Pennsylvania Nets $4 Million in Avandia Settlement

Pennsylvania will rake in more than $4 million as part of a national settlement with GlaxoSmithKline over unlawful promotion of the diabetes drug Avandia.

The total payout – which will be shared by 37 states – is $90 million.

The settlement follows a flood of accusations that the British-based pharmaceutical company dangerously downplayed Avandia’s cardiovascular risks and side effects.

For more than 40 years, the Pennsylvania injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have helped people who have been harmed as a result of unfair and deceptive business practices.

As part of the consent agreement, GlaxoSmithKline will change how it markets and promotes Avandia by:

• Not making bogus claims about Avandia;
• Not making safety claims about Avandia that are unsupported by substantial evidence or clinical experience;
• Not promoting investigational drugs; and
• Not misusing statistics or otherwise misrepresenting the nature, […]

8 Tips for Avoiding Sandy Repair Scams

How to avoid a contracting scam

Pennsylvania residents should be on guard against Superstorm Sandy-related home repair scams.

Unqualified contractors, high-pressure sales pitches and price gouging are on the upswing – and unwary homeowners are paying the price.

The situation has prompted state Attorney General Linda Kelly to issue a consumer warning:

“Natural disasters can be a magnet for scam artists and unscrupulous operators who are more interested in taking money from storm victims than in helping with repairs,” Kelly said. “Consumers should remain vigilant, understand their rights and carefully evaluate any contractors they hire to repair homes or to address other storm damage.

“It is understandable for homeowners to look for speedy repairs, attempting to return to normal activities as quickly as possible, but consumers should not allow the desire for immediate repairs to cloud their judgment regarding contractors.”

Following are 8 tips to avoid falling prey to a shady shingle or siding company:

• Ask all contractors to give you their state registration number, […]

Energy Drinks Linked to Injuries and Death

Popular high-caffeine energy drinks sold in hundreds of Pennsylvania grocery stores and gas stations might also be killers.

At least one wrongful death lawsuit has already been filed.

The mother of a 14-year-old Maryland girl who died of “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity” after consuming large cans of Monster Energy on two consecutive days has sued the product’s manufacturer for causing her daughter’s death, according to The New York Times.

And she is far from the only victim, as records just released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reveal.

The list of potential caffeinated killers identified by the FDA include:

• Monster Energy. Five people may have died over the past three years after drinking Monster Energy, a super-caffeinated beverage sold under names like Monster Rehab, Monster Assault and Monster Heavy Metal. […]

Portable Generators Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

This is the season for portable generators in Pennsylvania.

But anybody who owns or uses one should check to make sure it isn’t a Champion Power model, which can leak fuel and explode into flames.

On November 2, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a nationwide voluntary recall of close to 9,000 portable generators made by Champion Power Equipment.

Fuel can leak from the generator’s carburetor, creating a fire hazard. There have been 11 reported cases of leakage, including eight fires and two incidents of property damage.

Portable generator usage soared in the wake of Hurricane Sandy – as did awareness of their potential dangers. To date there have been four reported deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators, although it is uncertain that the generators in those cases were the recalled Champion models. […]

Air Bag Malfunction Prompts Ford Fiesta Recall

Ford recalls 150,000+ Fiesta models due to added danger caused by air bag deployment error

Ford is recalling more than 150,000 of its popular Fiesta subcompacts because the passenger side air bag does not work properly.

Air bags are one of the most important safety features in cars.

Ford says it is unaware of any crashes that have resulted from this defect, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Pennsylvania injury lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright represent victims in personal injury litigation, including those injured in accidents caused by auto defects. We are here to answer your questions and concerns. Call us toll-free at 877-763-2343 or use our online contact form.

According to the recall notice posted with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

“The passenger side curtain air bag will not deploy in the event of a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty. […]