#1 Abbott Formula and ‘Absurd’ LoopholeChicago, ILIn an attempt to keep Similac baby formula lawsuits in federal rather than state court, Abbott tried to use a legal loophole known as “snap removal”, but a federal judge rejected it as “absurd” and kicked the four lawsuits back to state court. The plaintiffs claim that Abbott’s Similac PM 60/40 formula caused a deadly illness in premature infants.
#2 Aftermath of a Horrific Amusement Park AccidentLouisville, KY It is not only a parent's worst nightmare but anyone's worst nightmare??"in this case an Amusement Park Accident at a popular theme park that resulted in a 13-year-old girl having both of her feet severed above the ankle. Kaitlyn Lasitter survived, and doctors were able to re-attach her right foot. But they could not save her left, and Kaitlyn now walks with a prosthesis.
#4 Zetia and/or Statins: The Good, the Bad and the UglyHalle-Wittenberg, Germany Can a drug designed to curb heart attacks also cause heart attacks in some people? Apparently, it's possible with statins or medication like Zetia when used in combination with a statin. Statins are designed to lower the "bad" cholesterol thought to be a contributing factor for heart attack and stroke, while leaving the so-called "good" cholesterol to do the good work that good cholesterol, ultimately, does.
#5 Seroquel Side Effects for the ElderlyPearblossom, CA Seroquel is a neuroleptic indicated for the treatment of bipolar disorder—and like most drugs carries a host of Seroquel side effects, including diabetes, tardive dyskinesia and even birth defects. However, there is a little-known use for Seroquel off-label that concerned the daughter of one Alzheimer's patient for whom she was caring.
#6 Mental Health Patient Advocates Fight Wit ReversalSan Francisco, CA In 2019, the Northern District of California’s decision in Wit v. United Behavioral Health was hailed as a big win for patients seeking coverage parity for mental health disorders. But on March 22, 2022 the Ninth Circuit panel reversed the District Court’s decision. The latest twist in this ERISA lawsuit has thrown longstanding and developing law concerning mental health patients’ rights into turmoil.
#8 U.S. v. Academy Mortgage Corp., the Whistleblower Lawsuit that Will not DieSan Francisco, CA Academy Mortgage Corp. has asked the Northern District of California to dismiss a whistleblower lawsuit brought by a former underwriter, Gwen Thrower. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2016, accuses Academy Mortgage of writing shaky FHA-backed mortgage loans to boost the company’s profits. In 2020, the federal government unsuccessfully sought to the lawsuit dismissed in the Ninth Circuit. In 2018, the Northern District had denied a similar motion.
#9 Former Head of Third-Party Billing Company on trial for Health Care FraudIslip, NY A number of elements go into the calculation of emergency room fees. Apart from the cost of providing care, hospitals must factor in reasonable expectations that some bills will go unpaid and that insurance companies will try to negotiate certain charges down – sometimes because of suspicions of healthcare fraud. The net effect, however, is that patients pay more.
#10 Fosamax: Are the Benefits Worth the Risks?Los Angeles, CA Depending on who you ask, the risks of Fosamax side effects are either greater than the benefits or vice versa. Despite research into the link between Fosamax and femur fractures, there is little consensus about whether or not patients should be especially concerned about Fosamax femur fractures or Fosamax osteonecrosis of the jaw.
