maker of Botox, is currently in the midst of Phase III clinical studies testing the potential use of Botox for headaches. While it has not been determined just how the Botox would be administered for this indication if approved, it's ironic that a recent study coming out of Italy found that Botox injected into the whisker muscles of lab rats migrated into the brain.

Hospitality Industry: Management Sharing Tips?

A ruling in April governing the hospitality industry in New York could have a sweeping effect as to just what is a service charge, and what is a tip. And for management sharing tips, the ruling could spell an end to that practice. Here's the scoop, or the tip if you will...

Server Arnel Samiento and his colleagues who work for World Yacht, took exception to the fact that their employer did not pass along the entire 20 percent service charge, levied to patrons aboard their dinner cruises in New York harbor, to the waitstaff. The employees further alleged misrepresentation, in that customers were led to believe that the gratuity was included in the ticket price, while at the end of the day the wait staff would only see a gratuity in real dollars of between four and seven percent. The remainder would be split amongst managers working the day.

MRI's May Induce Onset of a Debilitating Malady

Having a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan using the contrasting agent gadolinium during the procedure may induce the onset of a debilitating malady commonly known as NSF/NFD.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) is a painful condition that is characterized by the thickening and hardening of the skin mostly affecting the limbs but the disease can also impact internal organs and can progress so rapidly, a patient can regress from healthy to wheelchair-bound within a matter of weeks.

Choosing A Good Divorce Attorney

Unfortunately the chances of a married couple splitting up gets higher each year so hiring a divorce lawyer is the next crucial step; ensure they have at least the following abilities:

*Competent in this field *Have the right attitude for this work *Be responsible

Nevada Hepatitis C Scare: Testing Candidates Approach 60,000

While 40,000 people have been identified as candidates for testing in the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada hepatitis C scare, that number could climb to 60,000. What's more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, such unsafe practices as re-using syringes and double dipping into single-shot vials could be more widespread.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid is seeking $26 million in emergency funds from Congress in an effort to help suspected hepatitis C victims who can't afford to pay for the screening procedure. Money would also go to the CDC to ensure that the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada debacle isn't repeated elsewhere in the country.

Best Attorneys - A Solution To Your Divorce Problem

Unfortunately the chances of a married couple splitting up gets higher each year so hiring a divorce lawyer is the next crucial step; ensure they have at least the following abilities:

*Skilful in this type of case *Have the proper demeanor *Efficient in their work methods

Chantix and Champix Stories Abound

There is nothing more compelling than someone's own story, and the stories involving Chantix and its Canadian and European counterpart Champix, abound.

The smoking-cessation system introduced by Pfizer in 2006 does, indeed work for some. However, it appears that a greater proportion of users encounter serious side effects, not the least of which are aggression and anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. To that end, some have ended their own lives tragically while on the drug, which is designed to block nicotine from reaching the brain.

Tainted Heparin - Death Toll at 81

The tainted heparin juggernaut just keeps getting bigger: it was revealed on April 22, 2008 that the US Food and Drug Administration puts the death toll linked to tainted heparin at 81 deaths, and the country count is up to 11.

It was revealed, according to a report in the New York Times, that the FDA has now identified a clear link between the heparin contaminant oversulfated chondroitin sulfate--found in various lots of heparin inbound from China--and adverse reactions that have, according to the FDA, led to deaths.

Trasylol Lawsuits Against Bayer Mount

As Bayer AG continues to study the results of the Canadian BART trial on Trasylol, and whether or not those findings may compel the manufacturer to lobby health regulators as to the merits of re-marketing a now-vilified drug, its legal arm prepares for its day in court as lawsuits against Bayer mount.

One of those lawsuits was filed in March in Federal court in St. Louis on behalf of the family of the late Samuel Nakis, age 81, a heart surgery patient who went under the knife in December of 2005. However, soon after surgery the senior began to suffer from renal failure, and was placed on dialysis but to no avail. He died within a month of his surgery.

Heparin Contamination Deliberate: FDA

LeRoy Hubley not only lost his son, but also his wife to tainted heparin. He told stunned observers at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in Washington on April 29, 2008 that "as Christmas music played softly in the background, we each said our goodbyes," the distraught man said, breaking down in tears to a hushed room. "Then my wife and love of 48 years drifted away."

For the first time since it was revealed that a contaminant in tainted heparin sourced from China may be linked to as many as 81 deaths, officials with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have publicly put forth their belief that the addition of oversulfated chondroitin sulfate was a deliberate act.

Three People Die in Arizona Plane Crash

On the morning of April 23, 2008 three residents of Arizona took off in a light plane, not knowing that they would never see their families again, smell the spring air again, feel the warm sun again. Instead, their small plane crashed shortly after take-off, killing all three on board.

Plane crashes are always horrific, even when passengers survive. However, while the commercial airline industry still has a good track record in view of the sheer number of flights that happen in any given day, the same cannot be true for light aircraft. Increasingly, more people indulge their passion for flying, and baby boomers with higher levels of disposable income than their parents, can afford to own their own planes.

Possible Merck ERISA Violation Regarding Vytorin

When Merck dragged its feet for 21 months before releasing the ENHANCE study shaming Vytorin, the manufacturer allegedly did more than delay the bad news: it may have also delayed the returns, and derailed the retirement plans of thousands of investors unaware of a ticking time bomb. But Merck knew, and in so doing may have breached its fiduciary duty to investors under ERISA guidelines.

It's common knowledge by now that Vytorin, the so called cholesterol-fighting drug, has been deemed no more effective in mitigating the build-up of plaque on arterial walls than cheaper generics, including older statins. That conclusion, revealed by the ENHANCE study, was reached as early as April 2006 when the study data became available. However, for reasons known only to them, Merck and Schering-Plough delayed the release of the study, while continuing to heavily promote Vytorin in television and print in a market awash with Americans battling high cholesterol levels.

Icy Hot Patch Causes Painful Blisters

Robbie Bender of North Texas is an active boy and avid sports enthusiast who turned to the Icy Hot patch after the muscles in his legs started cramping up last year following soccer practice. However, as reported by nbc5i.com in Dallas/Fort Worth, Bender applied the patch to his leg just before bed--but soon awoke to painful blisters.

His mother, Linda reports that her son screamed in pain when the patch was pulled away, and the blisters representing a second-degree burn on his leg were obvious."It took (the manufacturer) several months to even respond, once I sent the information over," she told a television reporter.

Mutual Fund ERISA - Braden vs. Wal-Mart

A class action lawsuit filed in late March alleges that Wal-Mart, the giant discount retailer, violated mutual fund ERISA statutes and cost its 401(k) employee plan holders and investors $60 million in unnecessary expenditures by purchasing expensive mutual funds, when cheaper alternatives were available.

Jeremy Braden, an employee of Wal-Mart in Ozark, Missouri filed the suit March 31st in US District Court for the Western District of Missouri. His lawsuit appears to be a classic case of ERISA violation, given his allegations that Wal-Mart, and those responsible for managing and administering employee retirement and 401(k) plans (Plan), invested in retail mutual funds that were not only expensive, but were also under-performing.

How Asbestos Exposure Has Affected One Family Breadwinner

Larry Rochon is a man who knows all too well the dangers of asbestos, after working with floating asbestos fibers as constant companion at the Scott Paper Company. He also knows the dangers of that same asbestos exposure when transferred to his family.

While cases of asbestosis and mesothelioma from long-term asbestos exposure have long been documented, it's rare that you hear of family members succumbing to the asbestos exposure of the family breadwinner. But it can happen and it does, when a worker unknowingly transports asbestos fibers home on his clothes, or to car seats in the minivan.

It also behooves industry, which continues to legally utilize asbestos for the manufacture of automotive brake parts, for example, to ensure proper practices, and procedures are both implemented and enforced. Such practices might include breathing apparatus, and protective clothing, including headgear, gloves, and footwear that would be removed and not worn home. Ideally, workers would have the capacity to shower prior to getting back into their street clothes.

DirectTV Customer Complaints Grow Due to Unfair Fees