In March 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a once-a-day birth control pill named YAZ. The oral contraceptive combines drosperinone and ethinyl estradiol. In January 2007, YAZ was approved to treat moderate acne in females who also wanted to be on birth control.

The drug combination contained in YAZ is also found in Yasmin and the generic version, Ocella birth control, making all three prescription types potentially more harmful than other oral contraceptives.

Drospirenone has been found to increase blood potassium levels, called hyperkalemia, which can cause dangerous heart conditions and other harmful side effects. Women who have pre-existing kidney, liver and adrenal disease are particularly at risk.

At Shaw Cowart LLP, our attorneys are experienced in evaluating possible lawsuits for women who have suffered serious side effects from using YAZ, Yasmin or Ocella. The most common side effects include, but are not limited to:

• Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Heart Attack or Stroke
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Gallbladder Disease
• Death

Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. developed and sold YAZ throughout the United States. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Bayer. Some of the allegations are that the company: “failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about the potential risk of YAZ side effects; failed to adequately test and research the drug before placing it on the market; and failed to issue a recall or remove the birth control pill from the market after it became apparent that it is an unreasonably dangerous drug.”

Contact our YAZ birth control attorneys for a free consultation. You may be entitled to financial compensation if you have suffered any adverse conditions from this form of oral contraception.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

Obtaining a patent for a new invention, or a new method of performing a function, is a key element of a successful business. A patent gives a 20-year monopoly for the invention covered in the patent with legal ramifications if it is infringed upon.

The Federal Government issues patents to encourage advancement in technology. Having exclusive rights to make, market, and sell an invention is extremely valuable to the inventor. The inventor has the option to sell the invention or to license his or her invention in order to collect royalty fees.

An Austin patent lawyer from Shaw Cowart LLP can help you navigate through the multiple technical requirements and complex legal issues of obtaining a patent. Many patent holders have fallen victim to obtaining a patent that is found to be unenforceable in court. A successful patent lawyer has the knowledge to avoid such pitfalls in writing your patent and to maximize its business potential.

Drafting a patent that will withstand infringements is vital to the inventor’s success. Profiting from your invention is the goal, and not losing your rights altogether.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

A new database gathered by ProPublica organized 100,000 plus nationwide nursing-home facilities into an online report. This database can assist families needing to find an aging relative a place to live by uncovering abuse or neglect at nursing homes.

Having this useful tool will hopefully reduce the number of cases of abuse and neglect of nursing-home patients because the public has such easy access to these reports. Residents of nursing homes deserve a high quality of care. Anything sub-standard could be considered negligence or malpractice.

ProPublica’s journalist found many of the problems uncovered were due to low staffing ratios. Overmedicating patients was also one of the main areas of concern found in this report. There are numerous accounts of residents suffering due to the lack of attention by the nursing-home staff.

If your loved one has fallen victim to negligent care, you should report it immediately so that the responsible party is held accountable and to stop future harm of other residents. Consulting with an Austin medical malpractice attorney may be helpful.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

Any person might experience confusion immediately following an unexpected car crash, especially if you suffer an injury. Certain steps need to be taken to help an attorney in filing a personal injury claim.

Police will conduct an accident investigation and file a police report. Obtaining a copy of this report is one essential step necessary in filing a suit. This report provides detailed information about the circumstances of the accident.

You need to exchange information with the others involved in the crash. Document the accident with pictures and write down the details of the event as soon as possible. If there are witnesses to the crash, ask for their information as well.

As medical and hospital bills are incurred, keep copies of each bill received with the other accident documents. Keep receipts from prescriptions related to the injury. If physical therapy is required, include documentation of that as well.

Your employer will need to keep records of any loss wages you endure due to injury from the accident. Monies lost can be recouped in most cases of personal injury.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

Our suffering economy has made many people desperate, even debt collectors.  Some debt collection agencies have resorted to trying to collect debt dismissed in a bankruptcy filing. Thankfully, there are laws in place to protect citizens from harassment or lawsuits regarding debts previously dismissed.

The Fair Debts Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law protecting persons against abusive collection activity. If you inform the collection agency that your past debt is covered in a bankruptcy filing, under the FDCPA, the agency must halt collection efforts. It is best to notify the collector by certified mail with a written documentation. If the harassment continues, the agency is subject to damages and penalties, attorney fees included.

Additionally, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA) protects the debtor by establishing the reporting time period for a debt as seven years plus 180 days after the original delinquency date. After that period has expired, any delinquent payment information must be removed from your credit report. If the creditor fails to remove the past debt, the credit bureau can remove that information from your credit report for you.

There are collection agencies whose sole focus is collecting old debt by relying on you not knowing your rights . These agencies are legally allowed to ask once, but not harass continuously after you inform them of your previous bankruptcy.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

Often fast paced and demanding, an emergency rooms environment can often cause healthcare workers to be negligent in their work that could unfortunately lead to serious and fatal injuries. Some of the most common types of emergency room errors include:

• Patient dumping (transferring or releasing a patient for lack of insurance or other financial reasons)
• Misdiagnosing a medical condition
• Medication errors
• Misinterpreting test results
• Ignoring or downplaying symptoms
• Delayed treatment
• Failure to order appropriate tests

Among all of these errors, misdiagnosis stands above the rest in an emergency setting, including certain conditions that tend to be the likeliest for a misdiagnosis such as a stroke or heart attack, infections and meningitis. When these acts of negligence lead to serious injuries, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the errant medical professionals or establishments for doing you more harm than good.

Among the types of damages you may be able to get compensation for in a medical negligence claim are the cost of medical care and treatment, lost earnings, pain and suffering, metal anguish and more.

If you have suffered from any type of emergency room error and want to know your legal options, consult with an experienced Austin medical malpractice attorney at Shaw Cowart LLP by calling 1-512-499-8900 or visit www.civil-litigation.com today. All initial consultations are free.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

A 25 year old man fell 60 feet to his death after an elevator related accident at the Reliant Stadium in Houston. The victim, identified as Jonathan Kelly, was attending the Texans preseason finale when the accident occurred at about 8:10 pm when he fell three stories, slamming on the pavement below.

The Houston Police Department is looking at it as an accidental death since Kelly was seen horsing around on the elevator prior to the accident, although there is still an ongoing investigation to find out what really went wrong. Stadium officials are also conducting safety inspections on their escalators to make sure they are safe and well maintained.

Mark Miller, General Manager of SMG Reliant Park, said they could not provide any details on what the victim was doing on the escalator pending the outcome of the investigation but said his staff will review safety procedures and the escalators will be inspected to make sure they are working properly. Miller also expressed sympathy for the victim and his family, saying “our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this moment”. Jamey Rootes, president of the Houston Texans, also expressed his sympathy for the victim’s family saying his organization expresses “our deep sadness at this tragic accident”.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

The cost of insuring your car can really bang up your budget, depending on where you live. CarInsuranceQuotes.com, a Bankrate company, measured the “financial dent” to your budget. Auto insurance premiums are literally all over the map because of different state laws. CarInsuranceQuotes.com says the most expensive state got to No. 1 partly because it alone guarantees unlimited personal injury protection. Here are the top 10 most costly states for auto insurance:

Michigan Median annual cost of auto insurance: $4,490
Median household income: $56,101
Household dent: 8.00 percent

Louisiana Median annual cost of auto insurance: $2,912
Median household income: $52,456
Household dent: 5.55 percent

Kentucky Median annual cost of auto insurance: $2,292
Median household income: $50,392
Household dent: 4.55 percent

West Virginia Median annual cost of auto insurance: $2,074
Median household income: $48,927
Household dent: 4.24 percent

Mississippi Median annual cost of auto insurance: $1,840
Median household income: $45,484
Household dent: 4.05 percent

Arkansas Median annual cost of auto insurance: $1,722
Median household income: $47,049
Household dent: 3.66 percent

Delaware Median annual cost of auto insurance: $2,456
Median household income: $68,746
Household dent: 3.57 percent

New York Median annual cost of auto insurance: $2,334
Median household income: $65,897
Household dent: 3.54 percent

Nevada Median annual cost of auto insurance: $2,070
Median household income: $60,192
Household dent: 3.44 percent

Florida Median annual cost of auto insurance: $1,784
Median household income: $53,093
Household dent: 3.36 percent

Source:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-most-expensive-states-auto-070047510.html

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

As reported by Sierra Pedraja for KXAN news, Austin Police have arrested a 41 year old Austin man after he attacked a disabled man bound to a wheelchair at his home earlier this month. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Bryan Douglas went to the disabled mans house on September 3 and said that he wanted to kill someone and that he also wanted to pray.

The victim, who apparently knew Douglas, let him in the house and even prayed together with him. The report says that it was after the two prayed that Douglas placed the wheelchair bound victim, who had no use of both arms, in a headlock and allegedly tried to choke him. The affidavit also states that Douglas attempted to stab the victim with a pair of tongs he found in the kitchen. The victim, who remains unidentified, managed to escape from the attack because Douglas was so intoxicated.  Douglas is charged with injury to an elderly individual or disabled individual, a third degree felony, and being held on $100,000 bail.

If you have suffered any type of injury due to the negligent or purposeful actions of another person, you may be eligible for compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact a highly qualified Austin personal injury attorney from Shaw Cowart LLP today at 1-512-499-8900 for a free consultation.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

In August, a big rig was pulled over by police and cited for 25 safety violations including defective brakes, shredded and bald tires, and a broken trailer cross member. Eight of the violations were grave enough to merit the officers in pulling the truck off the road. Aside from the obvious citations for violation of vehicle maintenance by the driver and trucking company, the driver was also cited for driving past his industry-regulated service hours. All together the fines totaled $896.00.

Sadly, this level of violation is common in the trucking industry. Luckily, in this instance, the police were able to intervene before a disastrous Semi-Truck accident occurred. However, the police cannot catch every truck accident before it happens. Until the truck drivers and truck companies are punished with harsher fines and/or begin to respect the industry’s safety regulations as a priority over profit, Texas truck accidents will likely continue to be a leading contributor to traffic-related fatalities.

Many factors have been known to result in trucking accidents, including driver fatigue, excessive speed, fraudulent log book records, negligent truck maintenance, unbalanced loads, overweight loads, unsecure loads, negligent hiring and/or training of drivers, tailgating or failing to judge stopping distance, cell phone use, unsafe lane changes, aggressive driving, and lack of safety systems such as reflectors, lights, and other warning devices.

The complexity of these cases demands the expertise of knowledgeable Austin truck accident lawyers. If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to an Austin semi truck accident, call Shaw Cowart LLP today for the premium legal representation you deserve.

Posted in Blog | No Comments »