Firm Announcements

Community

BeasleyAllen.com racecar driver Grant Enfinger is holding onto third place overall in season points after the Chicago ARCA race late Saturday night.



Pharmaceutical

A new Swedish study has verified that antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk for birth defects when taken by the mother during early pregnancy.



Community

BeasleyAllen.com racecar driver Grant Enfinger drove the Acme Dismantling Doge Charger to a second place finish at a cold and rainy Toledo Speedway on Sunday. Temperatures dipped into the 40s and a brisk Great Lakes wind pushed drivers around. The finish moved Grant to fourth place in the ARCA season championship points standings, up a full position.



Pharmaceutical

Recently, the Pennsylvania Appellate Court affirmed a $1.5 million compensatory and $8.6 million punitive award against Wyeth, a division of Pfizer, on behalf of a woman diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer. Plaintiff Mary Daniel had taken Wyeth’s hormone pill, Prempro, for 18 months. The trial and appeal was handled by Plaintiff’s attorneys Zoe Littlepage and Rainey Booth. How does this most recent decision affect the track record in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) litigation against Wyeth, which has been going on for several years?




The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week announced a far-reaching investigation into the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Government inspectors are concerned that the steel straps that hold the vehicle’s fuel tank can rust and detach, causing the fuel tank to fall off. This may result in a fire hazard, as fuel tanks may dangle and drag along the roadway or completely detach and spill fuel upon impact with the pavement.



Recalls

Specific lots of Coumadin blood thinner tablets are being recalled by the manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, because the pills may have higher than expected potency. The recall involves one lot of 1,000-count bottles of coumadin (warfarin sodium) Crystalline 5 mg tablets. Higher than expected levels of the active ingredient may lead to an increased risk of severe bleeding which can be deadly. A lower than expected level of the active ingredient may increase the risk for blood clots which may lead to heart attack, stroke or even death.




Recalls

Some lots of women's endoscopy and urology health devices, such as feeding tube parts, pelvic floor repair kits, and incontinence products made by Boston Scientific are being recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they were stolen prior to being sterilized sometime between April 8, 2011 and April 11, 2011. These devices are non-sterile and may cause serious health problems for patients including post-operative infections.




Community

University of Alabama linebacker and Eufaula native, Courtney Upshaw, has joined forces with other Eufaula, Ala., residents to establish "The 41 Fund," to benefit victims of the recent tornado disaster that affected much of the state on Wednesday, April 27. The fund is named for Courtney's jersey number 41. Donations can be made to "The 41 Fund" at any branch of BankTrust.




Community

Tragedy touched so many people's lives in Alabama on Wednesday, April 27, when a series of tornadoes ripped through the state. In their wake, the storms left devastation on an unprecedented scale. More than 200 people are confirmed dead in Alabama alone, and many thousands more lost their homes and all their possessions. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Beasley Allen go out to the families suffering at this time. Hoping to literally put into action the professional creed of the legal profession, lawyers in Alabama plan to help "render service," in this time of great need.




Recalls

Nissan North America has announced the recall of 195,991 vehicles. The recall affects the Nissan Pathfinder from the 1996 through 2004 model years and the Infiniti QX4 from 1997 through 2003 model years. The recall mainly affects vehicles in areas of the country in which a heavy concentration of road salt is used, as a mixture of snow or water and salt may enter the steering assembly and cause corrosion. As a result the steering column may become defective or crack, causing motorists to lose control of the vehicle.