Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog

May 3, 2021

Zantac Cancer Lawsuits Lawyers

Our lawyers are investigating Zantac lawsuits in all 50 states. The evidence seems clear to our attorneys that Zantac is causing many types of cancer. Zantac lawsuits are now consolidated in a class-action federal court in Florida. So if you file a Zantac claim in federal court, your lawsuit will wind up in Florida. There is a widespread belief among mass tort attorneys that these MDL class action claims could be worth billions of dollars. My guess? Between $5 billion and $10 billion. I discuss Zantac settlement payouts more below where I put this prediction in context.

Zantac was a hugely popular drug that millions of people in the U.S. used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and similar conditions. In September 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcing that dangerously high levels of a human carcinogen called NDMA have been found in Zantac.

This means that millions of people who have been taking Zantac may have been regularly ingesting a chemical notorious for causing cancer. Moreover, drug manufacturers may have known about this risk. And said nothing.

March 25, 2021

Virtual Trials in Maryland?

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

As courts around the country struggle to get back to the business of hearing and deciding cases, many states have recently adopted plans to have virtual jury trials. This raises the possibility that Maryland might follow suit and adopt its own plan for virtual jury trials. In this post, we will speculate on the likelihood of Maryland adopting virtual jury service for civil trials.

COVID-19 Impact on the Maryland Judiciary

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted and forcibly changed almost every level of government administration and services in Maryland and around the country. This seismic disturbance has had a disproportionately harsh impact on civil court proceedings.

March 25, 2021

Injectafer Lawsuits Allege Iron Supplement Causes Severe Hypophosphatemia

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

In 2013, the FDA approved the iron supplement Injectafer. This drug is used to treat iron-deficiency anemia, a condition where the body lacks enough iron to produce healthy red blood cells. Shortly after FDA approval, studies revealed that the use of Inectafer could cause severe hypophosphatemia (HPP) in some patients.

As a result, several Injectafer lawsuits have been filed against its manufacturers and distributors. The plaintiffs in these suits allege that the drug caused their severe hypophosphatemia, a condition where the body experiences low phosphate levels. Our law firm is currently accepting new Injectafer lawsuits.

About Injectafer

March 3, 2021

3M Earplug Lawsuit Update ($7.1 Million!)

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

[Update: May 3, 2021 3M Earplug Verdict! A whopping $7.1 million verdict with $2.1 million in punitive damages for each of the three plaintiffs!

What does this mean? First, it means the jury was extremely angry with 3M. The punitives were far greater than the compensation. Second, these bellwethers trials set settlement values. So the settlement compensation payout projections of the 3M lawsuits just got a lot higher.

Call our lawyers today (we are taking calls all weekend, too) if you would like us to review your earplug lawsuit. Our injury lawyers are handling duel-ended 3M combat arms earplug cases around the country.

March 1, 2021

How Long Does Settlement Offer Last?

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

When a litigation settlement offer is “still on the table,” what exactly does that mean and how long does an offer last on “the table” before it expires? In Moore v. Donegal Mutual Ins. Co. (No. 788) the Maryland Court of Special Appeals (COSA) considers these ponderous questions about the shelf life of settlement offers “on the table.” The COSA held that whether an on-the-table settlement offer had expired after 2 hours and could no longer be accepted was a question of fact for a jury.

Factual Background of Moore v. Donegal Mutual

The plaintiff’s lawyer attempted to accept a settlement offer during a lunch recess at trial. The plaintiff had brought a premises liability action against a hotel in Baltimore County. The insurance carrier for the hotel was Donegal Mutual Insurance Co. (“Donegal”). At some point before trial, Donegal made an $18,000 settlement. Plaintiff balked at the offer and took the case to trial.

February 12, 2021

Firefighting Foam Lawsuit

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Firefighting foam (aqueous film-forming foam “AFF”)) is a chemical product that has been used for years by firemen and in other commercial applications to extinguish fires.

Various studies have recently shown, however, that chronic use or exposure to firefighting can cause certain types of cancer. This discovery has led to a wave of firefighting foam lawsuits by former firemen and others who developed cancer after long periods of occupational exposure to AFF.

Our lawyers are accepting new clients throughout the country for inclusion in the nationwide class action lawsuit.

February 4, 2021

Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuits

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Paraquat lawsuits are new claims that are sneaking up on plaintiffs’ mass tort trial lawyers. Let’s take a look at these claims that I think may ultimately lead to a large class action settlement.

Paraquat is universally recognized as one of the most dangerous and highly toxic chemicals in the world. No one disputes this. Paraquat is so highly toxic to the human body that drinking just a tablespoon of it can be fatal. This extreme toxicity (along with environmental concerns) has prompted over 30 countries to ban Paraquat entirely. In the United States, for reasons that defy logic and reason, this toxic chemical is not banned and it has become one of the most widely utilized herbicides in the agriculture industry. It is so dangerous you need an applicator license to purchase the chemical. So the question is not why are there Paraquat lawsuits but what took so long?

But now new evidence has revealed that prolonged exposure to Paraquat fumes can health risks that include cause Parkinson’s disease. This discovery might end up being the nail in Paraquat’s coffin. Thousands of lawsuits are now being filed by individuals who used or were exposed to Paraquat and subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. There is also a new push in congress to get Paraquat banned.

January 12, 2021

States with Extended Statutes of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Over the last few years, victims of child sexual abuse at the hands of clergy members in Maryland have been coming forward to hold their abusers (and the church) accountable. Our lawyers handle these cases in Maryland and throughout the country.

A groundswell of public support has developed around these victims, and for obvious reasons. The sexual abuse of young children is universally reviled by all cultures. Just the thought of a child being sexually abused by a priest or pastor can send chills down the spine. The victims of childhood sexual abuse are left permanently scarred and damaged in a very real way.

The wave of abuse allegations and public attention has prompted a movement in favor of holding the clergy abusers and their churches accountable. For the individual clergy members who committed the abuse, accountability often means criminal charges. For the church institutions that allow the abuse to happen, however, accountability has come in the form of civil lawsuits and monetary damages. Over the last decade, religious organizations have paid out over $3 billion in clergy sexual abuse lawsuits.

January 12, 2021

Does a Manufacturer Has a Nondelegable Duty to Design a Safe Product?

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Does a product manufacturer has a nondelegable duty to design a safe product or can they kick that can down to the end-user?

Said differently, can a product manufacturer shift the responsibility for making safety choices to the end-user of that product?

Okay, this is looking a little bit like a push poll, right? I’m trying to lead you to the answer that I want. So maybe the question, phrased least generously to the plaintiff, is does a manufacturer have an obligation to install optional safety equipment?

December 16, 2020

How Truck Insurance Works for Truck Accident Injury and Death Claims

by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

Tractor-trailers are typically the heaviest vehicles on the road. This makes big rig trucks very dangerous. Serious injuries and fatalities are more likely in truck-related collisions than in accidents involving standard passenger vehicles only. This is why large commercial trucks are required to carry “high-limit” liability insurance coverage. But the limits are not high enough to give truck accident victims in many cases.

Common Causes for Big Rig Truck Accidents

Accidents with big trucks can happen for all the same reasons as any other auto accident. But the unique nature of big trucks and the commercial trucking industry make certain types of accidents more common. Common accident causes that are unique to the trucking industry include: