At first glance, 75 cents may not sound like a lot, but the cash quickly adds up for Hilton. We’re still calculating just how much Hilton is netting off this scheme, but according to Forbes writer Jeff Bercovici, the practice is widespread and  hotels across the U.S. may be raking in $40 million a year or more off of this practice.

The class action suit, Case Number 3:11-cv-03677, was filed July 27, 2011 by plaintiff Rodney Harmon following his stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Sonoma County Airport in March, 2011.  The defendants named in the suit include Hilton Group, PLC, Hilton International Corp. and Hilton Hotels Corporation. Hilton operates hotels under brand names Hilton, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Doubletree, Homewood Suites and Home2Suites by Hilton.  The suit is filed in United States District Court in the Northern District of California. Attorneys for Plaintiffs and the Class are Douglas A. Dellaccio, F. Jerome Tapley and Ryan Lutz of Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris and Clayeo Arnold, Kirk Wolden and Clifford Carter of Clayeo C.Arnold Law Firm. 

- Ryan Lutz, Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris

I think it is safe to say that most of us, when given the option, would rather not have something permanently implanted in our bodies.  Medical device companies understand this preference and thus, have been increasing their exploration into the market of absorbable implants.  The premise behind most of these ‘absorbable’ products is that the device retains its physical characteristics long enough to serve its utility and then is absorbed by the body after a certain period of time.

Without getting into too much detail, most of these absorbable (or resorbable) implants are made from organic macromolecular compounds such as polyglycolic or polylactic acid, which are and absorbable by the body.   They also possess the chemical and physical properties necessary for internal fixation devices.

An example of one of these resorbable products is the CALAXO screw made by Smith and Nephew.  This screw is used in place of a titanium screw to secure a graft in ACL reconstruction.  The screw is resorbed by the body over the course of the next 12 months, and compounds within the screw stimulate the natural process of bone formation in its place. The new bone fills the tunnel where the surgeon originally placed the screw, and promotes the ossification of the graft.

Unfortunately, the Calaxo screw did not enjoy the success of some other resorbable implant devices.  Smith & Nephew Endoscopy initiated a voluntary recall of CALAXO Bioresorbable Interference Screws in August, 2007 after receiving reports of swelling at the site of the implant.  In most instances the swelling can be reduced by aspiration at the site of the swelling.  Unfortunately, if the symptoms are severe enough, further surgical procedures may be required.  The remaining screw fragments or any resulting bony growth may have to be removed surgically.  There is also the possibility that surgical grafting may be required or replacement hardware implanted.

If you’ve suffered from the use of a Calaxo screw in your ACL surgery, the Calaxo lawyers at Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris may be able to help you.  Call today to discuss your concerns. You may be eligible to recover compensation for your physical, emotional and financial losses.  Call toll free (800) 852-6299 or email  attorney Stephen Hunt: shunt@cwcd.com.

WhenI filed the first lawsuits in the country on behalf of Chantix victims in 2007, Pfizer knew how dangerous Chantix is, yet they failed to properly warn consumers or physicians.  Alarming evidence linking Chantix to many severe injuries and death has continued to mount since Pfizer rushed the dangerous drug onto the market. Our firm has received more than 2,900 inquiries from consumers from across the country and we currently represents more than 350 Chantix victims. If you would like to discuss Chantix litigation or refer a case, please contact me krasmussen@cwcd.com or Elizabeth Ellis Chambers, bchambers@cwcd.com or phone toll free (800) 852-6299.

(Birmingham, AL) March 31, 2009 -   Yamaha Motor Corp USA today recalled one of the most popular off road vehicles on the market- the Yamaha Rhino. Yamaha and the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall affecting some 120 thousand vehicles and warned Rhino owners not to operate their vehicles until taking them into a dealership for repairs and safety modifications.  All Rhino 450 and 660 model vehicles were included in the recall. The action comes after more than 46 deaths and hundreds of catastrophic injuries were reported in Rhino accidents across the U.S.

“Yamaha has known of these serious safety threats for years, but has repeatedly failed to admit there’s a problem.” said attorney Jason Shamblin of the Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris law firm. “Today’s Rhino recall amounts to an admission that the Rhino is dangerous. It has serious design flaws that can lead to deadly accidents even when the vehicles are operated at low speed on flat terrain.”   Lawsuits filed against Yamaha allege the Rhino is prone to rollover accidents, and because of defects in its design, may result in broken or crushed arms, legs, feet, and ankles. 

Shamblin says Cory Watson is at the forefront of Yamaha Rhino litigation, representing one hundred fifty people injured or killed in Rhino accidents. “Hundreds of people have suffered devastating, life-changing injuries and many have died because of the design defects in the Yamaha Rhino,” said Shamblin who notes that the lawsuits allege Yamaha knew of the dangers, yet failed to adequately warn consumers. Shamblin points out that in 2007 Yamaha  issued its first recall, offering to retrofit older models with doors.

“With this second recall, I can’t contemplate that Yamaha would continue to deny in litigation that its Rhino has serious design flaws”, said Shamblin. As Rhino owners learn more about the safety issues, hundreds of lawsuits hang in the balance. The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation recently ordered that all Yamaha Rhino rollover Federal lawsuits be consolidated before a Federal Judge in Kentucky. The action centralizes the Federal suits into Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”) so that all pretrial discovery and litigation from all Federal Rhino cases will be heard in one court.

Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris is recognized nationally for its practice in multidistrict litigation and complex litigation including class actions, personal injury, products liability, business and securities litigation, environmental litigation and mass torts litigation of defective medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

For more information please contact rhino@cwcd.com or phone toll free 1-800-852-6299

 “This brings us closer to achieving justice for those killed or injured in Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents”, said attorney Jason Shamblin of Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris.  “It is a big step toward improving public safety.”  Shamblin and lawyers at Cory Watson are representing more than 150 Rhino victims in mreo than 35  states. Lawsuits filed against Yamaha allege the Rhino is prone to rollover accidents, and because of defects in its design, may result in broken or crushed arms, legs, feet, and ankles.

“Hundreds of people have suffered devastating, life-changing injuries and many have died because of the design defects in the Yamaha Rhino. The company must be held accountable”, said Shamblin who notes that the lawsuits allege Yamaha knew of the dangers, yet failed to adequately warn consumers. Shamblin and other attorneys representing Rhino rollover victims had asked the courts to consolidate the Federal cases.  The Federal action does not affect the status of Yamaha Rhino rollover cases filed in state courts around the U.S.

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Fleet® Phospho-soda® works by drawing liquid from the body into the colon; therefore it can cause severe dehydration that can lead to kidney damage.  Phospho-soda® should be used only under the direction of a physician.  Since 2004, there have been close to 200 individual lawsuits filed against CB Fleet across the United States.  The plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege that they have suffered kidney failure, chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease as a direct result of using Fleet® Phospho-Soda® in a dose recommended by Fleet as “safe”.

Medical research suggests that the incident rate of kidney failure associated with the use of oral sodium phosphates, such as Phospho-Soda® is 1 in 1000.  The kidney damage caused by Phospho-soda is often called Acute Phosphate Nephropathy, Acute Renal Failure, Chronic Renal Failure, or Acute Nephrocalcinosis.

If you or a loved one have suffered kidney disease or kidney damage that developed after taking Fleet® Phospho-soda® as a bowel cleanser in preparation for a colonoscopy or surgery, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injury.  Call one of our Fleet® Phospho-soda® lawyers today. We want to help.

Alabama: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers

The plate is somewhat flexible and can be contoured to better match the patient’s unique anatomy before insertion.  The “HYDOSORB” material (a PLDLA co-polymer consisting of 70 percent Poly (L-lactide) and 30 percent Poly (D,L-lactide)) allegedly dissolves in the body within 18 to 36 months after implantation.  As the plate dissolves, it passes its by-products, carbon dioxide and water, through the lungs.

The case we are currently looking at involves a patient that had a Mystique Plate implanted for an ACDF.  Unfortunately, the repair resulted in non-union and required replacement with a metal plate.  During the replacement surgery, the surgeon found that the absorbable screws had broken and the plate had not maintained its placement.

Our independent research has shown a trend of this type of incident with the Mystique plate.  In fact, there is a case report and failure analysis describing similar incidents here.

Our firm is interested in talking to anyone that has experienced a similar product failure involving a MYSTIQUE™ Plate.  Please contact the attorney leading this investigation, Stephen Hunt, Jr., at shunt@cwcd.com  or call 1-800-852-6299.