News Articles

Sacramento, CA: It is one thing to purposely invest in the stock market, but it is another thing entirely when you are a victim of stockbroker fraud—when you have been invested in the stock market without realizing it. Diane S. (not her real name) says her mother-in-law had no idea she was invested in the stock market, until she lost a lot of money. Now, Diane's mother may have to turn to stockbroker arbitration to recover her lost funds.

Monterey Park, CA: Joyce D. (not her real name) is the victim of financial elder abuse at the hands of her two brothers, both of whom she says also victimized her mother. Jocye said people tell her that her brothers broke the financial elder abuse law; she is concerned that she may never see her share of a house she loved.

Greer, SC: Bob joined the navy in 1959, at the age of 19 and became a highly respected career naval officer who served for 24 years. He also lived on ships that had asbestos insulation; they were being refitted as a result. His wife is convinced that his tragic death from cancer was caused by his exposure to asbestos, and that his cancer could have been asbestos mesothelioma.

San Diego, CA: Edu always took Advil when he got a headache, but not anymore. One night about two years he took a few Ibuprofen (in the form of Advil) and went to bed. "I woke up a few hours later with an itchy face and scalp," says Edu. "I looked in the mirror and saw big red welts over my face and throat and my scalp felt lumpy." Fortunately, he made it to a hospital in the nick of time: Edu never thought an itchy scalp and a few headache pills could lead to SJS Ibuprofen.

San Diego, CA: Investors who put their money in TICs (Tenants In Common) investments may be wondering what happened to their money. Like many other people whose investments have lost value in recent times, people with TICs were told that their investments were safe, only to learn they were not. Part of the reason that TICs were pushed as a safe investment may have to do with the commissions associated with the TICs.

Cleveland, OH: Although Deborah has not suffered acute pancreatitis from taking Byetta, she is concerned about long-term damage. Deborah was prescribed this drug off-label to lose weight but didn't know about Byetta pancreatitis until recently. And she is concerned about her health record. "I don't want Byetta on my health insurance profile because of its link with pancreatitis; it may become difficult to get reasonable insurance later on," Deborah explains.

Pasadena, CA: Deborah's doctor recommended she start taking heparin after she suffered a severe case of post-viral syndrome. "I was really ill then but I am much worse now since I gave myself three weeks of heparin injections," says Deborah, who has become almost completely housebound. Both Deborah and her neurologist believe she had an allergic reaction, but was it due to heparin contamination?

Lenoir, NC: Tish H. has had serious health problems since a Kugel Mesh hernia patch was used to repair her hernia. She says that she has had every complication associated with the patch and now faces a lifetime of medications and potentially life-threatening problems. She has also undergone numerous surgeries that have caused even more health problems.

Syracuse, NY: Leigh was involved in a horrific accident and collected disability payments from Unum Provident (now called Unum or First Unum). Two years later, Unum's independent medical examiner determined that Leigh was no longer disabled and cut her off long term disability benefits on Christmas Eve, just to add insult to injury. "Months later I had a lawyer help with an appeal (he did it pro bono) and Unum had to reinstate me," Leigh says.

West Hollywood, CA: Like millions of parents, attorney Brian Witzer occasionally gave his 8-year-old daughter a common pain medication for minor aches and fevers, but not anymore. “Children’s Motrin is off limits in my family,” says Witzer. It has been “off limits” in the Witzer household since his firm began investigating the link between a number of commonly used drugs, including Children’s Motrin, and a terrifying and life threatening skin disorder called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. In its extreme form it is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis—often referred to as SJS/TEN disorder.