Coal-fired power plants produce coal ash and other toxic waste byproducts. The toxic waste contains such heavy metals as arsenic, lead, barium, chromium and manganese, which have been shown to cause cancer, liver damage, and neurological complications. This hazardous material is usually stored on site at the facilities in retention ponds or dams. A failure in the dam’s retaining wall, or an overflow, can result in an environmental disaster contaminating surrounding waterways, soil, and wildlife, and endangering human health and life.

Beasley Allen has filed a class action lawsuit against British Petroleum (âe BPâe ) and several other companies with ties to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The firm seeks to represent individuals and businesses that have incurred damages related to the disaster

Over a million people in the United States wake up every day in nursing homes. Many of these individuals are helpless, vulnerable and completely dependent upon nursing home staff to meet most or all of their needs. After all, nursing homes are supposed to be in the business of providing skilled nursing care to elderly and disabled residents.

Personal injury and product liability legal resources covering automobile accidents, defective products, rollover accidents, workplace injuries and wrongful death.

Whether at home, at work or traveling, the catastrophe of a serious accident injury can leave a victim confused, helpless and hurting. And it happens often. According to the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics, serious personal injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans of all ages regardless of gender, race or economic status, and there are many millions more who survive.

Trucking is a dangerous profession. Driving certain types of rigs, like tankers and flatbeds, is probably among the most dangerous major occupations in the country. Rollover accidents account for the highest percentage of driver fatalities, at about 55 percent, while another 10 percent of fatalities are attributed to fuel oil fires. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports large trucks were involved in approximately 368,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in one yearâe(TM)s time.

Metal-on-metal hip replacement systems are under investigation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. This type of artificial hip is made with a metal ball that fits into a metal socket, and was designed to be stronger and last longer than traditional ceramic or plastic devices. But doctors and patients are now discovering the metal-on-metal hip implants may be causing serious problems. As the two parts move against each other, bits of metal can flake off into the hip joint, causing inflammation. This inflammation can cause pain and limited mobility in the hip joint, but can also cause the implant to fracture, loosen or dislocate, which requires revision surgery to remove and replace the device. Twenty-one medical device companies manufacture at least one metal-on-metal hip implant. This FDA has ordered a review of all metal-on-metal hip replacements marketed in the United States.

The FDA recently issued a safety communication saying transvaginal placement of surgical mesh to treat urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapsed (POP) may pose more risks than benefits to women. Often referred to as a bladder sling or transvaginal mesh, the surgical mesh may be implanted into the vagina to hold up the prolapsed organs or support the bladder. The FDA has received a flood of complaints about serious complications they say are linked to the transvaginal mesh, including erosion of the mesh through the vagina, infection, pain, urinary incontinence, and recurrence of organ prolapse.

Recent studies have revealed a link between the use of Actos, usually prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes, and the development of bladder cancer. The FDA has updated drug labels to indicate this risk. Initial data indicates a higher risk for bladder cancer among patients with increasing dose and duration of Actos use, particularly after 24 months of use or longer. Updated information on the drug’s safety label indicates use of the drug for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

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. SSRIs and a Combination Drug Containing an SSRI include well-known brand name drugs Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft as well as lesser known drugs Celexa, Fluvoxamine, and Symbyax. There also are many generic versions of these drugs. Birth defects linked to these drugs include serious heart defects, persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), spina bifida, omphalocele (intestines or other abdominal organs stick outside the body), club foot, limb reduction deficits, and craniosynostosis (one or more sutures in the skull prematurely fuses).

In July 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified healthcare professionals and consumers of a possible link between antidepressant medications – including Zoloft (sertraline) – and serious birth defects. Sertraline is included in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The study focused on newborn babies with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), which is a serious and life-threatening lung condition that occurs soon after birth. In this study, PPHN was six times more common in babies whose mothers took an SSRI antidepressant after the 20th week of pregnancy compared to babies whose mothers did not take an antidepressant. Other serious birth defects linked to Zoloft include complex heart defects, spina bifida, omphalocele (intestines or other abdominal organs stick outside the body), club foot, limb reduction deficits, and craniosynostosis (one or more sutures in the skull prematurely fuses).

A recent study published by The American Journal of Sports Medicine identified intra-articular pain pumps (aka post-operative pain pumps) as the likely cause of a condition known as chondrolysis.

Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis is a specific type of chondrolysis that is associated with pain pumps and shoulder surgery.

Anyone who has used a pain pump to regulate pain following shoulder, knee, hip, ankle or back surgery should consult their doctor if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• continued pain
• weakness in the shoulder
• clicking, popping or grinding in the shoulder
• decreased range of motion in the shoulder

Recent studies demonstrate a clear link between osteonecrosis and Fosamax. The irony is that these drugs, such as Fosamax, that are prescribed to prevent bone decay may actually be causing bone decay – such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is medication containing one or more female hormones, commonly estrogen plus progestin. HRT is often prescribed to treat symptoms of menopause such as “hot flashes,” vaginal dryness, mood swings, sleep disorders, and decreased sexual desire. This medication may be taken in the form of a pill, a patch, or vaginal cream.

Recent studies now show that hormone replacement therapy places women at a higher risk for:

• breast cancer
• ovarian cancer
• non-hodgkins lymphoma
• heart attack
• stroke
• blood clots

Johnson & Johnson already settled several of the lawsuits charging that its Ortho Evra contraceptive patch causes blood clots and other serious side effects due to heightened estrogen levels. Several lawsuits have already ended with confidential settlements, and the company has told plaintiffs lawyers it is ready to cut deals in remaining ones.

Learn more about Ortho Evra side effects.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening condition. SJS is defined as a hypersensitivity disorder affecting the skin and mucous membranes. There is a reported incidence of around one case per million people per year.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) was first described in the medical literature in 2000, with the first case of NSF bering identified identified in 1997.

The cause of NSF is unknown but it has been reported only in patients who have severe kidney disease.  NSF causes fibrosis of the skin and connective tissues throughout the body which results in skin thickening that may prevent bending and extending joints, resulting in decreased mobility of joints.

On October 15, 2007, Medtronic suspended sale of their Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator leads (Models 6930, 6931, 6948, 6949) after receiving reports of 5 fatalities.

According to Medtronic, since 2004 over 268,000 patients in the United States have been implanted with the defective lead as part of the defibrillator.

Avandia, sold by GlaxoSmithKline, is a blockbuster medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. More than 6 million people worldwide have taken the drug, whose U.S. sales topped $2.2 billion last year.

Analysis led by the Cleveland Clinic of 42 separate studies on Avandia concluded that it raised the risk of heart attacks by 43 percent. As many as 100,000 heart attacks may be linked to Avandia, according to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) in a floor statement placed in the Senate record on May 24, 2007.

Chantix has been prescribed to more than 4 million patients in the United States since its approval in 2006 as a treatment for smoking cessation. However, in 2007 and 2008, the FDA has issued a series of warnings regarding the product’s safety, citing serious neuropsychiatric symptoms including depression, suicide and homicidal tendencies, as well as medical problems such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, hepatitis, liver failure and diabetes.

On April 25, 2008, drug manufacturer Actavis Totowa issued a Class I recall for Digitek, which is used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The recall came when it was discovered Digitek tablets had been manufactured at twice the intended thickness, doubling their strength and raising the possibility of triggering a toxic reaction. Side effects from the too-strong tablets include nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, bradycardia and even death.

Manufactured by Bayer, Trasylol was used to reduce bleeding during complicated surgeries. However, the drug was temporarily withdrawn worldwide in 2007 after studies suggested that its use increased the risk of complications or death, and Trasylol was entirely and permanently withdrawn in May 2008, except for very restricted research use. Risks associated with Trasylol include acute renal failure, myocardial infarction and heart failure, as well as stroke and encephalopathy.

Vytorin is commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol levels. However, recent studies call into question the drug’s effectiveness and even indicate risk of serious side effects. Manufactured by Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough, Vytorin carries a risk of liver problems such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and even liver failure. Most recently, the drug has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

In September 2005, drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline informed health care professionals that it was updating the Pregnancy subsection of the PRECAUTIONS section of the labels for the drug PAXIL (paroxetine HCI) and PAXIL CR controlled-release tablets. The new warning reflects the results of a study that indicates major congenital malformations in infants born to women taking antidepressants, including Paxil, during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning to consumers and healthcare providers warning of the risk of tardive dyskinesia with the long-term or high-dose use of metoclopramide, more commonly known as Reglan, a medication prescribed for the treatment of disorders like heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. Elderly patients, especially women, are at an increased risk of developing the condition while using Reglan. Tardive dyskinesia is a condition in which a person develops involuntary movements of their muscles.

On December 11, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Safety Alert calling for a black box warning to consumers and health care providers that a serious form of kidney injury, acute phosphate nephropathy, had been associated with the use of prescription OSP, namely Salix Pharmaceuticals’ Visicol and Osmo Prep. The FDA expressed equal concern for kidney damage associated with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) products such as Fleet Phospho-soda and Fleet Accu-Prep solutions when used for bowel clearing.

Yaz, manufactured by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a combination birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Studies indicate that Yaz poses a particular health hazard because drospirenone is a diuretic, which can cause an increase in potassium levels in the blood and lead to hyperkalemia, which causes heart rhythm disturbances that can cause blood clots and leading to sudden cardiac death or pulmonary embolism or strokes. Diuretics also can cause significant problems with the gallbladder, leading to gallbladder removal.

Various antibiotic families, each containing a multitude of antimicrobial types and brands, have been known to distress the liver in many recipients, often causing severe liver damage and, in some cases, death. Researchers know that antibiotics adversely affect the liver more frequently than any other prescription drugs.

Gardasil and Cervarix are marketed as cervical cancer vaccines that can protect girls and women from human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer and genital warts. The vaccines are marketed to be administered to girls and young women ages 9 to 26. Gardasil has been approved for use in the United States since 2006, while Cervarix has been widely used in Europe, and was approved by the FDA for use in America on Oct. 16, 2009. However, the vaccine has been linked to serious adverse side effects including blood clots, Lupus and stroke, as well as more than 44 deaths. Now, an expert HPV researcher asserts the vaccine is largely unnecessary with current cervical cancer preventive measures and treatments, and claims Gardasil has never been fully tested on females under age 15.

A generic version of the anti-convulsant medication Keppra, commonly used to treat patients that suffer from seizures, such as epileptics, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing in 2009. However, it seems that patients who switch from Keppra to the generic, levetiracetam, are experiencing increased re-occurance of seizures after having been seizure-free on the brand name Keppra.

Johnson & Johnson, in conjunction with its DePuy Orthopaedics subsidiary, announced at the end of August 2010 that it is recalling parts used for hip replacements. At issue is the high rate of repeat surgeries needed by people who have received the parts. The recall may affect as many as 93,000 people. Hip replacement parts that have been recalled are the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. Reported problems include pain, swelling and problems walking.

Unum Provident is the largest disability insurance company, providing disability insurance for more than 17 million Americans. Unfortunately, for their policyholders, Unum has denied legitimate disability claims from seriously ill customers. This is a corporate strategy designed for one purpose – to boost profits.

Investors who purchased or acquired shares of Regions Morgan Keegan Select Intermediate Bond Fund or Select High Income Fund from December 6, 2004 through October 3, 2007, may have a claim to recover for their losses.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) laws require overtime compensation be paid (at time and one-half) for all “hours worked” over a prescribed “threshold” (typically 40 hours per week), for “nonexempt” employees. FLSA lawsuits typically seek recovery for unpaid or underpaid back wages, plus double damages (called “liquidated damages”) and attorneys’ fees.

Since September 2009, more than 8 million Toyota vehicles worldwide have been recalled. The recall involves both Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Beasley Allen has filed several class action lawsuits on behalf of Toyota owners, as well as individual product liability lawsuits in cases involving serious injury and death as a result of unintended acceleration.

Attorneys at Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., are currently evaluating claims against Yamaha Motor Corporation on behalf of people who suffered serious injury in a Yamaha Rhino ATV accident, or whose loved ones were injured or killed in these serious crashes.