Articles Posted in Product Liability

5-27-25-Depo-Provera-Shot-300x225Depo-Provera is a progestin-based type of hormonal birth control, as well as one of the most frequently prescribed contraceptives in the country. Nearly 25% of all sexually active women in the United States have taken Depo-Provera at some point. Depo-Provera is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, but it can also cause unexpected complications, some of which could be life-threatening.

You should not have to suffer from side effects that you never knew were possible. Here is what you need to know about Depo-Provera, its risks, and what you should do to reclaim your financial independence:

Depo-Provera Injectable Birth Control Shots

5-20-25-Paragard-IUD-300x200You should not have to think twice about taking your reproductive health into your own hands, but for thousands of women across the country, choosing a Paragard IUD came with a host of hidden risks.

Paragard, sold under the brand name ParaGard®, is a non-hormonal intrauterine device. Most Paragard IUDs are small, T-shaped frames partially encased by copper wire. The copper heavily restricts the movement of sperm and can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years after installation.

However, while most Paragard IUDs cause no significant complications, many women have reported serious injuries after their intrauterine devices failed. These injuries range in severity and are associated with medical problems including internal organ damage, lacerations to the cervix, and, in some cases, infertility.

5-13-25-Talc-powder-300x191Talc, sometimes termed “talcum,” is a naturally occurring mineral found in large deposits throughout the United States. Talcum’s greatest strength—and its most obvious advantage for product manufacturers—is its ability to absorb moisture and reduce friction. In cosmetics and baby powders, this can help keep skin dry and prevent rashes.

However, talc’s unique characteristics are also a potential source of danger.

The Risks of Talcum Powder

4-9-25-liability-waiver-300x200Liability waivers differ in language and terms, but most serve a similar purpose: protecting at least one party from legal claims resulting from accidental injury. If you sign a waiver, you are, in effect, relinquishing your right to file a lawsuit or initiate other legal action.

Making Sense of Liability Waivers

Most liability waivers contain the following components:

4-2-25-workplace-safety-300x189Everyone in the United States has a right to a safe workplace.

Although some occupations are inherently more dangerous than others, you shouldn’t have to worry about unexpected hazards in your workplace that you haven’t been trained to manage. If you’ve been injured because of an unsafe condition at work, you don’t have to settle for an apology and empty promises.

The Role of Employers in Providing a Safe Workplace

What-to-Expect-at-Trial-Blog-scaledBeing involved in a car accident is stressful enough, but the prospect of a trial can feel overwhelming. Suppose you’re facing this situation in Upstate New York. In that case, understanding the process can ease your anxiety and empower you to make informed decisions. Our elite team of Buffalo, New York, car accident injury lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. represents countless car accident victims and wants to guide you through what to expect during a trial.

Before The Trial:

  1. Discovery: This phase involves exchanging information and evidence between both parties. We’ll assist you in gathering crucial documents like accident reports, medical records, and witness statements. This stage is essential for building a strong case.

the-litigation-process-scaledAfter suffering devastating injuries in any type of accident, you are likely feeling helpless and overwhelmed. If another’s carelessness or irresponsibility caused your injuries, you might be eligible to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. The Dietrich Legal Team’s veteran litigators realize that the litigation process may seem both complex and intimidating. Our lawyers believe that by helping you better understand the legal process, we can eliminate most of your stress and uncertainty.   

Steps In The Personal Injury Litigation Process 

Although no two claims are identical, each lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court follows the same steps as it advances through the litigation process. The actions that the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s highly experienced attorneys will take include:

Attorney-Client-Relationship-Blog-scaledWhen you hire a personal injury attorney to litigate your accident case, knowing that you have certain rights as a client is crucial. Strict standards of ethical and professional responsibility bind personal injury lawyers. The relationship between an attorney and their client should be based on confidence and trust. At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our battle-tested litigators believe in building strong relationships with our clients. We take the attorney-client relationship exceptionally seriously and are dedicated to treating every client with the respect, consideration, and compassion they deserve. 

Rights And Privileges That Your Attorney Should Provide

As a client, you should be able to expect the following from your attorney:

Zantac-Blog-scaledIn 1978, Glaxo Laboratories developed a molecule called ranitidine, which could treat heartburn. Soon after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug under the brand name Zantac, ranitidine rapidly became the world’s top-selling prescription medication. From the beginning to the end, Glaxo was warned by independent investigators and scientists about Zantac’s potential cancer risks. Glaxo failed to share critical evaluations of the drug with the FDA and endorsed erroneous research intended to minimize safety concerns. The company launched an aggressive marketing campaign to promote Zantac as more effective, more convenient, and safer than the alternative drug Tagamet. With Americans already spending roughly a billion dollars annually for heartburn relief, Glaxo introduced a 75mg over-the-counter Zantac pill. 

While considerable evidence and suspicions indicated Zantac’s cancer-causing properties, documents show Glaxo ignored the warnings. Connected to cancer as early as 1956, NDMA belongs to a group of chemicals called nitrosamines, which have caused cancer in every species of animal tested. A prominent pharmaceutical analyst suggested that under certain conditions in the stomach, a chemical reaction could turn ranitidine into NDMA. However, Glaxo’s board never requested any studies to determine if ranitidine could form into nitrosamine. Even after several independent studies revealed ranitidine resulted in toxic and mutagenic effects, Glaxo still tried to convince everyone of the safety of their drug. In 1982, despite the company’s scientist Richard Tanner finding up to 232,000 nanograms of NDMA in Zantac, court documents show that Glaxo kept this study a secret.    

In 2019, Valisure, a private lab, sent the FDA a document regarding Zantac’s extremely high levels of NDMA. After finding NDMA in every version of ranitidine it analyzed, the lab determined the problem inherently existed with the molecule itself. Although consuming minuscule amounts of the carcinogen is not believed to be harmful, lab tests uncovered excessive amounts of NDMA in ranitidine. It takes less than a milligram of NDMA to mutate mice cells, and 2 grams is enough to kill a person. Consequently, the FDA forced all versions of the drug off the market in 2020. However, the FDA maintained that there were no consistent signals that the drug increased cancer risks. Critics believe the FDA’s stance was an attempt to absolve the agency of wrongdoing.

Bellweather-Trial-scaledThe word bellwether can be traced back to the 13th century when shepherds hung bells around the necks of some of their sheep to designate them as leaders. Similarly, bellwether trials are designed to track and monitor the potential results of a large group of lawsuits. They are test lawsuits that use individual claims originating from a group of widely contested lawsuits filed against the same party. When hundreds or even thousands of lawsuits are filed against one party, these trials allow a few select cases to go to court to predict how the remaining pending claims will turn out at trial.

What Is Multidistrict Litigation?

In recent years, the number of medical injuries and pharmaceutical claims that have developed into multidistrict litigations has significantly increased. Multidistrict litigation, also known as MDL, is a special judicial proceeding designed to help federal courts better manage a large group of related lawsuits filed in various jurisdictions by different plaintiffs with similar legal issues and the same defendant. These proceedings are contingent on getting a majority approval from 7 district court judges, known as the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Upon approval, the cases are temporarily transferred and consolidated at one or more district courts for pretrial coordination. 

Contact Information