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Showing posts from 2009

Our Trial Against Chemical Companies Begins

Well, it's finally here...the first trial against the chemical companies supplying the former Hayes Sammons Pesticide Plant has begun. The Monitor has a full story . There is a gag order in place so I can't comment on the trial at this time.

As bad as drunk driving

Yes, it's been a while since posting, but that's a good thing--we've been swamped. We're about to start the big pesticide trial, but I'm taking a breather for an hour to pass along this safety information: Something that caught my attention yesterday though about the dangers of using your cell phone and driving. It's frightening and a wake-up call to all of us. I know I've been guilty of doing this, but now I'm trying to be better. It's a long story but worth the read . Kudos to Exxon (a company that I usually don't kudo) for doing something about it: In 2004, Exxon Mobil started asking the same question after it became concerned about the safety of its 90,000 workers and 100,000 contract workers, who drove up to 1.5 million miles each day, said Michael Henderek, the company’s safety executive at the time. The company wanted to know what a ban would do to the bottom line. “Exxon Mobil is a corporation in which 50 percent of employees are en

Thomas & Wan files new Zicam lawsuit with 117 clients

Our firm filed a new Zicam lawsuit today with 117 plaintiffs against Matrixx Initiatives for their permanent loss of smell from using Zicam Cold Remedy. The Arizona Republic has a story here and the WSJ MarketWatch has a story here .

Zicam Client in Houston Chronicle

The Houston Chronicle interviewed one of our Zicam clients here . The story highlights the safety issues and dangers of losing your sense of smell permanently. We represent many others like Mr. Ehler who need their sense of smell at the workplace such as chefs, firefighters, nurses, and refinery workers.

Fox News Story on Zicam

We were interviewed last night on Fox News Houston regarding yesterday's announcement of Zicam's dangers and permanent loss of smell. Here is the full story .

US FDA Warns About Zicam

The U.S. FDA has just come out with an advisory warning people not to use Zicam products containing zinc as they are linked to permanent loss of smell. Read the full advisory here . We represent over 100 people who have permanent loss of smell and taste from using Zicam. This advisory confirms what our clients and Thomas & Wan have always known--these are dangerous products that must be taken off the market. Even to this day, Matrixx refuses to put a warning on the products that they can cause permanent loss of smell and taste. We are currently in litigation in Arizona state court over several of these cases.

Mercy from the Law

Well, this is a first. I got pulled over yesterday for making an illegal turn right in front of the courthouse. Always a great way to start trial. Anyway, my DL and insurance were in the back of the truck with our trial boxes. So, I go back there, and the officer gives me a strange look and says, "I'm going to let you go this time...it looks like you got bird poop all over the back of your suit." Pepito saves the day! Now I know why I love animals so much. They are always looking out for us dumb humans.

The "best" health care in the world?

We spend a lot of time in McAllen and looking at medical records from McAllen healthcare providers. It is always interesting to see that injuries, quite frequently occur not from the primary illness but from a test or procedure gone awry. This eye-opening article from the New Yorker may explain this phenomenon.

Caps Don't Save Money

The Dallas Morning News has a good story on getting to the real issues in high health care costs, and it's not so-called greedy lawyers...it's the insurance companies. Damage caps do not work--they only punish children, retired people and low-income people. They don't work, period.

Insurance Industry Tricks of the Trade

Want some free information on how the Insurance industry can unfairly deny your claim? The American Association for Justice has a great .pdf handout on how people become the victims of unfair and illegal insurance denials...it's called Tricks of the Trade . It's the kind of stuff that we as lawyers have to deal with sometimes, and it can be really frustrating.

Supreme Court Knocks Down FDA Preemption

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court held that FDA drug regulation does not preempt common law claims in state courts. This is a huge victory for consumers! The Court's decision in Wyeth v. Levine allows consumers to move forward with lawsuits against drug companies that sell defective drugs. I am happily surprised at the 6-3 outcome, and the Court in its wisdom found that Congress never intended for FDA labeling rules to preempt lawsuits in state courts. The American Association of Justice has more: Writing for the Court, Justice Stevens said: “If Congress thought state-law suits posed an obstacle to its objectives, it surely would have enacted an express preemption provision at some point during the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act’s 70 year history…Its silence on the issue, coupled with its certain awareness of the prevalence of state tort litigation, is powerful evidence that Congress did not intend FDA oversight to be the exclusive means of ensuring drug safety and effectiveness.” Justic

Preserving the Right to a Jury Trial

Something Congress is doing right this month...preserving your right to a jury trial...from The American Association for Justice : Consumers No Longer Forced to Sign Away Their Rights Under Arbitration Fairness Act Bipartisan bill will protect Americans like Jamie Leigh Jones, John Donahue from abusive corporate practices Washington, DC – Countless Americans will no longer be forced to give up their legal rights and enter unfair arbitration agreements under bipartisan legislation introduced today in the U.S. House. Mandatory binding arbitration clauses are hidden in the fine print of everything from cell phone, credit cards, franchise and employment agreements to nursing home care contracts. These clauses force consumers or employees to give up their right to take their case to court in the event there is a dispute with the corporation. The bipartisan Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 (H.R. 1020), introduced by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), will ensure that the decision to arbitrate be ma

Uninsured Drivers on the Rise

The Insurance Research Council has come out with a study that rising unemployment means more drivers who choose to drop their car insurance. As if you didn't have enough to worry about on your drive home... We have been telling our friends, family and clients to always buy as much uninsured/underinsured coverage as possible. Many times you can get a lot of coverage for literally $15 extra per six-month period of your insurance premium. I think I have $300,000/600,000 or $500,000/$1,000,000. Get as much coverage as you can. We have had many clients who are hit by people without insurance or who have been victims of hit-and-runs. It's extremely sad and frustrating. Without uninsured coverage, those clients were out of luck to get any compensation or medical bills paid.

Thomas & Wan Wins Jury Verdict in Trip & Fall

The lawyers of Thomas & Wan are pleased to announce a jury verdict in Jasper County, Texas of over $185,000 on behalf of their client who broke her ankle in two places after tripping on a dangerous ramp at a senior center. The ramp was in deplorable condition for seniors, disbled people or even able-bodied people. The ramp had rotted and missing wood, raised nails, wobbly and short handrails, an uneven surface and was too steep--all in violation of standard Texas and Federal building codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The client may have to have her foot amputated as a result of the trip and fall. The verdict included $75,000 in future pain and suffering and $45,000 in future medical damages. Contributory negligence of the Plaintiff for 25% was found by the jury.

We Have Moved!

Thomas & Wan, LLP has recently moved! We are now located at 1710 Sunset Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005 which is very close to Rice University . We are very happy to be in our new space and are located on the second floor.