HGTV’s Holmes on Homes on DIY Asbestos: Don’t!

September 13th, 2012. By AbiK

Mike Holmes, the brawny home reno guy from HGTV’s ‘Holmes on Homes’, teamed up with the Canadian Lung Association for an special public service message about asbestos exposure during DIY home projects. The message, loud and clear: if you come across asbestos don’t touch it—don’t try to remove it yourself—get a professional to handle any asbestos removal or abatement. Asbestos exposure causes lung disease—asbestos mesothelioma—and its deadly. And if you don’t believe Holmes, believe the hundreds of asbestos victims’ stories LawyersandSettlements.com has reported on.

 

Boy with Breasts? J&J Settles Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuit on 1st Day of Trial

September 10th, 2012. By AbiK

Usually gynecomastia is a subject for plastic surgeons—not little boys on an antipsychotic drug like Risperdal.

However, a Risperdal lawsuit brought against Johnson & Johnson by Aron Banks was about just that—Banks alleged that by taking Risperdal, starting when he was just nine years old, he developed breast tissue (“gynecomastia” is the medical term) which led to sustained psychological trauma.

Banks, who is now 21, claimed he took Risperdal over a four-year period (2000-2004). The drug at the time had not been approved for children.

According to a Bloomberg report (9/10/12), Johnson & Johnson has settled Banks’ lawsuit on the opening day of trial in Philadelphia; another Risperdal lawsuit alleging gynecomastia is due to head to court in Philly on September 20.

Another drug that’s been linked to reports of gynecomastia is Propecia; currently, there are lawsuits underway alleging Propecia-induced sexual dysfunction.

Risperdal has also been linked to an increase in stroke risk for older patients who suffer dementia and take antipsychotics.

The terms of Banks’ Risperdal gynecomastia settlement have not been disclosed.

 

 

 

Chevy HHR Complaints Still Coming In

September 10th, 2012. By AbiK

A while back we asked readers to submit videos of their Chevy HHR problems; specifically, we’d asked for videos where readers were telling us their HHR won’t shut off. A number of readers submitted videos, and we’ve had hundreds of HHR owner comments going off on HHR problems. While there hasn’t to date been an official  recall over at the NHTSA, some of our readers did report receiving a letter from GM stating that they could have their car fixed at no cost—however, it appears not everyone got that letter and the fix depended on what the HHR VIN number.

In the meantime, we’ve just received this comment from a woman whose HHR wouldn’t shut off when she pulled in to buy some gas—with an infant in the car, mind you—so she was forced to leave her car running while she fueled up. What was that about safety at the tank that we’re always told—? Something about NOT leaving the car running… Hmm, guess GM didn’t hear that one…

Just went to get gas and couldn’t get the key to move or engine to turn off – had to gas up with it running! As a woman alone with an infant in the car, Thank God for my smart phone and all you folks posting some “quick” fixes to put my mind at ease that I wasn’t the only one!
When I got to my inlaws, I was able to pull the fuse for the transmission/engine console and the engine cut off. Key is still stuck so had to pull fuse for lights and disconnect battery cable also. VERY INCONVENIENT!!
Not happy to hear this isn’t covered under warranties but I am going to try nonetheless. More pissed to be losing the time from work to fix something so ridiculous! I do not have time or patience for this. STEP UP, GM!

And just this morning we hear from a senior citizen who’s been put in a bind with Chevy HHR repairs. Read what she has to say:

I do not have a video but I have a 2006 Springtime Edition HHR and about 6 weeks ago the key stuck in the ignition and would not shut off all the power and ran down battery so had it towed to Chevrolet Dealer in Vicksburg, MI and it cost $420.

Now tomorrow I have to have it towed again because it would start and stop at stop light so took it to dealer and he put it on the computer and told me it was a short in the brain and estimate is $437.00 Could not decide to pay that much after having the earlier $420 so took it home and now it will not make it out of the driveway. Chevrolet should be ashamed of themselves for having a vehicle with problems like this, I only have 39,000 miles on it. I am a senior citizen with limited income and thought I bought a dependable vehicle but will never buy another Chevrolet. I intend to let Chevrolet know that I do not believe these problems are isolated but there are other people who bought HHR’s with problems much the same as mine and they should be responsible for the repairs.

Let us know if you’ve had Chevy HHR problems, and how you’ve fared with GM service (or not).

Ben & Jerry’s Lawsuit: Ice Cream & Porn Don’t Mix

September 7th, 2012. By AbiK

Pickles & ice cream? Maybe if you’re pregnant. Pickles & porn? Let’s hope not. Ben & Jerry’s & porn? Hell no says a recent trademark lawsuit filed by Ben & Jerry’s against porn film companies Rodax Distributors and Caballero Video of California.

Seems while Ben & Jerry’s has in the past churned up flavors such as Schweddy Balls and Karamel Sutra, it’s one thing to create a scoop or two of innuendo and brand it. It’s completely another to create porn that piggybacks on the same—or very similar—names.

What names you ask? Well, for starters, the porno flicks are distributed as “Ben & Cherry’s”. Each episode has a Ben & Jerryesque kind of name—here’s a few: Boston Cream Thigh, New York Fat & Chunky, Peanut Butter D-Cup.

But what catches your, uh, eye isn’t just the names—take a look at one of the Ben & Cherry’s DVD cases above. Looks familiar, no? That’s a pic of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream over on the right.

Is it any wonder Ben & Jerry’s sued for trademark infringement?

For now, a federal judge in Manhattan has ordered a block on Rodax Distributors and Caballero Video from producing and marketing its Ben & Cherry’s videos. According to an LA Times report today, the judge’s ruling requires the porn distributor to ” stop offering the 10 titles in its Ben & Cherry’s series in the interim and remove all online mention of the X-rated products”.

The company has to change its packaging, too. Surprise, surprise.

Asbestos News Roundup: 9.6.12 – Community Asbestos, Asbestos Respirators

September 6th, 2012. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.

Asbestos Exposure in the Community

You don’t have to work with asbestos containing products to suffer its effects. It is also possible to suffer asbestos exposure by living in a community or area located near an asbestos mine or a company that manufactures asbestos or products containing asbestos. Many older buildings may also contain asbestos insulation, including schools.

Perhaps the most famous victims of community contamination in North America are the residents of Libby, Montana, an asbestos-mining town. Vermiculite, which naturally contains asbestos, was mined there between 1923 and 1991. Workers and families of workers who lived in the town sued W.R. Grace, the last company to own the mine. At one point the company reportedly faced 110,000 lawsuits for sickening hundreds of people and contributing to the deaths of 225—allegedly with full knowledge.

Other examples of community exposure include the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and areas prone to damage from natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. But it doesn’t take a disaster for asbestos exposure to occur locally in your community—our Asbestos Hot Spot Map shows locations across the US in which asbestos has been an issue and, in many instances, asbestos abatement has been needed.

Most recently, hundreds of former residents of an asbestos-mining town in British Columbia Canada are deeply concerned about their asbestos exposure. According to the CBC, an estimated 50,000 people were employed over the lifetime of the Cassiar mine, which closed in 1992. They lived with their families in the now-abandoned town, about 220 kilometers south of the B.C.-Yukon border. The employees who worked in the mine were not issued with face masks, despite asking for them.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Olympia, WA: A lawsuit brought against respirator makers by a now-deceased shipyard worker, Leo Macias, will go forward, says the Washington Supreme Court.

Macias, who worked at Todd Shipyards, developed cancer as a result of cleaning respirators worn by other workers when they dealt with asbestos and other dangerous materials. In the lawsuit, Marcias claims the manufacturers never issued warnings that cleaning the respirators could be dangerous.

The state Court of Appeals threw out his lawsuit reasoning that it was the asbestos not the respirators that caused Marcias’ cancer, and consequently he couldn’t sue the respirator makers, Saberhagen Holdings, Inc. The Supreme Court reversed that in a 5-4 decision. Chief Justice Barbara Madsen wrote that when used as intended, the respirators posed a danger to anyone who cleaned them, and thus, Macias should have been warned. (Seattletimes.com)

Pasadena, CA: Residents of Harris County are suing Betesda Iglesia Hispana International and Ruben Perez, of Pasadena over allegations they were misled into buying asbestos-contaminated property in Pasadena.

Raul Rodriguez and Jose Juan Gonzalez filed the lawsuit, Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-44020, citing fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and breach of contract.

In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that on March 23, 2011 the defendants tricked them into buying asbestos-contaminated property, located at 600 Walter St. in Pasadena. In addition to hiding the asbestos, the defendants also failed to disclose that they were leasing the property and collecting rent, even after the sale was final, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking attorney’s fees, court costs and damages. (Ultimateclearlake.com)