Strict Product Liability

Arkansas has long followed the Restatement (Second) of Torts Section 402A (1965) which provides that in order for a plaintiff to recover for harm or injury caused by a defective product, the product must be sold “in a defective condition” and be unreasonably dangerous to a consumer. What this means is that as a consumer, you


Breach of Warranty

When a seller makes a promise to a buyer there are implications if the seller breaks that promise. Breach of warranty is a possible remedy for a buyer if a broken promise has caused them harm.


Weill-Cornell Study Yields Shocking Conclusions Regarding Essure

This equivocates to roughly one out of 49-50 women needing surgery to repair or remove the device. Dr. Sedrakyan also added that the “surgery is likely to be much more complicated than the laproscopic approach that they should be considering. For its part, the FDA has acknowledged the study, releasing a statement saying “This is a high priority issue for the agency. The FDA plans to review the findings of this study, along with the latest medical literature on the Essure device and input from panel members and the public during our recent advisory committee meeting, to determine what future actions may be appropriate.” The FDA has not indicated, however, that it is planning on pulling the device from the market.


FDA Delays Review of Collegium’s Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Xtampza

Despite the dosing concerns, however, the advisory panel voted 23-0 in favor of recommending Xtampza for approval. The FDA generally follows the advice of advisory panels, although it is not obligated to do so. While the FDA stated days prior to the panel meeting that Collegium’s packaging should contain a clearer warning about the dosing issue, it did not explicitly state that approval was contingent on labeling improvements.


Families of Three Firefighters Agree on Settlement for 2013 Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion

The blast at the West Fertilizer plant killed 15 people altogether, injured 170, damaged nearby buildings and over 150 homes in the city of West, obliterating the plant, and even caused the equivalent of a 2.1 magnitude earthquake. With jury selection set to begin on Monday, authorities for the county told hundreds of prospective jurors on Sunday evening that they would not be needed for the trial involving the plant’s ownership and suppliers and the families of the deceased; Kevin Sanders, William Uptmor and Kenneth Harris. Waco District Court Judge Jim Meyer had divided the litigation regarding the explosion into three separate lawsuits, with the aforementioned case serving as a potential bellwether for the other two cases, which will contain hundreds of plaintiffs.


6th Circuit Issues Major Setback for EPA’s Clean Water Rule

The 2-1 panel decision in favor of the attorneys general of 18 states follows a similar ruling issued in late August in North Dakota federal court in a separate lawsuit involving 13 states. That stay was ordered a day before the rule was to have gone into effect. The most recent ruling, which was a consolidated appeal of four separate lawsuits by the states and other interest groups, greatly expands the geographically-limited North Dakota decision and instead blocks the majority of the country from the Obama-led initiative.


Will Outcry over Iran’s Conviction of Jason Rezaian Move Obama to Act?

Despite the grim news, the conviction may actually increase the odds for a diplomatic solution. Late last month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani strongly indicated the desire for a prisoner swap. Currently, 19 Iranians are being held within the U.S. for violating its sanctions policy against Iran. In an interview with CNN’s Christine Amanpour, Rouhani said “If the Americans take the appropriate steps and set them [Iranians held in the U.S.] free, certainly the right environment will be open and the right circumstances will be created for us to do everything within our power and our purview to bring about the swiftest freedom for the Americans held in Iran as well.” Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters Sunday night “I have yet to hear directly from the Iranians on anything direct,” adding that, “We’ve had some conversations but … we’ll wait and see where we are.”


User Groups, Congressman push E-Free Act to Revoke PMA Status for Bayer’s Essure

Congressman Fitzpatrick’s law simply reads: “Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 8 of this Act, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall issue an order under section 515(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360e(e)) withdrawing approval for Essure System.” Essure Problems is also asking others who have experienced complications from the device to also send their Representatives this letter (which is provided in Word Doc. Format at the bottom of the page).


Is it Paul Ryan or Bust for House Speaker?

It appears that there is no viable candidate that could possibly satisfy the 42-member far-right Freedom Caucus or the Tea Party, and still garner the 218 votes needed for election without requiring the help of Democrat votes. The Freedom Caucus, who backed conservative Floridian Daniel Webster, essentially pushed McCarthy to drop out of consideration. There is one ‘non-candidate,’ however, who looks poised to deliver the GOP from its internal division, having the consensus support of nearly the entire Republican Party: former vice-presidential nominee and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI).