Recent weeks in the New York State opioid trial have seen defendant Endo Pharmaceuticals propelled into the spotlight, as the company stands accused by the State of willfully withholding relevant and potentially damning evidence during discovery — a move for which Endo and its attorneys were subject to orders of contempt and sanctions in a similar case involving several Tennessee counties. The judge presiding over the Tennessee opioid case found that Endo’s legal representatives made numerous “false statements” about their discovery compliance. At the start of August, New York State filed a motion requesting that a ruling procedure referred to…

We are excited to reveal this year’s T-shirt graphic design for the 2021 Miles for Meso 5k run/3k fun walk, which will be held virtually on Sept. 25, 2021. A long-sleeve T-shirt is included with every registration. This year’s T-shirt design features the Piasa Bird, which references a local Native American legend that originates from the Illini tribe. A painting featuring the Piasa Bird is located on the bluffs just outside of Alton, Illinois, at the start of the Great River Road. The term “Piasa” means a bird that devours men in the Illini village. The legend of the bird…

Witness testimony continued in Touro College’s law school auditorium throughout week five of the New York State opioid trial, as the jury heard from local first responders and officials who shared their intimate knowledge about how the opioid epidemic affected Long Island’s Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Among many witnesses examined during week five, expert testimony came from Nassau County Assistant Police Chief Chris Ferro and Jennifer Culp, who is the intergovernmental coordinator for the Suffolk Department of Health Services. Under direct examination by Simmons Hanly Conroy Shareholder Jayne Conroy, who is co-lead of the New York opioid trial representing New…

One great way to show support for a loved one who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma is by registering for the Alton Miles for Meso 5K, which will be held virtually for the second straight year. Racers and supporters interested in participating are invited to register for the virtual race and run or walk from anywhere! For the 8th consecutive year, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) will be accepting submissions of the names of mesothelioma survivors or victims to include on Warrior Race Bibs.  The purpose of submitting a name of a loved one who has been diagnosed with…

In a major move, the third week of the ongoing New York State opioid trial saw the three largest U.S. drug distributors — McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation — agree mid-trial to settle claims with New York State, including both Suffolk County and Nassau County. If approved by the state and county legislatures, the agreement will require the three companies to pay a combined $1.18 billion over the next 17 years. The distributors’ decision to settle claims follows Johnson & Johnson’s $230 million settlement, which Suffolk and Nassau County general legislatures approved. The settlement includes a…

In early spring, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), along with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and several other organizations and public health experts, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the federal agency meets its obligation of evaluating the risks of so-called “legacy” asbestos. The lawsuit, which largely focuses on Trump-era evaluations that many organizations and environmentalists see as incomplete for their exclusion of risk-assessment on legacy asbestos, has since been delayed in briefing as the EPA and the ADAO (along with other petitioners) engage in “positive settlement discussions.”  Approved by a…

Asbestos, a carcinogen responsible for thousands of American deaths annually, has often been found in consumer products like makeup, children’s toys and talcum powder. Yet, no one has been tracking asbestos use in consumer products to ensure the public is adequately warned.    An important step toward better oversight of asbestos-containing products took place recently thanks to the leadership of the independent nonprofit, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), and several state attorneys general.    In a settlement reached between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a coalition of 10 states, the District of Columbia and several advocacy groups,…

When the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in northern France, it marked a pivotal turning point in World War II — overwhelmed by the invasion, Nazi forces retreated back to the Seine River, and the Allies accepted their official surrender less than a year later.  Officially, the invasion was called “Operation Overlord,” but most people refer to this incredibly consequential battle as “D-Day” or the “Battle of Normandy.” Today, D-Day is remembered and observed in many of the ally nations, including the United States, United Kingdom and France. D-Day is observed not only because it kicked-started the liberation…

Every single day, Americans are dying from diseases linked to asbestos exposure — and recent data suggests the United States may in fact be seeing more asbestos-related deaths than ever before.   According to data compiled by the Institute for Health Metric and Evaluation (IHME), there were more than 40,764 asbestos-related worker deaths in 2019 alone, the year for which the latest metrics are available. That equates to roughly one asbestos-related death every 12 minutes.   The new death toll replaces previous findings by the International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH), which in 2018 found 39,275 deaths in the United…

In recent months, the common prescription drug Elmiron®, which is used to treat a painful and common bladder condition, has fallen under scrutiny for allegedly damaging the vision of the patients who take it. Elmiron lawsuits are now being filed. Prescribed to treat the bladder pain and discomfort associated with the chronic condition known as interstitial cystitis (IC), Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium, or PPS) is the subject of lawsuits alleging the drug leads to irreversible retinal damage and toxicity. Largely responsible for our ability to see the world, the retina is a slim, light-sensing tissue located at the back of…