Newsletter Navigation
- Hill Boren Encourages Support For Our Troops
- FDA Recalls Vioxx, Hill Boren Investigating Vioxx-Related Cases
- Hill Boren Files The First Vioxx Case In Madison County
- Tamara Hill, R.N., J.D. Joins Hill Boren's Jackson Office
- Chris Taylor Delivers Sermon To Local Church
- Unsafe Products: Lawsuits Save Lives And Protect Workers
- Dean Family Knows The Meaning Of Sacrifice
Hill Boren Encourages Support For Our Troops
Many of us began the new year feeling the absence of family, friends and neighbors currently serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan or other places around the world. Small towns and rural areas usually send more people to service.
More of our community members left for Iraq recently to join hundreds of other Tennesseans in the National Guard, the Reserve and the active-duty armed forces, who remain in harm's way. The peril many of them face is very real and, too often, deadly.
Show Your Support
Those who we send to serve in foreign lands need to know that we respect them and want them home safe and soon.
We urge our Hill Boren friends and family to support our troops overseas and pray for a safe return.
Lift the spirits of our U.S. troops and the wounded heroes with letters, cards and care packages. Let these heroes know that they have not been forgotten as they are away from their loved ones answering America's call to duty.
Remind America that freedom isn't free and to please thank a Veteran for the freedom you enjoy today and not to ever forget the sacrifices troops have made for our great country.
For other ways to show our troops we care, log on to:
www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html
Send Us Your Photos
Inside you will see a story about the Dean family. Jimi and Rachel Dean are just one example of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families.
We also invite our readers to submit photographs of your family and friends who are serving and share their stories.
We will feature photos and information about our clients' friends and family who have been called to serve our country.
FDA Recalls Vioxx, Hill Boren Investigating Vioxx-Related Cases
In September, 2004, giant drug manufacturer, Merck, halted the sale of Vioxx, a drug sold to treat arthritis and acute pain. Merck withdrew it from the market because studies have shown that people using the drug are twice as likely to experience problems such as heart attacks and strokes. This announcement by Merck is the latest evidence that this family of drugs, the Cox-2 inhibitors, once referred to as "super aspirins," are turning out to be safety problems.
The use of Vioxx, a popular arthritis painkiller, is being questioned by the Food and Drug Administration because of a possible increase in the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Kidney damage is another possible risk. The American Heart Association, the National Stroke Association and the Arthritis Foundation asked Vioxx's manufacturer, Merck & Co., to do further testing. The FDA Advisory Panel has suggested to Merck that Vioxx should carry a warning label.
Vioxx, which was released in 1999 is an anti-inflammatory drug designed to fight acute pain and disabling inflammation of arthritis without the stomach problems that can occur with aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Since 2000, studies have shown a link between Vioxx and the risk of blood clots leading to heart attack and stroke. Since its introduction in 1999, approximately 84 million people have taken the drug.
Research indicates that the FDA was warned about the possible dangers of Vioxx three and a half years ago. In its monthly newsletter, Worst Pills, Best Pills, the consumer group Public Citizen warned readers that both Vioxx and Celebrex were DO NOT USE drugs.
If you or a family member is taking this medication, please discuss the potentially lethal side effects with your physician. If someone you know has experienced a heart attack or stroke while taking Vioxx, you can contact us at Hill Boren. Prompt action is required. We are currently investigating cases like these and would like to help you and your family.
Hill Boren Files The First Vioxx Case In Madison County
Hill Boren continues to take the lead in medical malpractice and defective drug litigation. They filed suit against Merck, the makers of Vioxx, in Madison County Circuit Court on Wednesday, February 2, 2005. This is believed to be the first case filed in Madison County and one of the first in the state.
Hill Boren has approximately 70 Vioxx cases under review at this time and expects the number to reach at least 100 before the deadline to file suit.
"Tennessee has a higher number of prescriptions written per capita than any other state. Unfortunately that means that a large number of Tennesseans have been adversely affected by defective drugs such as Vioxx," stated Robert Hill of the Hill Boren law firm.
Tamara Hill, R.N., J.D. Joins Hill Boren's Jackson Office
Tamara Hill graduated with an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership from Union University, Jackson, Tennessee. She is a Registered Nurse.
After a brief career as Director of Nursing in a nursing home, she enrolled in the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis where she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2004.
While attending law school, Mrs. Hill joined Hill Boren in January, 2003, as a part-time law clerk. She joined the firm full time in August, 2004. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association.
While attending law school, Mrs. Hill joined Hill Boren in January, 2003, as a law clerk. She joined the firm full time in August, 2004.
She has a daughter, Chelsea and a son, Chandler. In 2006, Tamara married T. Robert Hill. They enjoy biking and hiking together with the children.
When asked why she chose to become a lawyer, Tamara replied, "I realized early on in my nursing career that not everyone in the nursing home industry worked as hard as my colleagues and myself to ensure appropriate care of their patients. I became frustrated with the reputation of the nursing home industry and wanted to make a change."
She became interested in joining Hill Boren because she knew of Mr. Hill and Hill Boren's strong reputation in nursing home litigation. After meeting the attorneys and staff, she knew Hill Boren was where she wanted to work.
"We are excited to have Tamara on our highly skilled nursing home team," said Robert Hill. "We have built a solid reputation for protecting the rights of the elderly and disabled and Tamara's experience in the nursing home setting will strengthen our ability to serve our clients."
Chris Taylor Delivers Sermon To Local Church
On January 9, 2005, Chris Taylor delivered a sermon to the congregation at Farmer's Chapel CME Church in Brownsville, Tennessee. His sermon entitled "Magnifying the Lord with Family and Friends" was part of the church's annual Family and Friends Day.
Chris, a Brownsville native, now lives in Memphis with his wife and two children. He has been an attorney with Hill Boren since 1996.
Unsafe Products: Lawsuits Save Lives And Protect Workers
On June 24, 1993, five-year-old Valerie Lakey, playing in a wading pool, became lodged in a drain cover opening. The suction pulled out almost 80 percent of her small intestine and about 70 percent of her large intestine. The pool equipment manufacturer knew of at least 13 similar injuries but failed to put warnings on its covers until mid-1987. After a jury awarded Valerie $25 million in compensatory damages, the company changed its warnings and instructions regarding the safe use of its drain covers. The case later caused an industry-wide recall of pool drain covers and led North Carolina to pass legislation to better protect children in wading and swimming pools.
An elderly woman was crushed to death at Home Depot when lumber and other merchandise was knocked on top of her by a forklift operator. Her family's attorneys discovered evidence that Home Depot was aware of other injuries and deaths from falling items. After settling with the family, Home Depot announced plans to change its merchandise stacking policies.
These are just some examples given by The Center for Justice and Democracy of how lawsuits have resulted in safer products and safer practices by companies.
Lawsuits are also responsible for alerting government regulatory agencies to dangerous products, drugs, and unsafe practices.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) did not begin to investigate the numerous injuries and deaths related to faulty Firestone tires until lawsuits were filed in several courts. NHTSA's investigation led to a nationwide recall of 6.5 million Firestone tires.
Numerous lawsuits filed in the mid 80's and early 90's against Dow Corning for defective breast implants led the Food and Drug Administration to restrict the sale of silicone breast implants.
Product liability laws were created to protect consumers from injury due to the manufacture and sale of unreasonably dangerous products. According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are 200 to 300 product recalls each year. Most of these recalls involve children's products and toys, but also include furniture, household appliances, tools, and safety equipment such as smoke detectors and circuit breakers. The NHTSA issues hundreds of recalls each year related to motor vehicles and equipment including tires and child safety seats. Defective products are responsible for thousands of serious injuries and deaths each year. As a result of product liability, manufacturers of dangerous products are held responsible for the injuries they have caused and future products are made safer for all of us.
If a faulty product has injured you or a family member, contact the Hill Boren law firm. Our knowledgeable staff can answer your questions and determine if you have a case. At Hill Boren, we're here to help, and we know how.
Dean Family Knows The Meaning Of Sacrifice
James Dean, his wife Rachel and their daughters Bethany and Tabetha understand the meaning of sacrifice. After just moving here from Atlanta, James, a sergeant with the Army National Guard was deployed to the Middle East. Sergeant Dean has been in the National Guard for three years following ten years of active duty with the United States Army. An Apache technician, James works full-time for the National Guard at McKellar Sipes Regional Airport. Rachel works for the Jackson Animal Clinic as a receptionist and is involved in the family support group for deployed soldiers. Rachel and James keep in touch by email and Yahoo messaging. "I'm proud to be married to my wonderful husband and I am proud of his service to our country. I want to encourage others to continue to support and pray for our troops overseas," acknowledged Rachel.
