Lawyer Interviews

Wilmington, NC: People who regularly use denture cream, including Fixodent, PoliGrip and Super PoliGrip adhesives might be surprised to learn that the products have been linked to a risk of health problems including neurological issues. In fact, a study published in the journal Neurology, in 2008, has found a link between overuse of denture creams and a risk of zinc toxicity. That has prompted lawsuits against the makers of denture creams, alleging consumers should have been warned about the risks of these products.

Cumming, GA: Attorney Donald Singleton was recently contacted by a woman who believes she was the victim of pharmaceutical malpractice. The potent prescription painkillers she got from her pharmacist for her chronic pain condition turned out to be a heavy dose of anti-inflammatory steroid. “After a few days, the pain she could usually control with her prescription was still there, she was feeling sick and realized the pills in the bottle were the wrong ones,” says Singleton, who is currently investigating the “mis-prescription” as a potential case of pharmaceutical malpractice.

Irvine, CA: You might say that a young California woman who went to court seeking damages as a result of a hip surgery that went terribly wrong, won the battle but lost the war. Her attorney, Sean M. Burke, an experienced personal injury lawyer who has fought many a battle on behalf of people injured through medical malpractice, presented the facts of case, the jury understood and awarded Erica Rockabrand $2.9 million dollars for the botched surgeries that left the young woman to face a life of chronic pain.

Washington,DC: People who have suffered Zicam side effects, specifically a loss of sense of smell [anosmia], are contacting attorneys to discuss whether they are eligible to join a lawsuit against the maker of the cold remedy products. Gary E. Mason, founding partner of The Mason Law Firm, LLP, says his firm has been contacted by clients across the US who say they have lost their sense of smell after using Zicam.

New Haven, CT: "Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Avelox are 'last resort' antibiotics to kill off very dangerous forms of bacteria but they have been marketed and advertised way beyond what is appropriate for patients' conditions," says Attorney Mike Stratton of Stratton Faxon. He adds that Bayer, the manufacturer of both drugs, has been "cagey" about Cipro and Avelox side effects, right up until both antibiotics got slapped with a black box warning.

Austin, TX: If you thought the number of people who reported suffering Reglan side effects was small, you might have to think again. In fact, the number of people reporting Reglan adverse events, including tardive dyskinesia, has gone up drastically, according to Kathleen K. McGinn, attorney at Hissey Kientz, LLP.

Austin, TX: Although prescription Fen-phen is no longer on the market due to its association with pulmonary hypertension and heart valve problems, personal injury attorney David Friend at Hissey Kientz LLP says that herbal Fen-phen continues to be a popular alternative to consumers. However, this appetite suppressant has also been linked to numerous health problems, including primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).

Chicago, IL: Out of control payday loans can feel like a kind of purgatory—where borrowers swim as fast as they can but still find the shoreline getting farther and farther away. In the state of Illinois, the attorney general’s website specifically warns consumers about payday loans and advises them to consider all other possible options for entering into a payday loan agreement. “Although they provide quick credit, payday loans are extremely expensive and will only worsen your situation in the long run,” reads the website.

New York, NY: The details may sound sexy but as New York attorney Norah Hart sees the situation, the battle against Match.com, the world’s biggest online dating service, is a plain old case of consumer fraud.

Orford, NH: Attorney Robin Curtiss recently settled a lead paint poisoning case on behalf a girl who was negatively affected by the lead paint in her family’s rented home during the 1990s. The terms of the settlement require that Curtiss, and anyone else for that matter, refrain from identifying the parties involved, but the case stands out because of the value of the settlement and because lead paint cases continue to come forward despite what is known about the issue.