New York Personal Injury Laws

Lab Workers Exposed to Asbestos

Did you know that asbestos was used in various types of lab equipment? And that asbestos could cause lab workers – lab technicians – to develop mesothelioma later in life? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney, and I want to talk to you about some these asbestos exposures. Now, in a lab setting, lab workers, lab technicians, work with gloves. Back years ago, those gloves when picking up a heated beaker or a hot surface– those gloves could have been asbestos gloves – gloves actually made with asbestos components. They worked with aprons for their safety protection. Ironically, these gloves were used as a safety precaution, yet they contained asbestos. Additionally, aprons that the lab technicians would wear, often times contained asbestos, to protect from heated objects, or perhaps ovens that they were working with during their lab experiments.

Asbestos pads and asbestos mats were used in lab settings. Wire mesh screens were used in lab settings. All of these things decades ago, could have contained asbestos, which exposed the worker – the lab technician – to asbestos dust during the course of their work each day, every day, over a course of a career. These exposures could cause a lab technician to develop mesothelioma years later. I’m telling you all this because you have questions about mesothelioma, and how mesothelioma is caused.

I’m Joe Williams. At my office, we deal with these issues each and every day. We represent victims of mesothelioma and their families. If you have questions, I invite you to call us, and we’ll answer your questions. Thank you very much.

Medical Malpractice in Sayville

Today on You Be The Judge. With hospitals being administered by fallible human beings, mistakes are inevitable. While hospitals have full disclosure agreements with their patients, you might be surprised to find out what happens after mistakes are made. The Center for Disease Control says tens of millions of people receive hospital services each year.

Examples of Malpractice

Over the decades the hospital industry has evolved and made necessary changes to protect patients. Nevertheless, hospitals are run by humans, and the unfortunate truth is that they make mistakes that put patients lives at risk. Researchers have long investigated medication errors. These errors show up in a variety of forms, including improper compounding the process of tailoring-made drugs for an individual, incorrectly writing out prescriptions, failing to monitor effects on patients, giving the wrong kind of medication, and administering too high or too low of a dosage.

Reporting Mistakes

A study led by Doctor Daniel Nussbaum showed that hospital employees are more likely to report mistakes under the protection of Blame-free anonymity. By giving these employees a safe environment to report mistakes, hospitals are then able to assess the reports and make appropriate changes. Before, they had very little information to work with. This progress is a good sign for both hospitals and patients.

Medication Errors Study

A recent study led by Doctor Assad Latif, examine medication errors and what happens afterward. Doctor Latif shared that, for the most part our findings were in keeping with what the existing literature tells us about the where and how of medication errors in a hospital. The most surprising finding was what we do about them.

Latif said about 98% of mistakes did not result in harming patients. However the patient and or their family is immediately informed when an error occurs barely 2% of the time despite literature supporting full disclosure and their desire to be promptly informed. Letting patients know about medication errors only 2% of the time sounds pretty scaring, doesn’t it?

Hospitals Make Mistakes

We should not assume that all medication errors threaten anyone’s well-being, or that the information would always be of importance to the patient. However, harmful mistakes do occur without patients knowing it. What do you think hospitals should do to ensure that the promised full disclosure is being fulfilled?

By: Edward Lake

Plumbers Exposed to Asbestos

Did you know that plumbers were exposed to asbestos during the construction of the World Trade Center? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney here in New York City, and I can give you some information about the types of exposures to asbestos that plumbers faced during the construction of the World Trade Center site.

Large Quantities of Exposure

The World Trade Center site, composed of seven different buildings, was a massive construction project, and the plumbers union had a very large presence during the building of the seven buildings. The buildings at this site required massive quantities of water, hot water and cold water piping running throughout the site. The plumbers’ work at the World Trade Center site exposed them to asbestos in the form of asbestos pipe covering, asbestos gaskets, asbestos insulation that covered the equipment that the plumbers worked with on a daily basis at the World Trade Center site. In addition to their own work, the plumbers who worked at the World Trade Center site could have also been exposed to the work of other trades – trades who are working with asbestos-containing floor tile, or asbestos-containing joint compound, or asbestos-containing fireproofing – exposed as bystanders to the work of others.

You have questions about mesothelioma and exposures to asbestos at the World Trade Center. I’m Joe Williams, and at our firm we handle cases everyday for mesothelioma victims and their families. I invite you to give our office a call. We can answer your questions. Thank you.

Recovering Medical Bills

Can a victim of Mesothelioma recover the medical bills that they incurred through their legal case? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I Mesothelioma trial attorney in New York City, and I can tell you that the answer to this question is definitely, yes. In every case I’ve ever handled, in all the years I’ve been representing Mesothelioma victims, every victim and their family stresses to me the stress that they have over the large amount of medical bills that they are incurring.

 Making A Claim for Medical Bills

I can tell you, just like I tell every one of them, that in every Mesothelioma case we assert a claim in the case for the repayment of the medical bills. What that means is that we bring a lawsuit against the companies who exposed our clients to asbestos. As part of that lawsuit, one of the claims that we make is that our client has incurred significant medical bills, and that those companies should have to pay those bills, because they caused them to contract this unfortunate cancer.

Breaking Down The Medical Expenses

These bills can be extensive. A Mesothelioma victim’s treatment can include surgery or multiple surgeries. It can include chemotherapy, multiple rounds of chemotherapy. It can also include radiation, as well as well as numerous office visits.

All these things are obviously very expensive, and the bills can really add up, adding stress to an already stressful situation. I can tell you that as part of the legal case, we seek to recover payment of these bills from the companies we bring the case against.

 Further Questions and Concerns, Contact Us

Now, I’m sure you have many other questions about how medical bills are taken care of as part of a legal case. I can answer those questions. I’m Joe Williams, and in our firm we handle these cases every day. We represent Mesothelioma victims every day.

I encourage you to call the number on your screen below, that’s my office number, and we’ll answer your questions. Thanks so much for watching.

Causation of Peripheral Neuropathy

Antibiotics. They are among the most important discoveries of the twentieth century. They have saved millions of lives, but the rampant over-prescription of certain antibiotics is leaving many patients disabled for months, even years with an affliction called peripheral neuropathy (learn details at neuropathyreliefguide.com/nerve-renew-review/). These antibiotics are fluoroquinolones. They include drugs like Avelox, Cipro, and Levaquin, some of the most powerful medications on the market.

Many professionals consider quinolones the last line of defense against major infections. However, instead of being reserved for serious or life-threatening bacterial infections, such as hospital-acquired pneumonia, these antibiotics are frequently prescribed for lesser problems like sinus infections, bronchitis, ear infections, and other ailments that can be treated with less potent drugs.

Doctor David Flockheart Research

Doctor David Flockheart, a leading fluoroquinolone expert at the Indiana University School of Medicine explains, “You don’t use these big guns for killing mosquitoes. You should use them appropriately for big infections. A few doses can leave the patient disabled with peripheral neuropathy for months, even years.” One young woman shared, “I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. On the fifth day I couldn’t get out of bed. I was 16. I wanted to be an animation artist. I couldn’t even pick up a pencil. I ended up in a wheelchair for six-and-a-half years.”

Peripheral neuropathy happens with the nerves that carry information from the brain to the central nervous system are damaged resulting in weakness, numbness, lack of coordination, sharp burning or stabbing pain, and many other side effects.

Doctor Jay Cohen Research

Researcher, Doctor Jay Cohen, said in 2001 that the side effects are, “devastating.” He went on to say, “Many of the people in my study were healthy before their reactions. Some were high-intensity athletes. Suddenly, they were disabled, in terrible pain, unable to work, walk, or sleep.” But it wasn’t until 2013 did the FDA require drug makers to list peripheral neuropathy as a side effect. This came 12 years after the connection had already been made. To make matters worse, studies have shown that as many as 40% of prescriptions for these antibiotics are unnecessary.

Have the Risks of Antibiotics Affected You or Loved Ones?

Share this video with your friends and family to raise awareness. While fluoroquinolones play an important medical role, everyone should be made aware of the risks associated with them. One victim shared, “I used to love to dance. Now I can hardly make it through one song on the dance floor.” Share this video to protect your loved ones so they can dance if they want to.

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered peripheral neuropathy as a result of Avelox, Cipro, or Levaquin call and speak with a legal representative immediately. The manufacturers of these drugs may be required to compensate victims, and it won’t cost you a dime to find out if you qualify. Call today at 888-LAW-8500. That’s 888-529-8500 or visit us online at lawyersusa.com/antibiotics.

By: Steven Gacovino

Suffolk County Asbestos Exposure

You’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you worked in Suffolk County, New York, and you’re wondering how did you get this disease.

Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney, and I can give you information about asbestos exposures that occurred to workers in Suffolk County.

 Where Exactly Did This Exposure Occur

Now we know that in Suffolk County, New York, there were three major powerhouses, LILCO powerhouses. It’s now National Grid, but back when the workers were exposed to asbestos, they were LILCO powerhouses. The powerhouses were located in Port Jefferson, Northport, and Shoreham, and at these powerhouses, asbestos products were used. And workers – union tradesmen who built the powerhouses, who repaired and renovated these powerhouses over time – were exposed to asbesto during the course of their work.

We also know in Suffolk County, in both Bethpage and Farmingdale, there’s Grumman Aerospace, where military planes were built for the United States government using all manner of asbestos products, from asbestos gaskets in the machining of engines, to asbestos insulation products used throughout equipment and on the planes themselves. And also, during the course of the past century as the population migrated eastward to Suffolk County, there was a housing boom in Suffolk County. Houses were constructed, apartment buildings, which required the use of building products, many of which had asbestos-containing components, which exposed the workers – the builders who built Suffolk County – to asbestos.

Now you have questions about asbestos exposure and how you could have been exposed to asbestos in Suffolk County. I’m Joe Williams, and at our firm, we answer questions for mesothelioma victims and their families every day. I invite you to give us a call, and we’ll answer your questions.

Thanks.

Superbug CRE Linked to Infection, Disease and Death

Could a common medical device used in endoscopic procedures be linked to one of the most deadly diseases of our time? Let’s take a look at the facts. Antibiotic overuse and a nightmare of superbug have taken a heavy toll on Americans. As new drug-resistant diseases flourish in hospitals. What’s more, an estimated 40,000 harmful and lethal errors occur everyday in medical facilities. The Center for Disease Control reported that 1 in 25 patients develop a hospital acquired infection. In 2011, an estimated 722,000 hospital patients contracted an infection while under acute care. 75,000 died as a result.

A superbug called CRE, carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae appeared in 2001 in the United States. CRE is resistant to a class of antibiotics called carbapenem which are often used as a last resort against deadly bacterial infections. More than 500,000 patients undergo endoscopic procedures using duodenoscopes in the US every year. These medical devices are used for diagnosing and treating cancers, gallstones and other digestive ailments.

Use of Duodenoscope

A duodenoscope is a thin, flexible fiber optic tube that is inserted down the patient’s throat to allow a doctor to examine an organ. The problem for patients, is that the intricate design of the device makes it extremely difficult to disinfect. Even meticulously cleaning the devices does not eliminate the risk of transmitting infection. The design allows for efficient procedures while leaving the patient at risk for infections passed from other patients. Even if cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions, the risk of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections persists. For years, hospitals, clinicians, the CDC and researchers have been warning the Food and Drug Administration about the problems associated with procedures using duodenoscopes.

John Allen, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine tells us that we have known about this even as early as 1983 or 1984. With half a million patients undergoing procedures involving the duodenoscope, which is difficult to properly sterilize, patients are left with questions about their safety. Researchers give little hope regarding CRE, saying that, there is little chance that an effective drug to kill CRE bacteria will be produced in the coming years.

CRE Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

Given the lack of available information, many have pursued medical malpractice claims after lost of loved ones or suffering severe illness and having to be hospitalized for months. Now, we are able to see the problem is not with the medical facility, as they have been given a device which is at its core defective without proper means of sterilizing. Share this video today. Americans have suffered in hospital beds for months because of how little these facts are publicized.

Share this video with your friends and family, so that they can be aware of the risks of this seemingly harmless procedure. If you think that you or a loved one has suffered from a superbug after undergoing a duodenoscopic procedure, call our team today. We have worked with people like you across the nation. It cost you nothing to consult with our team. We only get paid if and when you get compensated. Call today for a free consultation at 888-LAW-8500. That’s 888-529-8500 and visit us online at lawyersusa.com/superbug.

By: Steven Gacovino

Co-Workers Giving Evidence on Past Exposure to Asbestos

A person’s been diagnosed with mesothelioma. What would we do to try and develop the evidence of how they were exposed to asbestos? Hi, I’m Joe Williams. I’m a mesothelioma trial attorney in New York City. And I can tell you that one of the main things that we try to do when our clients are really too ill to testify or just are suffering through their diagnosis, is that we contact their co-workers.

What’s important to know about this is that when workers work in industry, they work side by side, sometimes for 30, 40 years with friends who almost become family members. We contact those folks and talk to them about the exposures that our client had. These co-workers can provide tremendous information about the types of exposures, the manner of exposure, and how it happened, where it happened. And often times, the co-worker isn’t ill, hasn’t contracted mesothelioma as of yet, and they are able to recount the stories and the history of how the work was done, and what was done, and where it was done.

These co-workers can be deposed. They can be produced at a deposition and they can talk about all the ways that our client was exposed to asbestos dust from various products and at various locations. And importantly, one co-worker can lead to more co-workers. The pursuit of co-workers and finding witnesses to the exposure to asbestos is a very important part of a thorough work up of a mesothelioma case. Now, I’m sure you have many more questions as to how we work up a mesothelioma case, and we can answer your questions. I encourage you to call my office at the number below. I’m Joe Williams. We’d be happy to answer your questions for you. Thank you.

Maurer Law Firm

I’m Ira Maurer, founder of the Maurer Law Firm. Welcome to our website. I’ve been practicing serious personal injury law in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and throughout New England for over 30 years now.

When I decided to open the Maurer Law Firm, there were a few principles that were important to me. I wanted every client of this firm to know that they would be treated like family because that’s how I would want to be treated.

I restrict the number of cases that I handle so that I can devote my attention to each and every client and their needs. I explain all the important things that they need to know because they need to be educated, because my clients can make the best, most confident decisions about their case if they understand everything that goes on.

Working as a lawyer isn’t just a profession for me. It’s not just a career. It’s my life.