News
Kentucky sues Walgreens, cites 'alarming' rate of dispensing opioids
(Reuters) - Kentucky’s attorney general on Thursday sued Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O), accusing the company of playing a dual role in propagating an opioid epidemic in the state as both a pharmacy chain and wholesale drug distributor.
The lawsuit by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear was his sixth to date seeking to hold corporations like drug manufacturers and distributors responsible for their roles in the drug abuse crisis.
The lawsuit, filed in state circuit court in Boone County, said Walgreens filled massive opioid orders in both unusually large sizes and great frequencies. In its role as a distributor that shipped drugs, the company failed to report suspicious orders to authorities.
At the store level, Walgreens dispensed opioids at “such an alarming rate and volume that there could be no legitimate medical purpose associated to their use,” according to the complaint.
The only possible explanation for the large quantities of opioids dispensed from its Kentucky stores was that some of the drugs were distributed to addicts and abused or diverted for illegal uses, the complaint said.
“While Walgreens’ slogan was ‘at the corner of happy and healthy,’ they have significantly harmed the health of our families in fueling the opioid epidemic,” Beshear said in a statement.
The lawsuit alleged that because Walgreens allowed for the proliferation of dangerous opioids into Kentucky, the state’s citizens suffered from drug addiction, overdoses and death.
The lawsuit seeks damages and penalties as well as an injunction.
Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens declined to comment.
Opioids were involved in more than 42,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kentucky had 1,404 overdose deaths in 2016, the lawsuit said. The state had the third highest drug overdose rate in 2015 behind West Virginia and New Hampshire, according to Beshear’s complaint.
States, counties and cities have filed hundreds of lawsuits, accusing drugmakers of pushing addictive painkillers through deceptive marketing, and accused wholesale distributors of failing to report suspicious drug orders.
Beshear is pursuing similar cases against drug distributors AmerisourceBergen Corp (ABC.N), Cardinal Health Inc (CAH.N) and McKesson Corp (MCK.N) as well as drugmakers Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) and Endo International Plc (ENDP.O).
Kentucky Kingdom Roller Coaster Closed After Accident
LOUISVILLE, Ky - Two trains on a roller coaster at Kentucky Kingdom bumped into each other on Saturday, June 2, 2018, causing five guests to undergo medical evaluations, the park said. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the second train on T3, a suspended looping coaster at Kentucky Kingdom, bumped into the first train, which was waiting to enter the station for unloading.
Five guests visited Kentucky Kingdom's health services center for evaluation as a result. Four of those returned to the park. The fifth guest was taken to a local hospital at her parents' request. The cause of the incident is under investigation, the park said. The ride will remain closed until the investigation has been completed. Kentucky Kingdom said they have notified state ride inspectors of the incident.
http://www.lex18.com/story/38334513/kentucky-kingdom-roller-coaster-closed-after-accident
One Dead, Three Taken To Hospital After Crash On Athens Boonesboro Road
LEXINGTON, Ky - Investigators are trying to determine what caused a deadly crash in Lexington on June 2, 2018. Police say that it happened just before 11 p.m. on Saturday night on Athens Boonesboro Road near Jacobson Park when a vehicle carrying four people heading inbound overcorrected across the median. The vehicle flipped and several passengers were ejected.
One woman died from her injuries and three people were taken to UK Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The coroner has identified the victim as 26-year-old Natasha Nicole Lee. Outbound traffic was diverted at Squires Road and Yorkshire while a reconstruction unit was on scene.
http://www.lex18.com/story/38335178/one-dead-three-taken-to-hospital-after-crash-on-athens-boonesboro-road
Purdue Pharma Knew of OxyContin Problems Soon After Release: Documents
A confidential Justice Department report obtained by The New York Times shows drug maker Purdue Pharma knew about “significant” OxyContin abuse in its first years on the market, but claimed it wasn’t aware of widespread misuse until long after it was released. Following a four-year investigation, the DOJ found that Purdue got reports that the pills were “being crushed and snorted; stolen from pharmacies; and that some doctors were being charged with selling prescriptions[.]” Internal notes from the company show it knew about Oxy getting snorted and sold on the streets as early as 1997. DOJ prosecutors wrote in the 2006 report that Purdue continued to market Oxy as “less prone to abuse and addiction than other prescription opioids” while knowing about the reports of abuse. They also recommended that Purdue executives be “indicted on felony charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States,” but top DOJ staff during the George W. Bush administration “did not support the move” and settled with the pharmaceutical company in 2007. The documents come as the growing opioid epidemic has gotten worse in the United States, with the prescription opioid overdose death rate rising more than 10 percent in 2016.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/purdue-pharma-knew-of-oxycontin-problems-soon-after-release-documents
Miners awarded $67.5 million in 3M dust-mask black-lung lawsuit
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Kentucky jury has awarded $67.5 million in damages to two coal miners who claimed defective 3M dust masks led to their debilitating black-lung disease. Of the total, $62.5 million was awarded for punitive damages against the mask maker, Maplewood-based 3M Co., according to the verdict form. The remaining amount compensates brothers Leslie and Michael Cox for past and future pain and suffering. The judgment is thought to be one of the largest ever in an Eastern Kentucky civil lawsuit.
Coal miners wear masks to avoid breathing dust that is generated during mining. Breathing in coal dust causes black lung, an incurable disease that chokes off breathing and often leads to premature death. The jury ruled after a three-week trial that the 3M equipment was in such a “defective and unreasonably dangerous condition” that an ordinarily prudent company would not have put it on the market for use in mining, according to the verdict form. The jury did not assign any liability for Leslie and Michael Cox’s black lung to the more than a dozen coal companies where they worked. However, jurors said both miners had failed to exercise ordinary care for their own safety, meaning 3M was not 100 percent at fault for their injuries.
The case was the third one tried in the county in which miners alleged the equipment was defective and substantially contributed to their black-lung disease. There are numerous similar claims pending, said Knott Circuit Clerk Lisa Bolen. Black lung has been the cause of about 78,000 deaths since the late 1960s, federal officials have said, and there has been a resurgence of the disease in recent years.
Coal Miner Killed in Kentucky's First Fatality of 2018
CUMBERLAND, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky recorded its first coal mining death of the year when a 29-year-old miner was killed in a conveyor belt accident in an underground Harlan County mine.
The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet says Hubert Grubbs was working in the D11 Panther Mine in Cumberland. He was splicing a conveyor belt early Wednesday morning when it started unexpectedly, causing fatal injuries.
The mine was shut down after the death and inspectors have issued 15 state citations for non-compliance. Officials say inspectors visited the mine on Jan. 11 and gave a talk on safety and fatality prevention.
Grubbs, of Harlan, had 10 years of mining experience. The cabinet says in a release the mine is owned by Revelation Energy LLC.
The coal mine death was the country's fourth this year.
Kentucky Train Collision, Derailment Leaves 4 Hurt
GEORGETOWN, KY — A freight train collision north of Lexington has left four people injured and nearby residents were evacuated. The two freight trains collided and derailed around 11:15 p.m. Sunday and sparked a fire, authorities said. Residents were forced to leave the area out of an abundance of caution, Lexington Fire Lt. Jessica Bowman said. Bowman couldn't confirm what substance had spilled and was burning, but residents were allowed to return home once safety risks were ruled out.
Police told the Scott County School superintendent, Kevin Hub, to open schools as emergency shelters, and buses were sent to the neighborhood to collect people without transportation. Hub said he could see smoke billowing from the scene and they were prepared to receive hundreds of people. The Red Cross even arrived with snacks. Shortly after many residents arrived, they were able to return home. Bowman said she had no information about the four injured and their conditions. The crash remains under investigation.
https://patch.com/kentucky/lexington-ky/kentucky-train-collision-derailment-leaves-4-hurt
Nicholasville teen died in crash in Jessamine County
A teenager died and three other young people were injured in a crash near Nicholasville Saturday, March 17, 2018, in the evening, according to the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office. Police said that the driver of a Chevrolet Blazer traveling west on Union Mill Road lost control about 4.5 miles east of Nicholasville. It appeared the driver over-corrected in trying to regain control; the SUV left the road on the opposite side and hit a tree, according to the sheriff’s office. Aubrey Howard, 15, of Nicholasville, was pronounced dead at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, police said. Three other juveniles in the vehicle were taken to the hospital as a result of the crash, which happened about 9 p.m. Police did not release their names. It was the second fatal accident worked by the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office in a week.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/jessamine-county/article205740709.html
Driver in deadly Kentucky crash says she was looking at cellphone
A motorist involved in a crash that killed one man and his twin toddler grandchildren says she was driving while looking at her cellphone. Jessica Hood pleaded guilty Wednesday to multiple counts of manslaughter and assault, nearly three years to the day of the crash that hit six pedestrians in Florence, Kentucky on March 15, 2015.
Hood told the court during her plea that she was driving distracted. She says she was looking at her cellphone while trying to plug in an auxiliary cord and change the music player from a CD to her cellphone. Accident reconstruction showed Hood had traveled almost 1,000 feet (305 meters) in 14 to 16 seconds before colliding with the pedestrians. Two other pedestrians were injured.
Police: Man dies after crash in Clay County
A man is dead after a single-vehicle crash on Saturday in Clay County, Kentucky. It happened around 8:15 a.m. on March 3, 2018, U.S. 421, near Kentucky 80 in Manchester. Manchester Police say an SUV was traveling southbound on U.S. 421 when it went off the shoulder, hit an embankment, and overturned. Police say the man was found outside the vehicle, and was transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where police say he later died.
http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Police-Man-dies-after-crash-in-Clay-County-475743473.html
Nearly 6,000 pedestrians killed in 2017 crashes, new report says
U.S. pedestrian deaths totaled nearly 6,000 in 2017 for the second straight year amid mounting signs that walkers and drivers are dangerously distracted, according to a new study. Although reasons for the recent rise have not been scientifically determined, experts suspect that smartphones and marijuana use are key factors in the deadly trend. Bottom line: Texting while walking is especially risky in urban environments.
Combine that with drivers who are using their phones or touchscreens while driving, and it's a recipe for fatalities. In addition, drugged driving and walking are believed to be a growing contributor. The new Governors Highway Safety Association report released Wednesday estimates that 5,984 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. in 2017. That would reflect essentially no change after a 9% increase in 2016 and a 9.5% increase in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The study indicates that the recent increases are not a statistical anomaly.
"It’s downright disturbing," said Richard Retting, director of safety for Sam Schwartz Consulting, who authored the report for GHSA. "People outside cars are dying at levels we haven't seen in 25 years." The spike in pedestrian deaths comes despite improvements in vehicle safety, including the relatively recent introduction of automatic emergency braking systems, rearview cameras and collision alert technology. But other potentially helpful developments are lagging. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has flagged poor headlights as especially problematic. Poor design and failure to adopt lights that swivel with the curvature of the road are hurting. About 75% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night, making road illumination critical, Retting said. But pedestrians are sometimes to blame, as well.
"We’ve got distracted drivers and we’ve got distracted pedestrians, and that is a deadly combination," said Rebecca Lindland, a Kelley Blue Book auto analyst. "At some point in time people both behind the wheel and walking in the street have to take responsibility for their behavior and put down the phone." One option: new ordinances to outlaw smartphone use while strolling. The city of Montclair, Calif., recently banned walking across the street while using a phone or headphones. Honolulu has a similar law. But widespread laws against distracted walking probably won't prevent people from accidentally wandering into the road. "You can’t out-regulate distraction," Lindland said.
Increased use of marijuana is another potential factor causing the increase in deaths. In the seven states that legalized the drug for recreational purposes, as well as the District of Columbia, pedestrian deaths spiked 16.4% in the first half of 2017, according to the GHSA study. At the same time, deaths in other states fell 5.8%. "We’re not making a definitive link here and saying this is an aha moment, but it’s a source of concern and we think greater attention needs to be paid to this issue," Retting said. The GHSA estimates are based on an analysis of figures for the first half of 2017. NHTSA is expected to release the official numbers later this year.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2018/02/28/pedestrian-fatalities/376802002/
Victims identified in deadly Bell County wreck
Kentucky State Police have identified the two killed in a Bell County wreck Thursday, February 22, 2018. Troopers say a 2005 Ford F-150 driven by Scott Wilder, 71, of Pineville was traveling on U.S. Highway 119 before crossing the center line and side-swiping a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. This caused the Impala to enter a ditch. Wilder's vehicle continued to travel in the wrong lane before hitting a 2017 Toyota Corolla driven by Della Ingram, 70, of Wallins. The Bell County coroner pronounced both Wilder and Ingram dead at the scene. The driver of the Impala was transported to Pineville Hospital, where she is expected to recover from her injuries. All drivers were wearing seat belts. Troopers are still investigating the wreck.
http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Victims-identified-in-deadly-Bell-County-wreck-474863903.html
CPSC Sues Britax Over Hazardous Jogging Strollers; Action Prompted by Ongoing Harm to Children and Adults from Stroller Wheel Detachment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to prevent children and adults from suffering further harm, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) filed an administrative complaint against Britax Child Safety, Inc., alleging that certain models of their B.O.B. jogging strollers (“strollers”) contain defects in their design which present a substantial product hazard.
The complaint charges that consumers reported stroller wheel detachments resulting in injuries to children and adults. Children have suffered injuries including a concussion, injuries to the head and face requiring stitches, dental injuries, contusions and abrasions. Adults have sustained injuries including torn labrum, fractured bones and torn ligaments, contusions and abrasions. The Commission authorized the issuance of the complaint after Britax declined to recall or repair the strollers that pose a substantial risk of injury to children and adults. CPSC staff seeks a finding that the strollers present a substantial product hazard and an order that Britax provide the remedies outlined in the complaint to stop further incidents and injuries to the public.
Britax imported and distributed about 493,000 single and double occupant B.O.B. jogging strollers from December 2011 through September 2015. An undetermined number of strollers were imported and distributed by B.O.B. Trailers, Inc. between 1997 and when it was acquired and merged into Britax in December 2011. The three-wheeled strollers include the following 17 models: Ironman, Ironman Duallie, Revolution, Revolution CE, Revolution Flex, Revolution Flex Duallie, Revolution Pro, Revolution Pro Duallie, Revolution SE, Revolution SE Demo, Revolution SE Duallie, Revolution SE Duallie Plus, Revolution SE Plus, Sport Utility Stroller, Stroller Strides, Stroller Strides Duallie and SUS Duallie.
The complaint charges that the design of the strollers allows a consumer to use the stroller without the front wheel being properly secured. When the quick release fails to secure the front wheel to the fork, the front wheel can suddenly detach during use.
When the front wheel of the stroller detaches, the front fork can dig into the ground and cause the stroller to stop abruptly and tip over, posing a risk of serious injuries to children in the stroller and adults operating the stroller. Since January 2012, approximately 200 consumers have reported front wheel detachments while using the stroller, resulting in at least 97 injuries to children and adult consumers. At least 50 children and 47 adults have been injured.
The Commission voted 3-1 to approve the filing of the complaint which seeks, among other things, an order that the firm stop distributing various models of the Strollers identified above, notify the public of the defect and offer consumers a remedy which may include a repair, replacement, or refund as plead in the complaint.
As Kentucky addicts died, drug company ‘flooded’ state with more pills, lawsuit says
An Ohio-based drug wholesaler “saturated and flooded” rural counties in Eastern Kentucky with millions of doses of painkillers even as drug overdose deaths spiraled, Attorney General Andy Beshear’s office charged in a lawsuit filed Monday.
The lawsuit alleges that Cardinal Health distributed excessive amounts of opioids, such as oxycodone, and failed to report suspiciously large shipments as required, choosing instead to “reap a windfall off the wave of addiction.”
It is the third lawsuit Beshear has filed against drug companies for allegedly inflaming the state’s addiction crisis in pursuit of profits.
The companies’ tactics “gave them record profits and left us with devastation,” Beshear said in a news conference.
Cardinal supplies drugs to pharmacies and institutions such as hospitals. Beshear cited several examples of the high volume of pills Cardinal shipped to Kentucky counties.
In Floyd County, for example, Cardinal distributed an estimated 11.6 million doses of prescription painkillers between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31. 2016 based on its market share, according to the lawsuit. That was enough for 302 pills for every man, woman and child in the county, Beshear said.
Cardinal sent enough pills to Clay County for 245 doses for every resident.
The lawsuit alleges violations statewide, but the amount of drugs per capita that Cardinal shipped to Eastern Kentucky counties was particularly concerning, Beshear said.
The company has sophisticated methods to track shipments and was aware of suspicious orders, but did not report them or halt shipments, the lawsuit alleges.
Cardinal also was aware of red flags that people were illegally selling pills they got from some of Cardinal’s pharmacy customers, the lawsuit alleges.
Those indications included people driving long distances to get to pharmacies; groups of people coming in with very similar prescriptions; and a high percentage of people paying for pills in cash.
Beshear noted that Cardinal reported more than $30 billion in revenue in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
“Cardinal was just worried about the bottom line and the billions it was making,” not the health of Kentuckians struggling with addiction, Beshear said.
Cardinal Health said in a response that it is a leader in implementing programs to prevent opioid abuse and control diversion.
“We believe there is an urgent need to work towards real and meaningful solutions and we are actively engaged in solving this complex public health crisis and saving lives,” the company said in a statement. “We do not believe litigation is the solution to this problem and will defend ourselves vigorously against baseless lawsuits.”
The company has admitted improper conduct in the past, Beshear said, reaching a nationwide, $44 million settlement in 2016 for “failure to detect and report suspicious orders of controlled substances.”
Cardinal’s conduct not only fed the state’s problem with abuse of prescription pills, but played a part in abuse of heroin and fentanyl as opioid users moved to those drugs, the lawsuit claims.
The new lawsuit, filed in state court in Jefferson County, seeks an unspecified amount of penalties; damages to compensate the state for costs, such as treating addicts, locking up drug offenders and caring for foster children; damages to punish the company; and an order barring alleged illegal conduct.
Any money recovered should be used for drug treatment, prevention and enforcement, Beshear said.
Beshear’s office also has sued McKesson Corp. and Endo Pharmaceuticals for alleged excessive distribution of opioids that worsened the state’s drug epidemic.
Kentucky recorded 1,404 overdose deaths in 2016. That record total would have been even higher had emergency responders not used a drug on many victims that counters the effects of an opioid overdose.
The total number of Kentucky overdose deaths from 2012 through 2016, at 5,821, outstripped the total number of highway fatalities in the state by more than 2,000.
The lawsuit filed Monday comes against a backdrop of hundreds of similar claims against Cardinal and other wholesalers in state and federal courts acrocss the nation.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/article200905569.html
Man dies after single-car crash in Jessamine County
A Nicholasville man died Saturday, February 17, 2018, after a single-vehicle crash into a tree, the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office said in a release. Cecil Stipe, 40, died at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, said Chief Deputy Allen Peel. Stipe was driving a 2013 Nissan car on Ky. 1981 (East Hickman Road) when he lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree, Peel said in the release.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/jessamine-county/article200810239.html
Rural King Recalls Electric Blankets and Throws Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
February 15, 2018 - This recall involves Rural King’s electric heated blankets and throws. The 100% polyester blankets and throws were sold in cream and brown colors and in two sizes: 50 x 60 inches (smaller than a twin size) and 84 x 90 inches (queen size). They have one or two multi-setting controllers attached to the electric cord. Model numbers starting with BLV-OB and ending in 200, 201A, 201B, 201C, 202, 202BN, 202CM, 203, 204A1, 204A2, 204A3, 204A2BR , 204A2CM, 205B1, 205B2, 205B3 or 206C1 can be found on a corner tag. Matton Rural King Supply, Inc. is printed on the back of the tag.
Alleged Magic Bullet Defect Prompts Nutribullet Lawsuit
Nutribullet is facing a defective products lawsuit filed by a customer who alleges the Magic Bullet blender poses a risk of injury to users due to a defect which causes the product to malfunction.
Filed by Harjit Thandi, the lawsuit states she was making a protein shake when parts of her Magic Bullet blender became dislodged. A cup in which Thandi placed the ingredients unexpectedly detached, when she tried to move the base the blades began to spin without warning, causing her to suffer “many severe lacerations” to her finger.
Following the injury Thandi went to the emergency room, where, “because of the many jagged cuts to her finger, the treating physician was forced to glue and gauze her finger rather than close the wound via stitches or sutures,” according to the complaint.
As a result of her injuries, the plaintiff asserts she has suffered significant nerve damage and severe pain, which could very well be permanent. “Since the date of the incident, plaintiff Harjit Thandi has suffered severe pain and nerve damage which has significantly and, likely, permanently impacted her life on a daily basis,” the complaint states. Thandi is undergoing physical therapy for the persistent pain as well as issues with flexibility and range of motion in her hand, the complaint asserts.
NutriBullet’s blades and blender mechanisms are housed in the lid, which screws onto a plastic cup. The combined unit is inverted and locked into a motorized base that automatically powers the blades. When the combined cup and lid unit are unlocked, the blades stop spinning. However, unlike a typical blender, Nutirbullet’s systems don’t contain a pressure valve, which can cause the cup to prematurely detach from the lid if too much pressure has built up when the user attempts to unlock the combined cup and blade unit. However, the blades remain locked in place and can continue to spin in the user’s hand, posing a risk of injury.
According to the complaint, ”Defendants were aware for many months and possibly up to four years, that its blenders, including the Magic Bullet, presented exactly the same type of risk which injured plaintiff."
Some 23 lawsuits have been filed against NutriBullet for burns or lacerations from their blenders.
Thandi alleges negligence, failure to warn, manufacturing and design defects, breach of implied warranty of merchantability and violations of California business law.
Thandi is represented by Boris Treyzon, Douglas A. Rochen, Derek S. Chaiken and Aaron Lavine of Abir Cohen Treyzon Salo LLP.
The case is Harjit Thandi v. NutriBullet et al., case number 2:18-cv-00623, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Kentucky crash kills Ohio man who ran into truck stopped for an earlier wreck
An Ohio man died in a crash in Laurel County on Saturday, February 10, 2018, when he ran into the rear of a truck that was stopped because of an earlier wreck, according to Kentucky State Police. Police identified the man who died as Eddie D. Phillips, 54, of Cincinnati. Phillips was driving north on Interstate 75 in a 2011 Mitsubishi car when he hit a 2016 Peterbilt commercial vehicle.
The truck was stopped in traffic behind a separate collision, police said. Phillips died at the scene. State police did not report any injury to driver of the truck, Michael S. Tilotta, 52, of Houston, Texas. The wreck happened about 12:30 p.m.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/article199589769.html
Husqvarna Recalls Residential Zero Turn Riding Mowers Due to Fire Hazard
This recall involves Husqvarna® and Poulan Pro® brand residential zero turn riding mowers with a Briggs & Stratton twin cylinder engine. They were sold in orange/black and yellow/black colors. On the Husqvarna models, “Husqvarna” is printed on the side of the mowers. On the Poulan Pro models, “Poulan Pro” is printed on the front of the mower. The model number and serial number are printed on the left-hand rail frame in front of the left rear drive wheel. The following models are included in the recall.
Lenovo Recalls ThinkPad Laptops Due to Fire Hazard
This recall involves 14 inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Generation laptops. They were sold in silver and black. The product name “5 th Generation Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon,” the machine type 20HQ, 20HR, 20K3 or 20K4 and the serial number or S/N are printed on the bottom of the laptop. Laptops manufacture dates from 16/12 through 17/10 (for December 2016 through October 2017) are included in the recall. The manufacturing date codes can be found on the bottom of the laptop.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Lenovo-Recalls-ThinkPad-Laptops-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
Walgreens Pain and Itch Relief Cream Recalled
The recalled Well at Walgreens Pain and Itch Relief Cream tube and packaging are orange with a purple stripe with “Maximum Strength,” “Pain and Itch Relief Cream 4% Lidocaine” and “NET WT 2 OZ (56.7 grams)” printed in white on the front. The Well at Walgreens logo is located on the front upper right corner. The packaging contains the UPC bar code 3 11917 18962 8 on the back.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Whole Foods
On January 18, 2018, proposed class claims were filed against organic grocery store chain, Whole Foods, in California Superior Court. Plaintiffs in the suit allege that the company has been including an excessive amount of vitamin B12 in Whole Foods’ house brand of liquid vitamin B supplements. Named plaintiff, Matthew Palmer, argues in the complaint that if consumers had known the actual amount of vitamin B12 per serving they would not have purchased or consumed the products and accuse Whole Foods of a lack of quality control.
The suit alleges the liquid supplement claimed to contain 500 or 1,000 micrograms of liquid vitamin B12 per serving, but in reality contained an “unreasonable excess” of the vitamin per serving. The plaintiff argues that the defendant grocery store took advantage of consumers’ reasonable trust in the company’s labeling and advertisement of the products and concealed the discrepancy in order to encourage sales. Specifically, Whole Foods is accused of violating California’s False Advertising Law, California’s Health and Safety Code, California’s Unfair Competition Law, negligent misrepresentation and intentional misrepresentation.
The suit aims to represent a class comprised of California residents who purchased Whole Foods’ liquid vitamin B supplements anytime in the past four years.
The suit is: Palmer v. Whole Foods Market IP LP, Case No.: BC690514, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.
Kentucky car accident kills two in Wolfe County
Two men were killed in a two-car accident in Wolfe County, Kentucky on Saturday, January 27, 2018. State Police in Morehead responded to a wreck at the 52 mile marker of the Mountain Parkway involving two cars. Police determined that Stephen Conley, 42, of Oil Springs was driving westbound when his car veered into the eastbound lane and hit the car driven by Samuel Brown, 66, of Campton. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene by Wolfe Coroner Frank Porter.
http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/article197029569.html
Mendota Native Partners to Create Civil Litigation Law Firm in Kentucky
https://www.mendotareporter.com/article/mendota-native-partners-to-create-civil-litigation-law-firm
Gregory Funfsinn '07 Opened a New Firm, Hicks & Funfsinn, PLLC.
https://alumni.kentlaw.iit.edu/recognition/alumni-in-the-news