Wyoming Health Watch - Dangerous Products, Litigations and News that Just Might Prevent a Catastrophe.

In our continued commitment to bring our listeners good information and news on the Coronavirus front, we bring you today's episode that covers fatality rates, children, working from home and first-line responders. Please share with those that are in need of some good news.

Healthcare facilities in major metropolitan areas are writing ethical guidelines in the event hospitals are overwhelmed and there are less beds then patients. What are the US guidelines going to be and how do they compare to Italy's?

With one out of three highschoolers across the country vaping, what sort of increased risk are they placing themselves at upon being exposed to Coronavirus? Listen to our one-of-a-kind podcast here.

We did a deep dive into the recent epidemiology that came out of Wuhan China on the Coronavirus, including understanding the numbers behind the fatality rates, with certain age groups. We came away optimistic with the resulting data.

We did a deep dive into the literature to understand the symptoms of Coronavirus. Here is it in simple fashion.

Are those who thwart government mandates, who later come down with the virus, and transfer it to others, exposing themselves to legal liability?

In 1976, President Ford summoned major pharmaceutical companies to DC to assist with containing the swine flu that was spreading like wildfire. What can we learn from the events of '76 that can guide our government, and in particular our President, who meets with pharmaceutical companies today, in containing the coronavirus. Listen to our podcast here.

We have dicussed the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder litigation here many times, and recently we have identified other cosmetics containing talcum powder alleged to be causing the same injuries as that in the J&J litigation. Is it just a matter of time until those believed to be injured by other cosmetic talc products seek legal redress? Listen to our one-of-a-kind podcast here.

Dicamba, a weed killer made by Monsanto, and now ownedd by Bayer, has come under great scrutiny the past several years for its tendency to "drift" and wreck havoc on neighboring farms who do not use the dicamba-immune seeds. Many farmers have sued having lost entire crops, and the first trial just resulted in over $200M. Get up to speed with the latest on this novel litigation.

Johnson & Johnson has taken huge hits on the litigation front since 2016 in the talcum powder / asbestos litigation. Few appreciate how big the verdicts have been, the punitive damages awards and the frequency of both. Get up to speed on these issues with our podcast here.

Home elevators continue to lack the simple fixes that would otherwise prevent the possibility of catastrophic injuries to curious children, and yet children continue to be horrifically injured and even killed. Find out why this is happening and the regulatory action, or lack thereof, that is occurring to prevent this life-changing risk.

Johnson & Johnson's CEO was forced to testify in New Jersey during a talcum powder asbestos trial last week. The results of that case may lend some help to the question CEO's have been trying to grapple with for decades - should they or shouldn't they testify? Listen to our podcast here.

On February 4th, 2020, the FDA held its first public hearing regarding the potential for imposing rigorous asbestos-detection guidelines upon the cosmetic and talcum powder industry. Listen to find out background on the meeting, what happened, and what the future holds for the consumer and industry giants alike.

For those interested in the latest on the largest US civil litigation in history, the nation-wide opioid litigation, we have summarized that which will bring you up to speed in this podcast update.

We dig into an excellent article by Elen Gabler regarding the chaotic atmosphere and demands at countless pharmacies across the country that are creating tremendous risks and dangers to patients when they fill prescriptions; many that are often different drugs than those that were prescribed.

Next week, on February 4th, 2020, the US FDA will be holding a public hearing as to whether to impose rigorous guidelines for asbestos testing upon companies selling talcum-powder based products. Understand the background that prompted the hearing and what American consumers can expect.

Last year the US FDA issued a Class I recall, their strongest recall, for Ethicon's Surgical Staplers that were discovered to have a manufacturing defect that caused the staplers to fire improperly, causing significant injuries and even deaths. We investigate the recall and provide the background that prompted same here.

Last week was a very busy week for the DOJ and our criminal courts who laid down multi-year criminal jail sentences to Insys execs for their role in a bribery scheme behind selling their potent fentanyl-based opioid, Subsys, and a $17.5 million dollar fine upon Wells Fargo's former exec behind their fake-account scheme discovered in 2016. Is corporate corruption finally seeing some accountability?

Today, two former execs for Insys Therapeutics, a player sued in the opioid litigation, were sentenced to jail for their role in a kickback and bribery scheme using doctors to sell their highly-potent fentanyl opioid, Subsys. We disect the sentences, the drug behind them, and the outlook for other executives as the opioid litigation continues.

We dive into the data behind US childhood obesity while analyzing the new rules the Agricultural Department has proposed for school lunches across America. Are we placing the interests of our children first, or the lobbying groups who stand to profit from these changes? You decide.

We return to the New Year with our very popular Sunday conversation series. On Sundays, I meet with different groups of people to discuss local, state and nationwide issues. After our meetings I "download" our conversation on our Sunday series podcast. Here, a group of lawyers and I discuss, based on a wealth of past focus group experience, what kind of a jury we would want - all men or all women - if we were stuck defending Harvey Weinstein. Listen, share and join the conversation.

Earlier today the FDA issued a warning regarding the relatively new weight loss drug, Belviq, regarding the potential for increased risk of cancer. Belviq is the first major weight loss drug to be approved by the FDA since the controversial Fen-Phen, which was ultimately pulled from the market. Join us in discussing the dangerous history behind weight loss drugs as pharma continues to try and find the quick fix for waste size.

Nobody wants to admit that sex trafficking of minors is occuring in their community, though the fact remains that the behavior creates a $100 billion dollar industry, with America the biggest purchaser in the world, and the impact is ravaging communities everywhere in the country. Learn more about this extremely disturbing trend and how litigation can play a role in protecting those that are trafficked.

As of January 1st, 2020, California Assembly Bill 218, also known as the Child Abuse Victim Act, provides children who were victims of sexual abuse - and who have otherwise failed to file a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations - now three years to file a claim against the perpetrator(s) and/or entity responsible. Learn how this new law will impact litigation in the coming three years in California and beyond.

With the 2020 CDC statistics out on vaping this morning, we did a deep dive to bring you the latest on the numbers in the ongoing vaping crisis in America. Fifty-seven deaths have been reported, including the tragic death of a 15-year-old who self-reported having vaped for only a month. Listen and share and help us educate parents, school officials and administrators about this ongoing dangerous and deadly epidemic.

Pharmacies are next up for responsibility as it relates to the nation-wide opioid litigation. The second trial is set for October 21, 2020 and two Ohio counties will attempt to hold a number of pharmacies responsible for their role in the opioid epidemic. The pharmacies contend they're not at fault, but that doctors writing the prescriptions are, and have preserved the right to cross claim against individual doctors. We analyze this decision and share how it might impact the litigation going forward.

We identify the Top 5 product litigations to watch as we enter 2020, including those that will garner the greatest media attention, those that will seek to hold the greatest corporate accountability and those that will have the greatest chance to positively impact the American consumer.

A recent published article in Journal of the American Medical Association details the authors findings regarding a 14-year study where researchers followed individuals exposed to Pyrethrin, a chemical found in insecticides, mosquito repellants, dog sprays, etc. Find out what the researchers discovered in this podcast and identify possible items in your home to avoid.

On the heels of an October 2019 recall of more than 33,000 bottles of talcum powder due to the detection of asbestos, the New Mexico Attorney General is the first to file a consumer protection case against Johnson and Johnson. Get up to speed on this new development and how it may impact the pending talcum powder litigation.

Life expectancy in America, for the third year in a row, has decreased. We discuss the contributing factors, additional ones to consider, and what the outlook may be for the future. Listen and share this fascinating detailed review.

After a 2016 Court Ruling that washed the Consumer Protection Safety Commissions regulations away with respect to rare-earth metal magnetic balls, the industry began pumping these dangerous items back into the American market. Since then well over a thousand children have been reported as having ingested the magnetic balls causing absolute havoc to their intestines and triggering a medical emergency. We take a critical look at these products.

Whether you are a small business owner, beginning a start-up or own a law firm, spend the holiday break reflecting on your past successes and implementing a winning strategy as you enter 2020. This podcast details the three most critical components for any successful business, and today is no better a time to start working on all three.

We detail the top civil litigations from 2019 by the impact the litigations had on the American consumer and industry while also sharing the top civil litigation arenas to watch as we enter 2020.

Have you been skiing and seen the "She Was 5. You Were Doing 50." campaign? Do you plan to ski this winter season? If so, you will undoubtedly see the campaign signs beside the chair lifts. This podcast details the tragic story of Elise and Kelly Johnson, who on Christmas Eve, had their life shattered by a 23-year-old who plowed into the both of them on the slopes. Learn about this tragedy and learn ski safety tips before you and your loved ones head out for some skiing or snowboarding this year.

As the dangers of vaping continue to be sought out, some answers have surfaced. We reviewed several recent articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine and report here, including an autopsy of a young man found deceased with tetrahydrocannabinol e-cigarette cartridges beside him, data involving the rates of smoking from 2018 to 2019 and symptoms to look out for that may be an indicator of EVALI (E-cig Vaping Lung Injury). Educate yourself on these developing topics here and share with others.

We set out to try and determine if second-hand vaping is dangerous. In other words, for those individuals, particularly teens and children, who are trying to avoid becoming addicted, are they being placed at risk if they are hanging around, and inhaling, the vape-exhale of their friends and school mates who are vaping? Listen and share this podcase on this very important and developing area.

As the winter sets in, remote keyless starters are an often huge convenience for those of us who live in cold weather areas. Additionally, they can often provide for a nice gift. However, a recent report of a keyless remote starter engaging a vehicle that pinned and killed a gentleman in a parking lot, had us searchig the manuals for warnings. What we found is likely to surprise you. Listen and share this podcast today with anyone you know who has a remote keyless starter.

We approach 2020 with significant questions regarding who the FDA and EPA is protecting. Is it the American cosumer or big business? You decide. Listen and share this informative, one-of-a-kind podcast.

The history behind asbestos and talcum powder date back fifty years. This fascinating podcast breaks down the history, the FDA's involvement and the current outlook for the 16,000 ovarian and mesothelioma cases currently pending in Federal Court.

In October 2019, the US FDA issues an immediate recall of a specific lot number of more than 33,000 bottles of Johnson & Johnson baby powder due to the detection of asbestos. The recall followed years and years of J&J denying that their product contained any asbestos. We purchased a bottle of talcum powder to find out what, if any, warnings it contained. Listen and share our podcast here, and you decide what's sufficient, and what's not.

We dig deep to find out how many cigarettes one would have to smoke in order to get the same nicotine hit as in a single Juul Vape Pod. Listen to this informative podcast and see if you can guess the right number.

Last month the 12,000 member of the Physician Committee for Responsible Medicine filed with the FDA a Citizens Petition requesting the FDA to require all dairy cheese to include the following warning, "Dairy cheese contains reproductive hormones that may increase breast cancer mortality risk." The Citizens Petition was sound in research where a likely connection between high-fat dairy products and the increased risk for breast cancer was indicated. Find out more about the data and studies behind the petition here.

A recent Florida verdict of more than a hundred million dollars just upended how lawyers should advise same sex couples in any sort of wrongful death or injury actions. Listen and share this one-of-a-kind podcast so you are fully informed next time you advise a same-sex couple.

Get up to speed and listen to our in-depth 8 minute podcast on the latest major lawsuits of the week, including the first same-sex wrongful death verdict in the smoking litigation, climate crisis litigation in Colorado and pelvic mesh class actions against Johnson & Johnson.

What is happening with the largest civil litigation in the history of the US since the opioid manufacturers and distributors settled with two Ohio counties on the eve of trial last month? Find out the next phase here.

Mike Headrick of KSL news in Utah did a most excellent investigative piece on Vaping in Utah. What he found was astonishing, such as purchase receipts reflecting "custom gift", "rubber band", "miscellaneous" rather than the actual vape pods he was purchasing. Are retail outlets to blame, in part, for this increasing epidemic? You decide.

Recently Zantac came under enormous regulatory heat for what was believed to be discovered a contaminant known as NDMA, a known carcinogen, linked to stomach cancer, liver cancer and colorectal cancer. Since the June 2019 reporting, it has since been believed that the chemical composure of Zantac, or its generic known as Ranitidine, may turn into NDMA once it comes into contact with the human stomach. With Zantac, and its generic, also being made for infants, anyone who takes heart burn medications, or provides them to their infant, needs to listen and share this highly informative podcast immediately.

I spoke with families, parents and teenagers about vaping in Ohio and Kentucky, learning about the concerns parents face with their kids vaping, and why vaping is of such attraction to the teenagers who seem to be disproportionately affected by this new and dangerous fad.

Everyone has strong opinions on climate change, gun control and public health these days and almost uniformily such opinions parallel those that are represented by their politiics. But what if your vote, your politician and your politics didn't mean a thing on such issues? Such is the case as the hot button topics of today - climate change, gun control and public health - are taking center stage throughout our court systems and will long be addressed before our next election cycle. Learn how these issues are shaping up and what it may mean to your state (and/or political party).

Today's podcast details recent allegations relating to Conagra's popular Pam cooking spray spontaneously exploding and causing substantial second and third degree burns. Learn what bottles to avoid, tips to prevent explosion and other helpful information concerning this very alarming trend.

We did a deep dive with respect to the CDC's report that Vitamin E Acetate may be the culprit with respect to EVALI. Learn what EVALI is, why Vitamin E Acetate may be causing EVALI, and what the latest recommendations are to date regarding this developing discovery.