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NuvaRing® Birth Control Device May Cause Strokes, Blood Clots, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

NuvaRing® (Etonogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol Ring), a combined hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring manufactured by Organon, originally gained FDA approval in October 2001.  Serious side effects (including stroke, blood clots, DVT and PE) have recently been reported.

NuvaRing® (available by prescription only) is a flexible plastic ring placed near the cervix that releases two synthetic hormones, etonogestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen), into a woman’s body over a three week period. These substances are used to prevent ovulation as well as to minimize sperm penetration to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

A higher risk of developing stroke, blood clots, DVT and PE has been linked with the type of progestin used in NuvaRing®.  The hormones in NuvaRing® may cause changes in the blood clotting system, allowing the blood to clot more easily. If blood clots form in the legs, they can travel to the lungs and cause a sudden blockage of a vessel carrying blood to the lungs.  The risk of getting blood clots may be greater with the type of progestin in NuvaRing^® than with some other progestins in certain low-dose birth control pills.

While all hormone-based contraceptives increase a woman’s chance of developing blood clots (which also cause strokes), this effect is more common with some than with others. The riskiest ones employ third-generation hormones, like desogestrel. (NuvaRing® uses a related compound.)

NuvaRing® actually contains a lower hormone dose than most oral contraceptives. But, while birth control pills lose up to half their hormones in the digestive tract, the ring’s dose is absorbed directly into the blood.

This is not the first time that a drug has been promoted, perhaps over-promoted, to a female audience without adequate testing or proper warnings.  We are currently investigating claims and representing women who took Yaz® and were harmed by it.

We have recovered millions of dollars for people who were injured or died as a consequence of dangerous drugs that were not properly evaluated before being placed on the market.

Our experience can make the process of review and recovery as simple as possible. 

When did you begin using NuvaRing®? 

How long did you use NuvaRing®?

What injury did you suffer?

You can fill out the short form below or call us at 800-642-5297 for a free, confidential consultation at a time convenient for you.

March 22, 2010.  The New York Times reported that Toyota, in response to a series of unintended acceleration in vehicles that have already been through the recall process, announced that its dealerships would provide replacement accelerator pedals to owners unhappy with repairs.  The dealers are to provide replacement pedals only if a customer’s car had already been repaired and the owner asked for it.

The memo (addressed to dealers, service managers and parts managers) was reissued Thursday, March 18, and contained part numbers for the replacement pedals and the procedure dealers should follow.  

The vehicles involved in the pedal repair campaign are the 2005-10 Avalon; 2007-10 Camry and Tundra; 2009-10 Corolla, Matrix and RAV4; 2008-10 Sequoia and 2010 Highlander.

FDA Requires Boxed Warning for Drugs Containing Metoclopramide (Reglan, Reglan ODT, Metozol ODT or Octamide)

Reglan, also known by the generic name metoclopramide, has been linked to the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia, a serious neurological side effect. The FDA has required manufacturers of Reglan or metoclopramide to add a boxed warning to their drug labels regarding the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia after prolonged use.

Symptoms of  Tardive Dyskinesia can develop and persist long after use of the medication causing the disorder has been discontinued. There is no known cure.

Reglan or metoclopramide was first approved by the FDA in 1980, and is available in several different forms.  Reglan or metoclopramide is primarily prescribed for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diabetic gastroparesis.

GERD is a common disorder that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter either opens spontaneously or does not close properly and causes stomach contents (including acid, pepsin and bile) to flow back into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation (heartburn).  Reglan or metoclopramide multiplies stomach and small intestine contractions, which increases the rate that the stomach empties into the intestines.

Reglan has also been prescribed for women who are pregnant and experiencing morning sickness, breastfeeding mothers, infants and children and for nausea associated with migraines.

Metoclopramide has been manufactured as the brand Reglan and the generic form by several different pharmaceutical companies including:

Actavis

ANI Pharmaceuticals

Baxter

Hospira/Mayne Pharmaceuticals

Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals

Qualitest Pharmaceuticals

Schwarz Pharma

Teva Pharmaceutical

URL Pharma

Wyeth

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia, you should immediately seek legal representation from an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer.  Please contact us for a free, no obligation, confidential consultation by calling 1-800-642-5297, or by submitting the contact form below:

Purchasers of Nestle Juicy Juice Products May Have Been Misled

Did you buy Nestle Juicy Juice, believing it was 100% “Orange Tangerine” juice or 100% “Grape” juice? If so, you were misled.

On December 4, 2009, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter Juicy Juice FDA ltr to Nestle about its “Nestle Juicy Juice All Natural 100% Juice Orange Tangerine” and “Nestle Juicy Juice All Natural 100% Juice Grape” products. The FDA found that the label design for those Nestle Juicy Juice products “may lead consumers to believe that the products are 100% orange/tangerine juice or 100% grape juice when, in fact, they are not.” The FDA concluded these Nestle Juicy Juice products are “misbranded” in violation of FDA regulations because they are misleading.

We are attorneys investigating the possibility of bringing a potential class action lawsuit for consumers who purchased Nestle Juicy Juice products. To find out if you have a potential claim for Nestle Juicy Juice products or to be part of any class action we may file, please contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-642-5297, or by submitting the contact form below:

Purchasers of Ken’s Healhy Options Salad Dressings May Have Been Misled

Did you buy Ken’s Healthy Options salad dressings, believing they were a “healthy” option?  That may be false.

On February 22, 2010, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Ken’s Healthy Options to stop labeling as “healthy” its Parmesan & Peppercorn, Raspberry Walnut and Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette salad dressings.  The FDA found that these Ken’s Healthy Options dressings were “misbranded,” in violation of FDA regulations, because they have too much fat and too few nutrients to be labeled “healthy.”  Click here for the FDA notice: Ken’s FDA Ltr

We are investigating the possibility of bringing a potential class action lawsuit for consumers who purchased Ken’s Healthy Options salad dressings.  To find out if you have a potential claim against Ken’s Healthy Options or to be part of any class action we may file, please contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-642-5297, or by submitting the contact form below:

According to the USA Today (3/18, Healey), NHTSA is “probing a flaw that could cause popular Toyota Corolla compacts to stall, a problem that Toyota says is likely to affect only a tiny number of cars. Although some owners have said cars stalled in intersections or on highways, Toyota says the issue shouldn’t be considered a safety problem.” NHTSA records indicate that the problem originates with the vehicles’ engine control modules.

Bloomberg News (3/18, Ohnsman) reports that Toyota “is reviewing complaints linked to electronic control units in Corolla and Matrix small cars sold in the US that may cause the engine to shut down.” The faulty ECMs are “in 1.19 million model 2005 through 2007 vehicles, Toyota told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a March 2 letter the company provided to the media today. Toyota doesn’t believe there’s an immediate safety issue related to the problem and hasn’t determined whether a recall will occur, said Brian Lyons, a company spokesman.”

If you are interested in a free consultation about your Toyota vehicle, please call us at 1-800-642-5297 or submit the form below.

Purchasers of Sunsweet Antioxidant Blend Dried Fruit Mixes May Have Been Misled                                                    

Did you buy Sunsweet Antioxidant Blend Dried Fruit Mixes, believing they were “full of nutritious antioxidants” or had “high antioxidants?”  That claim was unauthorized. 

On February 22, 2010, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Sunsweet about its “Sunsweet Antioxidant Blend” dried fruit mixes.  Sunsweet FDA Ltr  The FDA found that Sunsweet Antioxidant dried fruit mixes made an “unauthorized health claim”  in violation of the FDA regulations because Sunsweet failed to identify the nutrients in the product that “have recognized antioxidant activity” in amounts “sufficient to qualify for the claim.”

We are attorneys investigating the possibility of bringing a potential class action lawsuit for consumers who purchased Sunsweet Antioxidant Blend Dried Fruit Mixes.  To find out if you have a potential claim against Sunsweet or to be part of any class action we may file, please contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-642-5297, or by submitting the contact form below:

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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator (NHTSA) David Strickland testified Thursday, March 10, 2010, before the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding NHTSA’s response to the Toyota safety crisis.    Strickland reported that NHTSA was considering mandating black box event data recorders in all new vehicles, which record the speed of the car, whether the driver was applying the brakes and other important facts.  Toyota NHTSA Testimony 3.11.10

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it has received at least ten complaints about unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles after repairs have been made. Rep. Bruce Braley, vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and The Honorable David L. Strickland, Administrator of NHTSA, that these reports “are extremely troubling.” Toyota Braley 3.3.10 ltr.

Did you buy Diamond Walnuts, believing the statements on the package meant the Omega-3 fatty acid content of walnuts is related to a reduction in coronary heart disease?  If so, you were misled.

On February 22, 2010, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Diamond Foods, Inc. about its “Diamond of California Shelled Walnuts.”  The FDA found that packaging for the product makes an “unauthorized health claim,” in violation of FDA regulations.  Specifically, the FDA found that the Diamond Walnuts packaging label’s representation about the “Omega-3 fatty acid” content in walnuts makes it seem as if it was related to a reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD).  The FDA concluded “[t]here is not sufficient evidence to identify a biologically active substance in walnuts that reduces the risks of CHD.”  The FDA also found some other Omega-3 fatty acid claims on Diamond Walnut’s website made it illegal to market the product.  Diamond Walnuts FDA Ltr

We are attorneys investigating the possibility of bringing a potential class action lawsuit for consumers who purchased Diamond Walnuts.  To find out if you have a potential claim against Diamond Walnuts or to be part of any class action we may file, please contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-642-5297, or by submitting the contact form below:

Lost Value of Toyota/Lexus Vehicles

Do you own a Toyota or Lexus vehicle?  Most Toyota or Lexus owners purchased their vehicles based upon a record of safety and maintenance that no longer stands.  The recent, massive safety recalls of Toyota and Lexus vehicles has caused resale value of Toyota and Lexus vehicles to plummet. Many Toyota owners contend that Toyota knew about the safety problems but concealed this information from buyers.

Toyota has recalled 5.6 million vehicles in the United States due to problems caused by accelerator pedals that become sticky or get trapped under floor mats.  Another 437,000 Prius models have been recalled for anti-lock braking problems.  In reaction to the recalls, Kelley Blue Book lowered the resale value of recalled Toyotas an average of 3.5 percent. In addition, many Toyota owners are afraid to drive their vehicles, while others are concerned that their insurance premiums will increase.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 52 people have died in accelerator-related crashes.  NHTSA is also looking into claims of Toyota owners that their vehicles continue to surge forward unexpectedly after repairs have been made.

If you own a Toyota or Lexus vehicle and are interesting in pursuing a claim for the loss in value of your vehicle, please contact us for a free consultation of your claim by calling 1-800-642-5297, or by submitting the contact form below: