Alabama has one of the worst business climates in the country when it comes to lawsuit abuse, according to a study commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

A woman whose husband died of a heart attack after taking the painkiller Vioxx deserves another chance to convince a jury that the drug caused his death because an expert witness in an earlier trial misstated his credentials.

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Monday in Tuscaloosa County against a drug company that makes and sells Celebrex.

The wrongful death complaint was filed in state court by Michael H. Allen, Administrator of the Estate of Nina Earline Ratliff, who was a resident of Tuscaloosa County. Ms. Ratliff died of complications due to Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), which she developed as a result of taking Celebrex.

A Montgomery woman who was paralyzed in a 2004 rollover crash that occurred when the tread on one of her SUV's tires separated has been awarded $4 million in a judgment against Wal-Mart, whose service center failed to spot the defective tire.

The manufacturer of a seat belt buckle settled recently for an undisclosed amount in an Alabama lawsuit filed following the death of a truck driver during a collision.

Montgomery County jury awarded $ 4M in favor of Carolyn Thorne against Wal-Mart Corporation. Mrs. Thorne was severely injured and paralyzed in a car accident shortly after having her car serviced at Wal-Mart. Mrs. Thorne's Ford Expedition went out of control when the tread on one of her tires separated.

Celebrex is in the same category as Vioxx, which was recalled by its manufacturer, Merck & Co., on Sept. 30, 2004, and has since faced an avalanche of injury claims across the country.

The Continental Carbon Co. Filed a petition Wednesday asking the 11th Circuit Court U.S. Court of Appeals to rehear its decision in March that upheld a $17.5 million punitive damage award against the Phenix City carbon black plant and its parent company, China Synthetic Rubber Corp.

Five plaintiffs claim they suffered heart attacks, strokes or other serious injuries and economic damages as a result of taking the pain-reliever Celebrex in a suit filed April 5 in Madison County Circuit Court.