WSFA mentioned the Beasley Allen Law Firm in a recent report for their donation to a local school. Beasley Allen presented the teachers of Martin Luther King Elementary School with classroom supplies including card stock, crayons, pencils, markers, hand sanitizer and more. The supplies provided will be used by teachers and will help subsidize items typically brought by students.

Reporter Melissa Johnson provided WSFA TV12’s Today in Alabama viewers with a sneak peek of the Rally in the Alley event, scheduled for Thursday, August 11. The event kicks off the River Region United Way fundraising campaign, and also provides an opportunity for local community service agencies to recruit volunteers. Beasley Allen is a proud sponsor of this event. Beasley Allen attorney Ali Douillard spoke to Melissa about the firm’s commitment to “helping those who need it most,” and says the United Way’s mission of service is a perfect fit. Ali encouraged everyone to come out to the event, learn more about avenues for service, and donate to the United Way.

WSFA-TV 12 reporter Sally Pitts recently talked with Beasley Allen attorney Clay Barnett and Emerge Montgomery president Kindall Anderson about the United Way campaign kickoff. Beasley Allen sponsored the event, Rally in the Alley, and is a strong supporter of the River Region United Way. Clay Barnett talked about the event, which gives people the opportunity to meet representatives from the agencies that benefit from the United Way. Clay said, “when you contribute to the River Region United Way, the money stays in the community.” Rally in the Alley was held Thursday, Aug. 11 from 5-7 p.m. in Montgomery’s downtown Entertainment District.

Beasley Allen shareholder Clay Barnett spoke with WSFA TV-12 reporter Melissa Johnson about the upcoming Rally in the Alley event. Scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 11, the event will kick off the annual River Region United Way fundraising campaign. Beasley Allen is a sponsor of the event, and Clay has worked with the United Way for several years to help coordinate campaign giving among area attorneys. Rally in the Alley will be held from 5-7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Those attending will be able to meet representatives from United Way agencies, find out about volunteer and giving opportunities, and enjoy live music and food and drink specials from Alley businesses.

Beasley Allen Attorney Clay Barnett appeared on WSFA TV 12 this week to promote the kick-off of the River Region United Way fundraising campaign. Clay has been working on behalf of the United Way for several years to help coordinate fundraising efforts among area lawyers, encouraging them to pledge donations.

WSFA-TV 12 reporter Bryan Henry recently shared information with viewers about the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even mild TBI’s, like concussions, can have lasting long-term effects, and all brain injuries affect victims physically, mentally and emotionally. For the news story, Henry spoke with Beasley Allen employee Carol Stanley, whose son, Jason, suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of an assault. In helping Jason deal with the lasting effects of his injury, Carol has become an advocate for awareness about brain injury, and also works to strengthen laws to prosecute those who commit violent crimes like the one in which Jason was injured.

Fosamax is a type of medication known as a bisphosphonate, prescribed for the treatment of bone loss and osteoporosis. In October of 2010 the FDA required all manufacturers of bisphosphonates to include on their label a warning that an increased risk of thigh fractures, specifically low-energy femoral shaft and subtrochanteric fractures, are associated with the drug. Recently, the FDA announced another ongoing safety review for this drug, after studies indicated an increased risk of esophageal cancer linked to the drug. Beasley Allen attorney Chad Cook has been selected to the Plaintiff Steering Committee for the consolidated litigation surrounding Fosamax and femur fractures.

Women of childbearing age who take the prescription medication Topamax should be aware that new studies link the drug to a risk of birth defects. Topamax is prescribed to treat seizures and migraine headaches. Research shows that taking Topamax in the first trimester of pregnancy may cause a woman’s baby to be born with a cleft palate and/or cleft lip. It is important for women who are considering becoming pregnant to talk with their doctors if they are taking Topamax, to discuss the risks versus benefits of continuing this medication.

One of the most common sounds of summer is the buzz of the lawn mower. But these idyllic sunny days can be quickly spoiled by accidents and injuries – many severe – when proper care is not taken around lawn equipment. Lawn mower blades can rotate at speeds up to 200 miles per hour, and if they come in contact with hands, feet, arms and legs, can create some of the worst injuries emergency room doctors see. Severe lacerations, bone loss, and loss of fingers and toes can happen in an instant. Follow some simple rules to make sure you stay safe this summer.

An original documentary film, Hot Coffee, recently premiered on HBO. The film takes its name from the now-infamous case in which an elderly woman sued McDonald’s after she was severely burned by hot coffee. The case was pounced upon by big business interests, who distorted the facts and promoted it as an example of frivolous lawsuits. In this Legal Briefs video, Beasley Allen Shareholder Gibson Vance, who is current president of the American Association for Justice, talks about how the tort reform movement was born, and Americans are persuaded little by little to sign away their rights to access justice in the court system.