The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

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As medical costs have been rising over recent years, so have medical malpractice awards and so have premiums for physicians’ medical malpractice insurance. Some say the awards have risen disproportionately and some physicians say that their premiums are becoming unaffordable. Some are even moving to areas where premiums are lower or embarking on new careers in other fields. However, plaintiffs’ attorneys are happy with increased awards.

In the context of all this disagreement, the Ohio Supreme Court has recently provided some support for physicians. The case involved was filed by one Richard Jaques in 2005 after he was hurt in an automobile accident. Court records show that the other driver, one Patricia Manton, admitted liability for having collided with Jaques’ vehicle.

How “Write-Offs” Affect the Situation

As the plaintiff, Jaques submitted his medical bills which totaled $21,875. Manton moved to submit information showing that Jaques’ health insurance company had not paid that amount, but had only paid $7,484 for treatments.

The difference in these amounts arises from the situation where an insurance company has a contract with a health provider to pay certain amounts for specific procedures, regardless of what it costs the provider to perform those procedures. An uninsured patient is billed a higher amount determined by the provider.

In this case, the difference between $21,875 and $7,484 was written off. However, the court would not accept Manton’s information and the jury awarded Jaques a sum of $25,000 in total damages. That was in 2008.

Manton appealed and the Ohio Supreme Court has now ruled that since nobody paid the written-off amount and Jaques’ actual costs were lower than what the jury awarded, the defendant may submit evidence giving a reasonable value for the plaintiff’s damages.

Justice Terrence O’Donnell wrote:

"Write-offs are amounts not paid by third parties or anyone else, so permitting introduction of evidence of them allows the fact finder to determine the actual amount of medical expenses incurred as a result of the defendant's conduct. This result supports the traditional goal of compensatory damages -- making the plaintiff whole."

The Ohio Supreme Court sent this case back to be re-tried.

If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence, and would like to get some legal questions answered, please call or email us for a free case review.

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Cell phone use while driving is a high risk behavior whether you are talking or texting. Talking or texting drivers are four times more likely to be involved in an automobile accident than someone who is not. The danger of texting and talking on a cell phone while driving is well documented.

A report published in the New York Times reveals drivers generally ignore the research about the dangers of texting and talking while driving and continue this risky behavior. Most drivers overestimate their ability to multi-task with disastrous results. There is no doubt that drivers using cell phones are putting themselves and others at risk.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 80% of automobile drivers admit to texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. A cell phone using driver can be charged with negligence if they were engaged in texting or talking when an accident occurs. An automobile accident attorney who has experience with cell phone related automobile accident claims can assist you as the laws governing cell phone use while driving change daily.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by a texting or talking cell phone using driver, please contact the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to learn about your legal rights.

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Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center published their findings in "Neurology" in 2008 of a number of patients who used denture cream adhesive who developed neuropathy and other neurological symptoms consistent with copper depletion and zinc poisoning. These symptoms included numbness or tingling of the extremities, loss of mobility of the legs, feet, arms and hands, unexplained pain in the extremities, and poor balance. The symptoms appeared more severe in people who used large amounts of the denture cream adhesive for poorly fitting dentures.

Denture cream adhesives, such as Fixodent, Poligrip and Super Poligrip contain the mineral zinc. Large amounts of zinc can cause zinc poisoning and copper depletion if used over a long period of time.

Many of the over 35 million American who wear dentures are totally unaware of the link between using denture cream adhesive and the reported neurological symptoms found in many users.

Denture cream adhesive manufacturers should be held accountable for failing to warn consumers of the possible dangers of their product and failing to market a product that is safe.

If you or someone you care about has used denture cream adhesive and are exhibiting the neurological symptoms associated with zinc poisoning and copper depletion, please contact the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to consult with an experienced attorney at no cost to you, to protect your legal rights and hold the manufacturers responsible for your injuries.

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The actual incidence of surgeons mistakenly leaving foreign bodies inside the patient is unknown, but estimates are as frequently as one out of every one hundred patients to one out of every five thousand patients. Whatever the true number, it happens too frequently and is a serious problem.

Surgical teams have been known to leave surgical sponges, pins, blades, clips, gauze, cotton and other medical instruments in the patient's body due to outright recklessness and negligence. When left in the human body retained foreign bodies damage tissues, blood vessels and organs and can cause life-threatening infections and damage that can in turn lead to life-long disability or even death.

The physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists and the entire surgical team can be held liable for medical malpractice and negligence if this type of preventable occurrence takes place. Many times this situation goes unresolved for a period of time while the patient's condition continues to deteriorate for what appears to be unknown reasons.

If you or someone you love has been injured or died because of a foreign body left in the surgical site, or even if you only suspect this is what happened, please contact the San Jose, California office of The Cochran Firm today to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney at no cost to you to help you decide what course of action you should take to hold the responsible parties legally liable.

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Kidney disease kills fourteen people out of one hundred thousand annually, making it the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. Medicare alone spends fourteen billion dollars each year to treat End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Several hundred thousand Americans undergo kidney dialysis treatment every year.

Treatment for renal failure has risks, and patients must be educated to minimize these risks and protect themselves. People die or are unnecessarily injured every day in this country due to medical errors perpetrated during their kidney dialysis treatments.

Kidney dialysis medical malpractice can include but not be limited to, medication errors, patient falls, dialyzer errors, vascular access injuries, excess blood loss and prolonged bleeding, dialysis machine leaks, malfunctioning machine alarms, failure to clear dialysis machines of cleaning solutions and failure to appropriately monitor blood pressure. There are documented kidney dialysis errors in the thousands each year in this country.

If you are a person on kidney dialysis treatments and you did not receive adequate and proper care and treatment and sustained a serious injury, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney familiar with kidney dialysis errors.

If you live in the San Francisco area and you would like to speak to an attorney who is an expert in the field of kidney dialysis errors, please contact the San Francisco office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you confidential consultation.

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This week, the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery published research linking long-term hearing loss to the consumption of Viagra. The study was conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and examined 11,525 men. According to the study, men who self-reported hearing problems were two times as likely to have used Viagra as men who did not self-report hearing loss. The association with long-term hearing loss was stronger for Viagra than for other erectile dysfunction medications such as Cialis and Levitra.

Other harmful side effects linked to Viagra include:

· Headaches

· Facial flushing

· Upset stomach

· Erections lasting longer than four hours

However, the most serious side effect associated with Viagra has been a sudden loss of vision. Now, with the discovery that Viagra may result in hearing loss, it is possible for the drug to impair two of your five senses. This is a very serious risk for an erectile dysfunction medication.

If you have suffered hearing loss or vision loss from taking Viagra, the defective product attorneys at the Cochran Firm can help you receive compensation for your damages.

Please contact our defective product lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. The Cochran Firm has offices nationwide.

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Thousands of Americans become victims of medical malpractice and negligence every day in this country. It is estimated that over 250,000 people die every year across the country from the consequences of medical malpractice such as botched surgeries, misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, medication errors and infections contracted in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Although not all errors committed in a medical setting rise to the level of medical malpractice and negligence, it is vitally important to know that the laws pertaining to medical malpractice are there to protect you in case you do become a victim.

The five diseases or medical conditions most connected to allegations of medical malpractice are breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and appendicitis. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of these diseases or conditions may result in a delay in the appropriate treatment or no treatment at all which of course can result in death.

Financial compensation in the case of medical malpractice or negligence may include payment for pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of income and future earning potential and in the event of a death, the survivors are also entitled to compensation.

If you live in Sacramento, California and you or someone you care about has been the victim of medical malpractice and negligence, please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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When a dangerous or defective product causes damage, serious injury or death the manufacturer, distributor, designer or installer can be held legally responsible under product liability laws.

Does your new home smell of rotten eggs? Have you had to have frequent repairs of your heating and cooling systems, wiring and piping? Does your family suffer from irritated eyes, breathing problems, nose bleeds and headaches? Do your symptoms disappear when you are away from your home for any length of time? If the answer is yes to any or all of these questions you may be living with defective Chinese drywall.

Thousands of homeowners have reported these problems in new homes built with drywall imported from China. Many home builders used imported Chinese drywall during a shortage of United States- made drywall between the years of 2004 and 2006. Reports are that this Chinese drywall was kept on barges at sea for many months waiting to be allowed to enter this country, and the drywall was exposed to high humidity which has caused the toxicity problems to surface.

Many people living in homes with imported Chinese drywall have experienced various health problems as a result of the noxious fumes leaking out into their homes.

If your dream home has instead become a nightmare due to the use of imported Chinese drywall, we encourage you to contact the Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced product liability attorneys at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and hold those responsible for this outrage accountable.

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Exposure to asbestos fiber in the workplace is a major factor in the incidence of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of cells that lines the internal organs of the human body.

Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and accounts for 70% of the diagnosed cases of the disease. The dust created from working with the asbestos fiber settles in the lungs and abdomen if inhaled or swallowed. The irritation caused by the dust to these organs is thought to lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Workers who may encounter asbestos fiber on the job are widespread throughout the workforce and may be found in mining operations, factories, ship building installations, insulating manufacturing, construction sites, automobile repair, steel mills, oil refineries and cement plants. The risk of contracting mesothelioma increases when you are exposed to high levels of asbestos for long periods of time.

If you or someone you know has been employed in one of these fields and has been experiencing chest or back pain, coughing, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain or difficulty breathing, you may be experiencing the symptoms of exposure to asbestos fiber and mesothelioma.

By contacting the experienced mesothelioma attorneys at the Philadelphia office of The Cochran Firm today you can discuss your legal rights and learn whether you are entitled to financial compensation.

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Toxic torts are legal cases that refer to injuries caused by the exposure to toxic substances because of the negligence of chemical manufacturers, distributors or users of toxic chemicals. In a toxic tort, the people who were injured by exposure to the toxic substance are the plaintiffs and the people whose negligence caused the exposure and injuries are the defendants.

Some toxic substances involved in recent toxic tort cases include asbestos, pesticides, toxic waste products, paints, benzene and fertilizers. These toxic substances are found in the environment, home and workplace.

Diseases that can occur after exposure to toxic substances include, but are not limited to mesothelioma, silicosis, leukemia, lung diseases, aplastic anemia and Hodgkins disease.

Despite the difficulty of proving responsibility in a toxic tort case, the effort may gain you compensation for your pain and suffering, disabilities, medical expenses, emotional stress, loss of enjoyment of life or the death of a loved one. Proving responsibility can also result in protection for your community by forcing the polluters to stop their damaging activities and punishing them with large monetary losses.

If you know or suspect a toxic exposure in your environment, home or workplace has caused serious injury to you or someone you know, please contact the experienced toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm in New York City today.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing safety information regarding adverse liver-related problems with the use of orlistat, which is marketed in the United States as Xenical, manufactured by Roche and Alli from GlaxoSmithKline. Xenical is available by prescription only while Alli is available over-the-counter.

There have been over thirty reports of serious liver damage and six cases of liver failure in patients using orlistat. The most common side effects reported were jaundice, weakness and abdominal pain. Other symptoms noted were nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, itching, loss of appetite and brown urine. Patients have been advised to consult with their healthcare professionals if they are experiencing any of these symptoms with their use of orlistat.

Xenical and Alli have generated nearly $200 million in sales since 1999. Millions of people have taken Xenical and Alli believing the two were safe products that would help them lose unwanted weight, but are now finding out they may have been exposed to serious and perhaps life-threatening liver damage by these potentially defective weight loss drugs.

If you believe you or someone you care about has suffered liver damage from the use of Xenical or Alli, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injury, medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Please contact the New Orleans office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights.

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The dangers of cell phone use while driving are well documented, but that has not stopped the growth of this practice which is evident to everyone on the nation’s roadways on a daily basis.

Most Americans ignore the dangers of this risky behavior and are increasingly guilty of using cell phones, navigational devices and even laptops to turn their vehicles into mobile offices, chat rooms and entertainment venues.

Distracted drivers are responsible for the majority of automobile accidents and are four times more likely to cause an accident than other drivers. The likelihood a distracted driver will have an accident equals that of a driver with a .08 percent blood alcohol level.

A major factor is the drivers misconception they are capable of multi-tasking at a greater level than is actually true. There are limits to how much the brain can actually process at one time. When something unexpected takes place when you are behind the wheel, the human mind cannot process the unexpected move in time to react safely.

Only five states ban hand-held cell phones and only fourteen states ban texting while driving. There is no question drivers using cell phones behind the wheel are putting themselves and you and your loved ones at risk.

If you have been the victim of a cell phone using driver and you live in the Mobile, Alabama area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your legal rights and obtain the financial compensation you may be entitled to.

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Research reveals that the major cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of other motorists to detect motorcycles in traffic.

Statistics prove that over 70% of collisions are a result of a motorist not having seen a motorcyclist. Other causative factors include bad road conditions, speeding, riding skills and experience levels, and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Researchers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report that speeding, aggressive driving and driver distractions by motorists are major factors in motorcycle accidents along with negligence on the part of the motorcycle rider.

When motorcyclists take the safety precaution of wearing personal protective gear, they lessen the risk of serious injury in case of an accident, but even cautious riders can have the misfortune to be involved in an accident.

Motorcycle accidents often result in life-threatening injuries such as spinal cord injuries, head injuries, amputations and even death. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident you may be eligible for financial compensation in the form of payment for your medical expenses, loss of present and future income, rehabilitation costs and other expenses related to your injuries.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana and you have suffered injuries from a motorcycle accident or know of someone who has, please contact the Minneapolis, Minnesota office of The Cochran Firm today to learn about what financial compensation you may be entitled to.

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Truck accidents that involve tractor trailers, semi-trucks, or freight carriers like log trucks, automobile transporters, and gasoline tanker trucks almost always cause catastrophic damage when involved in a crash. When these huge trucks crash, they can spill hazardous substances, cause multi-vehicle involvement and reduce passenger vehicles to scrap heaps.

On any given day there are over three million trucks on the highways nationwide. Many businesses in the United States rely on the trucking industry and their ability to move commodities from coast to coast efficiently and relatively inexpensively. Truck drivers are professionals whose own lives depend on safe driving practices, but sometimes the trucking company does not always put safety first, but puts profit over safety.

Speeding to meet deadlines, driving hours without rest and using drugs to stay alert while behind the wheel contribute to many accidents involving trucks. If you are involved in an accident with a truck, you really have the entire trucking company for an adversary. It is very important that you be represented by an experienced truck accident attorney who is skilled in combating the team of lawyers working for the trucking company against you.

You should be financially compensated for all your medical expenses, loss of present and future income, your pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life caused by your involvement in the truck accident.

If you have had an accident involving a truck and feel overwhelmed by the trucking companies efforts to prevent you from getting the financial compensation you deserve, please contact the Miami, Florida office of The Cochran Firm today.

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When a physician is found responsible in a medical malpractice lawsuit, the patient is financially compensated for the harm they have suffered. These payments are referred to as damages.

Money paid for medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, prescription drugs, nursing home care, domestic services, loss of current and future income and living expenses is called compensatory damages. Under this guideline you can also recover damages for physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional suffering, disfigurement and the loss of enjoyment of life.

It is difficult to assess a monetary value on pain and suffering, but experienced medical malpractice attorneys are trained to investigate the circumstances of your case and come to terms with a just calculation.

A second type of damages assessed in a medical malpractice judgment is called punitive damages. This is money awarded to the patient in order to actually punish the physician for their negligent actions.

Medical malpractice lawsuits have deadlines for filing. Those deadlines are called statutes of limitations and may be as short as one year. It is vitally important to consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney to be certain you are within the time limit required to file your case.

If you or someone you love was the victim of medical malpractice, please contact a medical malpractice attorney at the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today.

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People are exposed to toxic chemicals or materials in many ways, including chemical spills, discharges from landfills, leaking underground storage tanks, and pollution from industrial facilities. A toxic tort refers to a certain kind of personal injury that happens as a consequence of exposure to toxic chemicals or materials.

Cancer is one disease that afflicts workers who are exposed to hazardous chemicals and materials without proper protective equipment or appropriate warnings. Workplace substances known to cause cancer include benzene, beryllium, vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene and ethylene oxide.

Exposure to hazardous materials may cause bronchiolitis/obliterans (popcorn worker’s lung), hormonal and sexual dysfunctions, occupational asthma and stillbirths and miscarriages.

The companies that manufacture and sell these substances have an obligation to make certain workers are aware of the dangers involved and can protect themselves, or they should be held financially responsible for their employees who are harmed by exposure to these substances. Compensation for your pain and suffering, disability, medical expenses, emotional stress, loss of enjoyment of life or the death of a loved one is an entitlement in the case of a toxic tort.

If you or someone you care about was harmed by exposure to a toxic chemical or substance, please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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Somewhere near 50% of all automobile accidents are reportedly caused by driver distractions. Driver distractions are cell phone use and texting, driver fatigue, passenger behaviors that interfere with driver concentration, reading, and adjusting dashboard controls for the various functions displayed.

Other major causes of automobile accidents are driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding and adverse weather and road conditions. There are over six million car accidents nationwide annually with over three million injuries and over forty-five thousand deaths, so it makes sense to be prepared for the eventuality of a car accident. Car accidents are unexpected, stressful and frightening occurrences that often happen to very cautious drivers who have the misfortune to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is important to have an experienced automobile accident attorney on your side to deal with insurance companies that routinely deny or delay legitimate accident claims or refuse to settle your claim fairly and honestly.

If you live in Las Vegas, Nevada and you or someone you care about was involved in an automobile accident and you are getting no satisfaction from the insurance company involved in your claim, please contact the Los Angeles, California office of The Cochran Firm today to obtain the help you need to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you are entitled to.

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Most people are not aware of the abuse and neglect that happens on a daily basis in nursing homes and assisted living facilities around the country. With over 65 million people over the age of sixty-five years nationwide, nursing home and assisted living abuse and neglect should be a subject we are all aware of.

Sometime soon you or someone you are close to may find themselves in a precarious position as far as health and the ability to care for themselves is concerned. Hopefully, you will encounter a positive experience and find a facility staffed with hardworking, dedicated and caring people. More than likely, you will encounter facilities staffed by uncaring, undertrained and frustrated staff.

The signs of physical abuse in a nursing home or assisted living setting are relatively easy to recognize, such as open sores, cuts, bruises, malnutrition, and poor hygiene. Emotional abuse behaviors such as continuous rocking, agitation and depression are also less recognizable signs of abuse and neglect.

Visiting family and friends find the nursing home and assisted living residents reluctant to speak out about the abuse or unable to communicate their concerns. Residents of these facilities are guaranteed certain rights under the law and at the very least should be treated with respect and dignity in a safe and clean environment.

If you suspect someone you care about is a victim of nursing home or assisted living abuse and neglect, please contact the Las Vegas, Nevada office of The Cochran Firm today to protect their legal rights.

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Although there are many brands of oral contraceptives available Yaz and Yasmin have dominated the marketplace due to the manufacturer's aggressive marketing campaign. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals is the subject of multiple lawsuits over alleged life-threatening side effects attributed to these popular oral contraceptives.

The lawsuits allege the pharmaceutical company failed to warn women and their physicians of the increased risk of injury associated with the pills while overstating the benefits of the oral contraceptives. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are obligated to disclose any known side effects to consumers, either directly or by making the information available to physicians.

The life threatening conditions associated with these pills include deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. The irresponsible marketing of these oral contraceptives by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals has caused innumerable young healthy women to face devastating health conditions caused by a drug they were led to believe was safe.

If you or someone you know has suffered blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, elevated potassium levels, hypertension, seizures, convulsions or kidney problems after taking Yaz or Yasmin, you should contact an experienced defective pharmaceuticals attorney to investigate the reasons surrounding these occurrences and whether you are entitled to financial compensation.

We encourage you to contact the Jackson, Mississippi office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation with an attorney experienced in defective pharmaceutical claims to protect your legal rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.

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The use of alcohol and drugs while driving is a major contributing factor to automobile accidents nationwide. The problem of drug abuse is not only limited to illegal drugs, but pertains to the use of prescription medications as well. Substances that can impair your ability to drive include alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and prescription medications such as Vicodin, Percocet, Valium and Xanax.

Someone in the United States is injured or killed by an alcohol or drug impaired driver every two minutes. Over 40% of fatal automobile accidents involve alcohol or drugs. Sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, alcohol and other depressants work to adversely affect motor skills, slowing reaction times and distorting vision.

The decision to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a choice not an accident. The result of the choice to drive while under the influence destroys lives. If you have been victimized by an impaired driver you should retain an experienced automobile accident attorney to assist you in seeking financial compensation for your injuries. You should be able to be compensated for your medical expenses, loss of income, future earning capacity and your pain and suffering.

If you live in Huntsville, Alabama, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and the rights of those you love by scheduling a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about the steps you can take to secure financial compensation for your injuries.

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There are over 2.5 million rear end collisions nationwide annually, making rear end collisions the most common type of automobile accident. The bumper system on a car is an important safety feature that is capable of absorbing the force of a low speed collision, but at times the impact of the collision is absorbed by the occupants of the automobile instead.

A low speed, rear impact collision, although resulting in minor damage to the automobile, can result in serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicle. Whiplash is the most common injury sustained in a low impact rear end collision and is the result of a sudden, violent, and involuntary back and forth motion of the neck. Whiplash is soft tissue trauma to the muscles and ligaments of the neck that results in pain, swelling, stiffness, headache, nausea, numbness and loss of balance.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a rear end collision car accident you should protect your legal rights by consulting with a rear end collision car accident lawyer who has experience in this field of law. You deserve to be financially compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages and possible loss of future income, due to the injury you have suffered because of someone else’s negligence.

Please contact the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today and learn how to obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to for the injuries suffered in a rear end collision.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised concerns that the popular weight loss drugs, Xenical and Alli containing orlistat, may cause serious liver damage.

Xenical is a prescription medication that contains 120 mg. of orlistat and Alli is an over-the-counter medication that contains 60 mg. of orlistat. Both Xenical and Alli are to be used with a reduced calorie, low-fat diet to produce weight loss.

Xenical is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals and Alli is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and together they have generated almost $200 million in sales.

Reports of serious liver damage have surfaced with the use of orlistat including liver failure, with symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, brown urine, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and light-colored stools.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with liver failure, liver damage, liver inflammation, lesions on the liver or hepatitis after taking the potentially defective drugs Xenical or Alli, you should consult an attorney as you may be entitled to financial compensation for the damage you have suffered.

If you live in Dothan, Alabama or the surrounding area and you have taken Xenical or Alli, even if you are not having symptoms at the present time, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn all you can about this disturbing situation and speak with an experienced defective pharmaceutical attorney, at no cost to you.

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Thousands of homes in this country were constructed during the past few years using defective, toxic dry wall imported from China. The use of this defective drywall has led to serious illnesses and damage to those homes. The majority of the defective drywall was used between the years of 2004 and 2006, but there are reports of this drywall still being available for sale, waiting to be used by an unsuspecting public.

The defective Chinese drywall emits corrosive gases that have a foul odor, and can damage electrical systems, and the copper and other metals used throughout the home including the heating and cooling systems. The foul odor the drywall emits is reminiscent of rotten eggs and exposure to the drywall is said to be responsible for respiratory problems, nose bleeds, headaches and eye irritation.

Over one hundred thousand homes in the United States are suspected of having defective Chinese drywall installed. Over five hundred million pounds of defective Chinese drywall made it to this country in a three year period.

If you suspect Chinese drywall is the reason for your health problems or you have experienced the damage and destruction of your electrical and heating and cooling systems in your new home for an unknown reason until now, please contact the Detroit, Michigan office of The Cochran Firm today to learn more about this looming catastrophe.

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In recent years, serious injuries and even deaths have been attributed to defective consumer products. Everyday products we all use without a second thought to our safety or the safety of the ones we love have been responsible for devastating injuries and fatalities.

Defective automobiles, tires, infant car seats, faulty medical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators, vaccines, toys, appliances, power tools, dog food, dry wall from China, the list is endless and frightening.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed by the use of a defective consumer product, you must consult a product liability attorney as soon as possible as there are time limits involved in filing a claim against the manufacturer, designer or the distributor of the defective consumer product.

An experienced product liability attorney will assist you in obtaining the medical records, bills for your medical expenses and documenting your injuries with photographs to record the severity of the harm done to you, as this will determine the level of compensation you are entitled to.

Financial compensation for your injuries may include the cost of present and future medical care and treatment, rehabilitation expenses, loss of present and future income, the loss of enjoyment of life and in the case of a death, funeral and burial expenses, and survivor benefits.

Please contact the Dallas, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to discuss the possibility of filing a product liability lawsuit so you may obtain justice and receive the financial compensation you deserve.

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A wrongful death is legal terminology used to describe the death of someone due to the negligence or wrongful actions of another which entitles the deceased's survivors to financial compensation for their loss. Since absolutely nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, the legal system has only one option to bring justice and comfort to the survivors. That one option is in the form of financial damages to be paid by the individual that is responsible for the death.

One of the most common examples of a wrongful death is being killed by a drunk driver. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) is a major cause of automobile accidents with fatalities. Someone is killed every thirty minutes in the United States by a drunk driver. Lives are devastated by alcohol and drug impaired drivers who make the choice to drive while under the influence.

If someone you love was the victim of an alcohol or drug impaired driver, you are entitled to financial compensation for the loss you have suffered from the driver, the bar or restaurant that served the driver or the person or homeowner who provided the alcohol to their guest. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical, funeral and burial expenses, the pain and suffering of the deceased prior to death, loss of financial support and your pain and suffering due to the loss of your loved one.

We encourage you to please contact the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you consultation to learn about your legal rights in this situation and obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

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Police brutality refers to the excessive use of force, physical, verbal or psychological, by a police officer. In some instances, the use of excessive force is triggered by so-called "contempt of cop", a perceived disrespect and disregard for the authority of the police.

Police brutality is just one of various forms of police misconduct which may include false arrest, intimidation, racial profiling, political repression, surveillance abuse, sexual harassment, and police corruption.

Studies have shown most police brutality cases go unreported and undocumented. Police brutality is often associated with racial profiling, differences in religion, politics or socioeconomic status. Some police officers view certain sections of the population as generally deserving of punishment and certain sections of the population view the police as oppressors.

Although the use of force by the police is certainly warranted at times, there are instances when the police may step over the line and take advantage of their authority and cause undue harm to an undeserving victim. The very ones we depend on for protection from the criminals in our communities should never become the criminals themselves.

If you live in Birmingham, Alabama and you or someone you know has been the victim of police brutality in the form of physical, verbal or psychological abuse, please contact the experienced police brutality personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights.

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Almost twenty thousand people in this country suffer a spinal cord injury every year. There are, at the present time, over two hundred thousand people living their daily lives coping with the devastating consequences of a spinal cord injury. Automobile accidents are a major contributing factor to the incidence of spinal cord injuries, with falls and sports related injuries also a factor in the number of injuries reported.

A spinal cord injury is usually the result of a sudden, forceful impact to the spine that damages or dislocates the vertebrae. Although some spinal cord injuries have a reasonably good prognosis, most injuries to the spinal cord result in either partial or complete paralysis.

The physical, emotional and financial burdens suffered by victims of spinal cord injuries are immeasurable. The cost of medical care and treatment over the long term can total hundreds of thousands of dollars, and years of pain and suffering.
Since the permanence and severity of a spinal cord injury make this a life-altering occurrence, it is vitally important you have an experienced spinal cord injury attorney on your side to make certain all your legal rights are protected and you obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

Residents of the Atlanta, Georgia area who have suffered a spinal cord injury should contact The Cochran Firm today to obtain the representation necessary to obtain justice and the financial compensation you deserve.

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