Deaths prompt CPSC, FDA warning on infant sleep positioners

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to stop using infant sleep positioners due to suffocation risk.

The two main types of infant sleep positioners are flat mats with side bolsters or inclined wedge mats with side bolsters, both types claim to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by helping to keep sleeping infants on their backs.

Most sleep positioners claim to aid in food digestion to ease colic or the symptoms of reflux and to prevent flat head syndrome. In light of the new safety data, FDA believes any benefit from using these devices is greatly outweighed by the risk of suffocation.

Parents are encouraged to stop using the sleep positioners immediately and simply put their children "back to sleep."

At The Heller Law Firm, our attorneys and professional staff care deeply about our clients, their families and their futures. Together, our goal is to help our clients obtain the resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives. For a FREE CONSULTATION with a lawyer at The Heller Law Firm, call (866) 461-5791 or use the form below to contact us online at www.seriousinjury.org.

Birth Injury Lawsuit Against New York Hospital Moves to Appeal Phase

In the process of giving birth in a New York hospital in 2003, Mary Swanson experienced a setback when the infant become stuck in the birth canal. The condition, known as shoulder dystocia, occurs when an infant’s shoulder becomes lodged behind a pelvic bone. Shoulder dystocia can delay the birth process, increasing the risk for brain damage, cerebral palsy and other birth defects. The jury in the case found that hospital personnel did not respond to the incident in an efficacious manner, and thus was in part to blame for the complications. The $56 million award is being challenged on appeal by the facility named in the suit, Northern Westchester Hospital.

If your family has been impacted by the tragedy of birth injury, we can help. Contact the california birth injury attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Lawsuit Filed Over Fall from Palo Alto Shuttle Bus Settled

On a school field trip in 2007, Palo Alto, California teen Rodolfo Flores boarded a city shuttle bus and congregated with several friends near the back of the vehicle. However, when the bus turned a corner, Flores fell through the rear door of the vehicle, sustaining several significant injuries in the process. Months later, Flores began experiencing neurological symptoms, including difficulty concentrating. The suit filed in the case claimed that the city was negligent in allowing the bus, which had recently had a wheelchair station removed from its rear seating area, continue to serve passengers. Ultimately, the Flores family received a $125,000 settlement in the case.

If you or a loved one has sustained harm due to the negligence of a business or a government agency, we can help. Contact the bus accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Residents of Gulf Coast Region Challenge Use of Oil Dispersant in a Lawsuit

In the immediate aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster, BP and its agents began using a chemical compound known as Corexit 9500 to disperse and dilute the accumulated oil. Now, several residents of Alabama communities on the Gulf Coast have filed lawsuits against the petroleum giant, claiming that residents have developed an array of troubling symptoms and health conditions as a result of exposure to the chemical, including headaches, respiratory disorders and digestive difficulties. Specifically, the suits claim that the practice of spraying the chemical dispersant from the air has had negative consequences for public health in the region. The manufacturer of the chemical compound, Nalco Co., is also named in the lawsuit.

Have you or a family member suffered illness or injury because of improper actions on the part of a business or corporation? If so, we’re here to help you evaluate your legal options. Contact the toxic tort attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Beloved Baseball Mascot at Center of Injury Lawsuit

Although watching the zany antics of team mascots is often regarded as a highlight of attending a sporting event in person, the shenanigans of the Phillie Phanatic at a 2008 minor league game crossed the line, according to spectator Grace Crass. Crass says that the person donning the bird-like creature’s costume climbed atop her as she sat in the stands at an event in Reading, Pennsylvania, causing a knee injury that later required surgery to treat. The lawsuit filed against Tom Burgoyne (the man behind the mascot), the Phillies, and their minor-league affiliate seeks more than $50,000 in damages.

Has someone else’s reckless behavior caused you to suffer? We can help you understand your legal options. Contact the california personal injury attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Louisiana Slip-and-Fall Incident Leads to Lawsuit

New Orleans resident Nery Freire’s July 2009 grocery shopping trip had an unforeseen conclusion. At a local Winn-Dixie, the shopper says she slipped on a puddle inside the store and fell, sustaining injuries to her knee, ankle, shoulder and spine. Freire’s suit against the store and its cleaning contractor claims that the wet patch was negligently left behind after the floors were cleaned. The area was not marked by safety cones or any other type of warning. Freire is seeking compensation for injuries, medical costs, and other damages she sustained as a result of the injuries.

Have you suffered injuries as a result of a retail establishment’s careless practices? If so, we’re here to help. Contact the california slip and fall attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

San Jose Utility Truck Crash Results in $5 Million Settlement

It wasn’t alcohol, illegal drugs, or even distraction that was behind the crash that killed 20-year-old San Jose, Ca. resident Mary Bernstein. The driver of the PG&E utility truck that killed Bernstein and her long-time boyfriend Robert Conway blacked out temporarily due to a sharp drop in blood sugar that was related to his diabetes. Driver John Mayfield failed to test his blood sugar as directed by his doctors and subsequently passed out while operating the vehicle, causing the fatal crash. Bernstein’s mother plans to use the award to help fund her efforts to require fleet drivers to test their blood sugar level before clocking in if diabetic.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of another’s negligence or carelessness, you need the advice of a team of skilled personal injury attorneys. Contact the motor vehicle accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.