Monthly Archives: February 2010

Latest Wrap-Up of Toyota News

Written On February 27, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The CBS Evening News (2/25, story 7, 3:30, Couric) reported that Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda wept as he thanked a group of Toyota dealers in Washington for “supporting him through the company’s troubles” and said “his company has to rethink its operations after 8.5 million vehicles were recalled for unintended acceleration. All of this has focused [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Friday Fun

Written On February 26, 2010 By Bob Kraft

I’m not a huge movie fan, but one thing I’ve always enjoyed is the “extended take” — the long, continuous shot with no editing. I’m always impressed by the work that goes into those segments. Apparently someone else likes them even more than I do, because he’s collected the 20 Greatest Extended Takes In Movie [...]

Posted in Friday Fun

Obama Health Proposal Could Reduce Texas Insurance Premiums

Written On February 26, 2010 By Bob Kraft

It may come as a surprise to those not familiar with Texas politics that Texas does not review most increases in health insurance premiums. Not unless the premium increase is for more than 50% annually. Everything else is fair game. An insurance company can increase premiums 49% per year every year and that would be [...]

Posted in Government, Health Insurance, Insurance Company or Government Misconduct

Glaxo Defends Handling of Avandia Heart Risks

Written On February 26, 2010 By Bob Kraft

GlaxoSmithKline said this week that a Senate report criticizing its handling of heart risks with its diabetes drug Avandia “mischaracterizes and distorts” the company’s record. As reported by the Associated Press, Glaxo is unhappy with the way the company’s response to reports of heart attacks caused by Avandia have been characterized by the Food and [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims

What is A Medical Source Opinion in a Social Security Disability Claim?

Written On February 25, 2010 By Bob Kraft

When your Social Security Disability claim contains an opinion on your limitations resulting from your disabling impairments, lawyers and judges refer to this as a medical source opinion. Sometimes a medical source opinion can be given by your treating doctors. Your surgeon, for example, might advise you not to lift more than ten pounds. If [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Warning: Hospitals May Be Hazardous To Your Health

Written On February 24, 2010 By Bob Kraft

An estimated 48,000 people died in 2006 after developing sepsis or pneumonia during their hospital stays, according to a study published in this week’s edition of Archives of Internal Medicine. Such infections forced patients to spend an extra 2.3 million days in the hospital and cost $8.1 billion to treat, the study found. This was [...]

Posted in Medical Malpractice

Toyota Officials “Boasted” About Savings from 2007 Limited Recall

Written On February 23, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Here’s the latest wrap-up of news about Toyota’s problems:
The CBS Evening News (2/21, story 3, 2:10, Mitchell) reported that according to the AP, “Toyota officials boasted last summer they saved $100 million back in 2007 when negotiating a limited recall of certain models with the federal government.” The piece notes that NHTSA “has received more than 2,000 [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Toyota Hit With Grand Jury Subpoena

Written On February 22, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Toyota said Monday it has received a federal grand jury subpoena for documents relating to the unintended acceleration of its vehicles and braking systems in the Toyota Prius. The subpoena was from the Southern District of New York.

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Diabetes Drug Avandia Harmful to Heart

Written On February 22, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The diabetes drug Avandia, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, has been found to cause heart attacks and heart failure. Confidential government reports supposedly call for the drug to be taken off the market. The Dallas Morning News has consolidated several news articles on this subject, and here are excerpts:
The reports, obtained by The New York Times, say [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Prescription Drug Claims

Friday Fun

Written On February 19, 2010 By Bob Kraft

OK, this series of upside down photos of celebrity faces from FreakingNews.com is just plain weird. Or maybe just plain scarey. For instance, Angelina Jolie:

Posted in Friday Fun

Soaring Premiums Show Need for Health Care Reform

Written On February 18, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, has written an opinion piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution in which she says the recent proposed rate increase by Wellpoint and Blue Cross is evidence that fast reform is needed in this country’s health care system. Here are excerpts from the article:
Earlier this month, [...]

Posted in Government, Health Insurance

More Trouble for Toyota — Possible Corolla Recall

Written On February 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

When will the bad news end for Toyota?! Now there is talk, as reported at TheWeeklyDriver.com, of a recall of the Corolla — Toyota’s most popular vehicle. The problem apparently lies in the power steering of 2009 and 2010 models. More than 35 million Corollas have been sold since the model was introduced in 1966. [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

NHTSA Says Toyota Acceleration Defect Linked to 34 Fatalities

Written On February 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Here’s the latest roundup of Toyota recall news reports:
NBC Nightly News (2/15, story 7, 0:25, Williams) reported, “Federal safety officials said today the number of deaths that could be linked to sudden acceleration of Toyotas is now up to 34, based on consumer complaints they’ve received. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says it’s normal [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Featured Link — Texas Health Pool

Written On February 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Texas Health Pool is a health insurance resource of last resort for people who can’t find coverage anywhere else. Many questions about this pool are answered on the site’s FAQ page. Here is the Pool’s self-description:
The Texas Health Insurance Pool was created by the Texas Legislature to provide health insurance to eligible Texas residents [...]

Posted in Featured Link, Health Insurance

Social Security Adds 38 New Compassionate Allowance Conditions

Written On February 16, 2010 By Bob Kraft

In a bit of good news for Social Security disability claimants and their representatives, the Social Security Administration has added 38 new medical illnesses to the list of “compassionate allowance” conditions. This means that claimants suffering from one of these problems may be able to accelerate the benefits process and get their benefits sooner. This press [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Insurance Rates Not Accelerated by Toyota Recall

Written On February 15, 2010 By Bob Kraft

With the big auto recalls from Toyota, Honda, and other companies in the news recently, people are wondering how the recalls or defective parts might affect their insurance coverage. The ABC News Web site had a good article about the questions consumers are asking of their insurance carriers. Here are a few excerpts:
Many drivers of [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Insurance Information, Vehicle Law or News

Friday Fun

Written On February 12, 2010 By Bob Kraft

I just love stop-motion videos, and this one is pretty clever.

Posted in Friday Fun

Texas Medical Malpractice Suits Have Almost Disappeared

Written On February 11, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Here’s a short, “in-your-face” statement about medical malpractice in Texas by Ms. Joanne Doroshow, Executive Director of the Center for Justice & Democracy:

No offense to my GOP friends and their one big health care idea – i.e., “tort reform” — but who wants to walk into a hospital these days knowing that there is [...]

Posted in Medical Malpractice, Tort Reform

Generation 2 Crib Recall: CPSC Says Stop Using Your Crib Now

Written On February 10, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This important press release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission was issued today:
Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” Drop Side Crib Brands Recalled; Three Infant Deaths Reported
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing the recall of all Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” drop side cribs. CPSC is warning parents and caregivers [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Toyota Announces Recall of More Than 400,000 Hybrids

Written On February 10, 2010 By Bob Kraft

I know this is becoming the “Toyota Recall Blog,” but this is important information for anyone who drives a Toyota or Lexus. The problems that have been announced can lead to very serious accidents. If you have one of the recalled vehicles please get it repaired immediately.

Heavy coverage of Toyota’s safety issues is continuing, with [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News