All Topics

• TASER claims

  Robert Blanchard | May 03, 2006 11:12 AM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  A new claim is being made regarding the Sheriff's department's use of the TASER.Former deputy Charles Dix pled guilty three months ago to a federal civil rights charge of using excessive force against a civilian whom he stunned at least four times. The Sheriff's Office has paid out a total of $400,000 to settle two lawsuits involving Dix and his use of Tasers. In August of 2005, he resigned.

• Animals Shot - Rewards Offered

  Robert Blanchard | May 02, 2006 10:11 PM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  I heard reports that the reward for information on this horrible incident is now over $20,000.Kudos to following local organizations who have donated $17,000 as a reward to assist in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting:Bill Haven Cars Inc.: $500.Way Bail Bond: $1,000.Humane Society of Pensacola: $2,500.Crime Stoppers: $3,000.Deep South Crane Rentals Inc.: $10,000.To...

• Tequin Removed From Market

  Robert Blanchard | May 02, 2006 12:48 PM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  We have been advertising for these cases and now the manufacturer has withdrawn this drug from the market. I suspect that there may be more people injured by this medication than we first suspected. Several hundred injuries and 33 deaths have been reported. Usually the unreported cases are 10 times or more prevalent.

• Pregnant Women on Anti-Depressants

  Robert Blanchard | April 24, 2006 4:41 PM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  JAMA had an abstract this week of a study about the neonatal abstinence syndrome after in utero exposure to SSRIs. They found that this syndrome occurs in 30% of neonates exposed to these drugs in utero. They suggest that neonates be monitored for 48 hours after birth (at least), and they say that long term effects are not known.The babies can have a number of symptoms from this abrupt...

• Pregnancy - hemorrhage and preterm delivery

  Robert Blanchard | April 24, 2006 10:42 AM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  I just read an article on placenta previa. This is a condition where the pacenta is in position in the uterus lower down than the baby and thus in in position to come out first during delivery. This condition is a leading cause of death from pregnancy, but it can be discovered by sonogram and medically managed. The primary risk is massive hemorrhage and preterm delivery. Might be a good idea in...

• VA Gives Veteran Bad Care - One Horror Story

  Robert Blanchard | April 21, 2006 11:35 AM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  My firm handles cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which is one of the most painful and often fatal conditions anyone can suffer through. It is like being slowly burnt alive from the inside out. Keep that in mind and read this account I just received of how the VA treated one of our veterans:Dear Sir,I want to tell you about my husband. In 2004, he developed Avascualr necrosis of his right hip,...

• Delays in Diagnosis

  Robert Blanchard | April 20, 2006 9:24 AM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  I have just seen the results of a new study which attempts to quantify the risk of an appendix rupture relative to the time since the onset of symptoms. Not surprisingly, the longer you have been having symptoms, the greater your risk that the appendix is about to rupture. You don't hear of many people suffering with a ruptured appendix anymore and this is no doubt due to the abilitiy of...

• FDA ASKED MERCK TO WARN OF FOSAMAX RISK IN 2004

  Robert Blanchard | April 18, 2006 10:19 PM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  A lot of doctors were surprised to learn that the FDA had asked Merck of the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw and Fosamax back in August 2004 - - right at the same time Merck was forced by circumstances to pull Vioxx from the shelves. Merck has yet to put any information in its WARNINGS about the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw and Fosamax.After my partner Tim O'Brien's article appeared in the...

• Ortho Evra Settlements

  Robert Blanchard | April 18, 2006 9:39 PM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  Despite recent reports of settlements in the Ortho Evra litigation, most lawyers a simply moving forward with getting their cases to trial. No blanket offers have been made and no expects the litigation to be resolved soon, except for isolated cases that Ortho McNeil iis afraid to take to trial. I am hoping that something can be done for the women who have suffered and the families that are...

• Fosamax - Woe for Merck

  Robert Blanchard | April 12, 2006 4:25 PM | 0 CommentsPensacola, FL

  My law partner Tim O'Brien made major news today by breaking the Fosamax(R) story to the Wall Street Journal. Of course, they were only interested in how it would affect Merck's stock value. We thought the Wall Street Journal might be more concerned with average citizens when so many moms and pops lost their retirement saving in the scandals involving the major Wall Street brokerage firms....