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Man sues Uniontown police over Tasering at home
2008-06-02 21:29:00
The Associated PressJune 02, 2008 UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) _ A man has filed suit in federal court accusing Uniontown police of zapping him with a Taser while arresting him at his home on an outdated warrant. The lawsuit filed by Morris Earquhart in federal court in Pittsburgh said two officers responded to a 911 hang-up call at his home on Dec. 1, 2006. They left after Earquhart's wife told
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Required Drug & Alcohol Testing for Truck Drivers Weak
2008-01-24 18:19:00
Because truck drivers often suffer from fatigue or sleeping problems as a result of the unrealistic schedules imposed on them by their companies, there are many truck drivers that use drugs or alcohol to sleep, wake up, or combat depression. Although drivers may initially be cautious, their use turns to addiction and overrides their caution, making them much more likely to get in an accident on
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Transporting Hazardous Materials
2008-01-16 00:08:00
Hazardous materials are one of the negative side-effects of our post-industrialized society. From wastewater sludge to byproducts of fuel refining to used paint stripper, every industry produces or uses toxic chemicals on a daily basis. And sooner or later these chemicals have to be moved from where they are produced to where they are used or disposed of, and, as with all freight, most of these
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Inspection Schedules
2008-01-07 17:25:00
It seems that with regular inspections, it should be impossible for poorly maintained and dangerous trucks to stay on the road, but somehow it happens. Some reasons why these unsafe trucks can keep operating are: · Drivers are required to carry out inspections after every day's work, but the drivers are uncompensated for this time, and after a long day of work, the drivers are often fatigued

What to Do If You Are Involved in a Truck Accident
2007-12-28 17:04:00
If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck, there are a number of things you should do to protect your rights. First, you should obtain the following information: · Information about the truck driver, including name, license number, insurance information, and contact information for the driver and the trucking company · Truck information, including names and
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Truck Accidents - Tire Blowouts
2007-12-26 17:00:00
Tire technology has come a long way. Truck tires today are heavily-reinforced, designed to withstand tremendous forces for long periods, with mileage ratings that continue to increase while performance also improves. However, they are also designed with cost in mind to fit a very specific set of parameters, including amount of continuous mileage, temperature, pressure, weight, and instantaneous
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Pennslyvania Truck Accident Statistics
2007-12-21 16:56:00
Truck accidents are a tragically common occurrence on Pennsylvania highways. In 2006 alone: · 5726 Large trucks were involved in crashes in Pennsylvania · 2930 Large trucks were involved in serious injury accidents · 4342 People were injured in accidents with Large Trucks · 183 Large trucks involved in fatal accidents · 193 People killed by large trucks in accidents For the
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ADD/ADHD Drug's Popularity Grows
2007-12-19 18:29:00
Adderall and Adderall XR (extended release) are pharmaceutical amphetamines manufactured by Shire and used to treat attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and narcolepsy. These drugs have also been used to treat severe cases of depression. Adderall was first introduced in 1997; Shire later introduced Adderall XR, a gradual release form of the drug. Adderall
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Seroquel Produces Laundry List of Adverse Effects
2007-12-11 22:53:00
Seroquel is a drug manufactured by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis, such as visual and auditory hallucinations. Seroquel has also been prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder and is in the group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics, which were developed to avoid the loss of motor control caused by the older antipsychotic
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Permax and Dostinex Pose Serious Heart Problems
2007-12-06 15:21:00
The New England Journal of Medicine has published two new studies that confirm that the Parkinson's drugs Permax (generic pergolide) and Dostinex (generic cabergoline) increase the risk of heart valve damage. Permax and Dostinex have also been prescribed to treat the tremors associated with restless leg syndrome. Permax is manufactured by Ili Lilly & Co. and Dostinex is manufactured by Pfizer,
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MRI Contrast Agent Gadolinium Blamed for Young Man's Death
2007-11-26 17:10:00
An Ohio woman has filed a lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals of Wayne, New Jersey claiming the drug Magnevist, a contrast agent containing the heavy metal gadolinium, caused her 24-year-old son's death in August 2004. Trevor Drake of Norwalk, Ohio was injected with Magnevist at the Cleveland Clinic prior to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure for his advanced kidney disease
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Merck Agreement to Resolve U.S. VIOXX® Product Liability Lawsuits
2007-11-14 16:43:00
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Nov. 9, 2007 - Merck & Co., Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with the law firms that comprise the executive committee of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee of the federal multidistrict VIOXX litigation as well as representatives of plaintiffs' counsel in state coordinated proceedings to resolve state and federal myocardial infarction (MI) and
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Accutane and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
2007-11-14 16:01:00
Roche Holding AG, a Swiss drug manufacturer with U.S. operations in Nutley, New Jersey, has been ordered to pay $2.5 million in damages to a 36-year-old man who developed severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) after taking the acne medication Accutane . IBD refers to chronic diseases that cause inflammation in the form of painful swelling and diarrhea. Other common symptoms of IBD are abdominal

CNN Special Report
2007-11-07 17:37:00
Recently Anderson Cooper 360 broadcast a program on some of the underhanded tactics of the multi-billion dollar insurance industry. These tactics attempt to keep you from getting the medical payments and benefits that you deserve following an automobile accident or injury. The report also mentions one particular insurance company that is known to fight virtually all claims. Click Here To See
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Fegley named First Vice Chair for AAJ
2007-08-30 20:34:00
During the July 2007 American Association for Justice Convention in Chicago, Illinois, Attorney Wayne S. Fegley of Michael J. O’Connor & Associates located in Frackville, Pa was named First Vice Chair to the Workers’ Compensation section of the Association. Formally the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, in December of 2006, ATLA members voted to change the association's name to the

Erectile Dysfunction Drugs May Produce Many Side Effects
2007-08-30 19:32:00
To date, there are only three FDA-approved drugs to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra work by increasing the flow of blood to the penis so that when a man is sexually stimulated, he can get an erection. All three drugs take approximately 15-30 minutes to take effect, but how long the drugs last varies. Viagra typically lasts about four hours; Levitra about
More About: Drugs , Side , Erectile Dysfunction , Side Effects , Effects

PharmaFab
2007-08-15 20:57:00
PharmaFab, a distributor of more than 100 different drug products, has entered a legal agreement with the FDA under which they will stop the illegal manufacture and distribution of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. In the past, PharmaFab has sold items not made according to the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP), and many of its products did not have the required FDA approval.

FDA Recommends Medical Device User Fee Program
2007-08-08 22:32:00
The FDA has proposed a recommendation to Congress for reauthorizing the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization ACT (MDUFMA), which would help to ensure that safe and effective medical devices get to patients in a timely fashion. Under this program, industry covers a portion of the costs of the FDA's pre-market review program through a variety of fees. The additional revenues generated from the
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CONGRATULATIONS!!
2007-08-01 18:53:00
Donna DeBellis of Tamaqua is our official Newsletter Email To WIN! winner. Donna and a guest will be going to the Philadelphia Phillies game on Sunday, September 9 vs. the Florida Marlins. Congratulations - Enjoy the Game!!

Cardiac Risk - AVANDIA
2007-07-31 21:40:00
Avandia (generic rosiglitazone) was approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat type 2 diabetes. On May 23, 2007, an article was published in the New England Journal of Medicine stating that Avandia significantly increases the risk of heart attack in diabetes patients. Though the drug has not been recalled to date, the FDA did issue a public safety alert advising those taking the drug to consult their
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Two New Resources
2007-07-25 19:17:00
Make sure to check out the following two websites for additional information regarding Workers' Compensation: Workers' Compensation: Surveillance and Privacy Understanding Your Pre-Litigation Rights Under the Workers' Compensation Act For more information, contact the Law Offices of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates at 800-518-4529, or visit our website to fill out one of the contact forms (
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Dangerous Drugs
2007-07-25 17:30:00
News of product recalls or the latest findings on pharmaceutical drugs commonly fill today's headlines. Vioxx, Fosamax, Trasylol, Ketek, Tequin, Advair, Bextra, Zyprexa and Serevent are just a few drugs that have been in the recent spotlight. Visit our Dangerous Drugs page at www.oconnorlaw.com/dangerous for additional information on the latest drug recalls or contact the Law Offices of

Text Messaging While Driving
2007-07-19 22:08:00
The New York Times carried a story on July 14, 2007 of 5 recent high school graduates killed in a car accident most likely caused because the 17 year old driver was actively text messaging while she was driving. You can read the full article by clicking on the link below: Text Messages Sent on Phone of Driver Before Wreck At Michael J. O'Connor & Associates we see the tragic results of
More About: Driving , Text Messaging

Counterfeit Drugs Sold on Internet
2007-07-19 22:07:00
FDA Warns Consumers about Counterfeit Drugs Sold on Internet In the past few years, more and more people have been buying prescription drugs over the Internet; however, the FDA is cautioning consumers about the dangers associated with buying drugs online. The FDA alert is based on information it received indicating that 24 apparently related Web sites may be distributing counterfeit prescription

National Dog Bite Prevention Week
2007-05-25 17:22:00
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week and we at The Law Offices of Michael J. O’Connor & Associates, L.L.C. want to take this opportunity to share with you some facts, tips and strategies relevant to protecting yourself and your loved ones from the all too common occurrence of dog bites. Did you know that each year in the U.S. alone, an estimated 5 million people are bitten by dogs?