blog | Lane Brown, LLC

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the discovery of bacteria and fungus in vials of injectable steroids.

The announcement, made in early June 2013, stated that sealed vials of steroids compounded by Main Street Family Pharmacy, located in Tennessee, contained the contaminants. The company recalled all of their products nationwide after 24 victims in Florida, Arkansas, Illinois, and North Carolina developed injection site abscesses.

According to a statement released by FDA officials, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working to identify the exact strains of fungus and bacteria found in the vials. To date, there have not been any known cases of meningitis associated with these contaminated steroid injections.

This recent batch of contaminated steroids contained the same drug that was at the center of the 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis that affected approximately 800 victims nationwide. In more than 300 of those meningitis cases, abscesses developed at injection sites—similar to those that developed during this recent recall.

In total, Main Street Pharmacy distributed the contaminated drug throughout 13 states, including Illinois.

Since last year’s contamination outbreak, the FDA has increased their inspection of drugs produced by compounding pharmacies. The results show that many of these pharmacies operate under unsterile conditions.

Injuries or adverse reactions from contaminated steroid injections can be devastating for those who unknowingly become a victim. If you have suffered a serious illness or injury after an injection or medical procedure, an experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney at Lane Brown may be able to help. Our skilled and compassionate lawyers will take the time to understand what happened, answer all of your questions, and help you to determine your next steps—all during a free case evaluation. Contact our office today at 312-332-1400 to schedule your complimentary appointment.

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Many times, the signs and symptoms of infection are obvious right away, making it easier to treat a newborn for illness. Other times, symptoms are not apparent for days, weeks, or even months following birth. Either way, infections in newborns can have serious side effects that change a baby’s life forever. Following are some of the common signs and symptoms of infection in infants:

Poor feeding—the baby does not want to nurse or drink from a bottle
Difficulty breathing
Restlessness
Decreased or elevated body temperatures
Unusual skin rashes or changes in skin color
Persistent crying
Unusual irritability
Sudden changes in sleeping habits
Vomiting or diarrhea

Signs of a congenital infection, one that is transferred from mother to baby in the womb, include:

Small body size
Abnormal head size—either too big or too small
Enlarged abdominal organs
Heart murmurs

In some cases, these symptoms can be identified during pregnancy through ultrasounds and proper prenatal care. When the symptoms are identified, precautions can be taken to help ensure the health and safety of the baby.

If your baby suffered a severe birth injury due to the negligence of a medical professional, help may be available. Contact a Chicago birth injury lawyer at Lane Brown for legal assistance. Our compassionate and skilled attorneys will take the time to fully understand your situation, answer your questions, and help you to determine your next steps—all during a free case evaluation. Give us a call today at 800-529-5377 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We will work tirelessly to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

In continuing coverage, Food Safety News (6/25) reports that the “ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A linked to a frozen berry mix sold at Costco is now known to have sickened 119 people” in five states, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention update. Among those sickened, five of the cases are in children; and although none of the children have been hospitalized, the number of adult hospitalizations has increased from 50 to 53, the CDC data show. The state-by-state case breakdown is “Arizona (16), California (61), Colorado (24), Hawaii (5), New Mexico (5), Nevada (5), and Utah (3).”

If you or a loved one has suffered injury from contaminated food products, you may be able to take action. Please contact the attorneys of Lane Brown, LLC, or call us at 312-332-1400 to speak with us about your options. We can help. To learn more about Lane Brown, please visit our website at lanebrownlaw.com.

Recently, there has been a string of injuries and wrongful deaths caused by the negligence of private bus and limousine companies. This week, one such case has resulted in the filing of a wrongful death suit being filed against a party bus operator. The Kansas City (MO) Star (6/18, Rizzo, 197K) reports, “A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Tuesday against the operators of a party bus from which a young mother fell to her death in May.” The Star notes that “according to the lawsuits filed by Kansas City attorneys Lynn Johnson and David Morantz, after Midnight Express bought the used vehicle in 2010, it made ‘extensive modifications’ that included removal of some of the vehicle’s safety features.” According to the Star, “in late May, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an ‘imminent hazard’ order that prohibited the company from continuing to operate until it addressed what the federal order termed an ‘appalling’ disregard for safety.”

If you or someone you know needs assistance after a bus or limousine accident, please contact The Law Offices of Lane Brown, LLC, or call 312-332-1400 or 1-800-LAWYERS.

A recent study indicates there may be harmful levels of toxic chemicals in cosmetic lip products like lipstick and lip-gloss, putting consumers’ health at risk.

Researchers at the University of California Berkeley’s School of Public Health tested 32 different types of lip products, of various brands, prices, and categories, in an effort to learn whether manufactured lip products contain harmful metals.

They found that each of the 32 products tested contained aluminum, titanium, and manganese—all in excess of recommended daily exposure limits. Three-fourths of the samples also contained high levels of lead.

Results of the study showed that neither product pricing nor product category affected the metal concentrations that were detected.

Researchers theorize that various metals are added to lip products in order to produce specific colors. In addition, the two metals found in the highest concentrations, aluminum and titanium are added to o keep colors from bleeding or fading.

Cosmetic manufacturers insist that their products are safe, following the guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, aside from lead level restrictions, the United States does not currently have any standards for metal content in cosmetics.

Because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is no safe level for lead exposure, many believe that these cosmetics should be reformulated—excluding lead and other harmful chemicals.

If you have suffered a serious injury from a defective product, a Chicago personal injury lawyer at Lane Brown can help. Our skilled and compassionate attorneys will take the time to fully understand your situation, answer your questions, and recommend a course of action—all during a free case evaluation. Give us a call today at 312-332-1400 to schedule your free consultation. We are standing by to help.

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What to do If You Are In A Car Accident

1. Try to stay calm: Auto accidents can be a pretty scary, stressful time, but it is extremely important that you try not to panic and remain calm, especially if there are other passengers in the vehicle.

2. Immediate Steps After a Car Accident: There are a few steps you should always follow after an accident. First, put the car in park and put on your emergency lights. Do not leave the scene of the accident. Assess any injuries to yourself and/or passengers, and inspect the car for damages.

3. Report the Car Accident: Immediately call 911 and report the accident, giving dispatchers any helpful landmarks or signs that will help them find your location quickly. Let them know how many vehicles are involved, and if you or your passengers have been injured. You should not move your vehicle until the police come and safely guide you to the shoulder or side of the road.

4. File the Car Accident Report: Once the police arrive, file an accident report. Do not discuss the accident with anyone except for the police. When you do talk to the police, be as accurate as possible about any statements that you make, as they will often be stated as either your quotes or statements that are attributed to you in the police report.

5. You should get as much contact information as possible from the drivers and passengers of other vehicles involved in the accident, as well as contact information from any witnesses. Important information such as name, contact numbers, addresses, car make, model, year, color, license plate number, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

You also need their car insurance name and phone number as well, and any policy numbers they might have.

6. It is extremely helpful to try to preserve evidence. If you have a camera or cell phone which has a built-in camera, take photographs of the cars’ damages and the scene of the accident, as well as any visible signs of injury. In photographing the vehicles, take pictures that show all of the damage on all vehicles as well as damage to the surrounding scene that would illustrate what happened and how the accident occurred. If you can, take pictures of the resting positions of the vehicles immediately after the impact, and before they have been moved. If any of the vehicles have already been moved from their resting position, take photos that show the location where each vehicle came to a stop after the collision. Photograph any debris from the vehicles, skid marks and anything else which would help to explain what happened. It is smart and safe practice to either keep a camera in your car, or to use the camera capabilities on cell phones.

7. Contact Your Car Insurance Company: Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Most insurance companies provide you with a wallet-sized reference card with a 1-800 emergency phone number. You can also refer to the copy of your insurance policy (which you should keep in your glove compartment). Be sure to give the insurance company as much information as possible.

8. Whether or not you are able to take photographs after an accident, as soon after the accident as possible, write down everything that happened in the time leading up to the collision, what happened during the accident and what happened immediately following the accident. If you or others in your vehicle have been injured, you should seek immediate medical care, even if you don’t belive that the injuries are serious at the time. It is not unusual for serious injuries to be “hidden” by the trauma of an accident, and many serious injuries can be avoided by prompt medical attention. On the other hand, many serious injuries can turn into tragedies if they are not detected as early as possible.
Auto accidents are never pleasant, but being able follow these steps will ensure that dealing with the aftermath will be a lot less painful.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, you may be able to take action. Please contact the attorneys of Lane Brown, LLC, or call us at 312-332-1400 to speak with us about your options. We can help. To learn more about Lane Brown, please visit our website at lanebrownlaw.com.