WSFA sports anchor Jeff Shearer announced standout Alabama football star Courtney Upshaw has established a program to help people support victims of the recent Alabama tornado disasters. The star linebacker appeared in his hometown of Eufaula and in Alex City at Walmart stores to promote the “41 Fund,” which will accept donations to provide disaster relief through any branch of BankTrust. Upshaw posed for pictures with fans and signed autographs while promoting the fundraising effort. Upshaw’s apartment was narrowly missed by the tornado that severely damaged Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011.

CBS8 sports anchor Dee Jackson shared news with viewers about a special program for victims of the devastating tornadoes that tore through Alabama on April 27. Standout Alabama football star Courtney Upshaw has established the “41 Fund,” named after his jersey number, which will take donations to assist storm victims through any branch of BankTrust. To promote the fund, Upshaw visited his home town of Eufaula, Ala., to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, and also visited Alex City, Ala.

WSFA Sportscaster Jeff Shearer shared information with sister station Fox 34 viewers about a special tornado relief fund. Called the “41 Fund,” the initiative was created by Alabama football star linebacker Courtney Upshaw. He and fellow Eufaula native Jerrel Jernigan, a football standout at Troy University, visited the WalMart in Eufaula on May 5 to raise money for the fund while signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans. The event raised approximately $15,000.

Putting the creed of their profession – lawyers render service – into action, lawyers throughout the state of Alabama are working to provide assistance to the victims of the April 27 tornado disaster. The storms left thousands of people without homes, livelihoods and loved ones. More than 200 people died. Beasley Allen is partnering with legal service agencies to donate funds to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Additionally, agencies like the Alabama Association for Justice and the Alabama State Bar are coordinating efforts to provide free legal assistance to storm victims.

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. Here, he talks with fellow Eufaula native, Beasley Allen Managing Shareholder Tom Methvin, about the purpose of the 41 Fund and why he felt compelled to reach out to those affected by the storms. In addition to the fund, Upshaw will sign autographs at two local Walmarts this week, and encourages visitors to bring donations, including supplies such as bottled water, food and clothing for people who lost everything in the tornadoes.

In the wake of the deadly storms that tore through the Southeast last week, including a number of tornadoes that devastated Alabama communities, the Alabama State Bar is offering assistance. The Bar will provide free legal advice to storm victims. Recovering from the devastation can seem overwhelming, as people face loss of life, home, loved ones and livelihoods. Volunteer lawyers are ready to provide the assistance to help them get back on their feet.

The popular painkiller Darvocet, as well as brand name Darvon and the generic propoxyphene, were pulled from use in the United States last fall when the drug was linked to serious heart rhythm abnormalities. Studies found that even when taken in the recommended dosage, the drug can disrupt the electrical activity of the heart, leading to heart attack or sudden death. The drug has been in use in the U.S. since 1957. It has been prescribed to millions of patients during that time, and may have adversely affected hundreds of thousands of people before it was pulled from use.

Officials from Walton County, Fla., have hired Beasley Allen attorneys to represent the county in its efforts to recover revenues lost as a result of the BP Oil Spill disaster. New 13 reporter Jason Hackett said Beasley Allen was chosen from among three firms that submitted proposals to represent the County. Beasley Allen attorney David Byrne spoke to the County Commission meeting, presenting the firm's outstanding record in environmental litigation. Commissioner Sara Comander said the firm's record of success in environmental law was key in the decision, as the County is concerned about long-term environmental impacts that may result from the oil spill, which affected the entire Gulf Coast region.

In his role as President of the American Association for Justice, Beasley Allen Shareholder Gibson Vance keeps an eye on legislation before Congress. In this video, he expresses his concern about H.R. 5, which is currently pending in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would place a cap on damages even in wrongful death cases at $250,000. This means companies that place dangerous, defective or otherwise harmful drugs, devices or products in the stream of commerce would not be held to a reasonable standard of liability. Sadly, for many corporations, it is primarily the fear of taking a hit in their bottom line – their profit – that spurs them to do the right thing. This legislation would free them from that burden, and put everyday people in danger. Please call your Congressional representative and ask them to vote “NO” on H.R. 5.

At the one year anniversary of the BP oil spill disaster, Jere Beasley appeared on Alabama Public Television's Capitol Journal program to discuss lawsuits filed in relation to the crisis. People throughout the Gulf Coast region, and even farther inland, were negatively impacted when the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform exploded on April 20, 2010, and sank into the Gulf of Mexico two days later. When the rig sank, the well began gushing oil into the Gulf about a mile below the ocean surface. The oil spill and toxic dispersants applied in the days and months afterward had a negative impact on industries including fishing, tourism, real estate and even revenue development for affected communities. Additionally, individuals suffered physical and mental traumas. Mr. Beasley tells the program's hosts that troubles for the people affected are still far from over, as the long-term environmental impacts of the spill remain to be seen.