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The Zantac heartburn drug recall recently took place in April 2020 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) because of unacceptable levels of a probable carcinogen. Zantac, known generically as ranitidine, is a drug prescribed more than 15 million times a year to patients for heartburn worldwide since 1983. Multiple manufacturers had already issued voluntary recalls of the drug, including Sanofi, the maker of Zantac, as well as generic ranitidine-makers. Major pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart had already suspended sales due to the drug’s link to cancer. Patients who are taking prescription and over-the-counter versions of ranitidine, a drug widely used to treat stomach acid and ulcers, should stop taking the drug, throw it away and see their doctor for alternative treatments. Zantac Heartburn Drug Recall of 2020 The FDA began investigating reports of levels of NDMA, or Ni-nitrosodimethylamine, in the summer of 2019 after an independent lab found high levels of it in ranitidine products and brought it to the attention of the FDA. After initial investigation, the FDA said patients could continue taking the drug and did not face health risks from low levels of NDMA. NDMA is the same carcinogen that led to a recall in July 2018. Blood-pressure-lowering drugs valsartan and losartan came from a new manufacturing process first used by a drug ingredient factory in China. Zantac’s risk appears to be the unstable nature of the drug and not manufacturing. In April, the FDA issued a Zantac heartburn drug recall completely, after determining that contamination poses a greater risk than previously thought because levels of the chemical increase over time, especially if tablets and capsules are stored at higher temperatures, including during distribution and handling by consumers. FDA testing confirmed that NDMA levels increase in ranitidine even under normal storage conditions and that the older a product is, or the longer the length of time since it was manufactured, the greater the level of NDMA. Hence the Zantac heartburn drug recall. Studies have shown that the presence of NDMA in ranitidine was known long before the recent discoveries, possibly since the late 1980s. In 2016, Stanford University researchers tested urine samples of 10 people, who took 150 milligram Zantac and found NDMA levels far greater than FDA daily limits. The result was the Zantac heartburn drug recall in April 2020. Low levels of NDMA not expected to lead to an increase in the risk of cancer are commonly ingested in the diet, as NDMA is present in food and water. However, sustained higher levels of exposure and exposure for a long time may increase the risk of cancer in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), NDMA has been linked to severe liver disease, liver cancer, testicular cancer and lung cancer. The FDA encourages health care professionals and patients to report adverse reactions or quality problems with any human drugs to the agency’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program. In addition, if you or a family member have taken Zantac or ranitidine and have developed cancer, it could be linked. You may be entitled to compensation from the product’s manufacturer due to the Zantac heartburn drug recall. For a free consultation and more information about your legal options, please call one of our Southwest Florida offices at (239) 500-HURT.

Will your homeowner’s insurance weather a hurricane in 2020? This year is shaping up to be memorable in so many ways, including a predicted above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. National Insurance Awareness Day is June 28 to remind people to review their insurance policies. About two-thirds of U.S. homes are underinsured, which could result in financial hardship in the event of storm damage. A study by insurance.com in 2018 learned nearly a quarter of homeowners said they’d never even read their policy! Now is a good time to review and make sure your homeowner’s policy is robust enough to fully repair or rebuild in the event of a claim. You need to know: will your insurance weather a hurricane, or do you need to expand your policy coverage? Make sure that none of your information – such as residents of the household or pets – needs to be updated. While you are at it, it is probably a good idea to look at your other insurance policies also. Why is it so important to update your insurance policies with new information? Insurance companies can deny coverage for a loss when there is a “material misrepresentation” by the insured when procuring the policy. These material misrepresentations can be in the form of a failure to disclose a resident relative or a new pet. This can be devastating for someone who has faithfully paid their premiums for years because it may mean you have no insurance coverage for an event that destroys your home. You should also regularly check to see if you have enough coverage – whether it is coverage for your home, coverage for the contents within your home, bodily injury coverage for your motor vehicle, or underinsured motorist coverage for your vehicle. Will Your Homeowner’s Insurance Weather a Hurricane? Here are things to consider in reviewing your homeowner’s insurance: Are deductibles on your policy sustainable in the event of a claim? Will you be able to cover them if necessary? Have you explored all possible discounts, such as wind mitigation certification or discounts for fire or burglar alarms, new roof or upgraded heating, plumbing or electrical systems? How has your customer service experiences been with the company? Check online resources and ask friends and family to determine what insurers have a good reputation among policyholders. Responsive customer service will be important in the event of a claim. Have you had a major life change, like having a baby or starting a new job? You may need to update your insurance. Have you renovated or built an addition? If so, make sure your policy reflects the change in value of your home. In the event you need to rebuild, does your insurance policy include any extra expenses caused by meeting building codes adopted after your home was built? You may want to add building code coverage, called building law or ordinance coverage. Flood damage, which can come with a hurricane, is usually excluded on homeowner’s policies. Consider purchasing separate flood insurance. Visit FloodSmart.gov for information. If you live in a condominium, what type of insurance does your homeowners association require? Have you evaluated your needs by conducting a thorough home inventory of your possessions? Does your policy provide enough coverage for landscaping, outdoor appliances or storage sheds? Have you started a home-based business? You may need to change your coverage for business liability and equipment. An annual insurance review can go a long way in protecting what is often your biggest investment. Make it part of your hurricane preparations to know whether your insurance weather a hurricane. Our attorneys are always willing to sit down with you and review your policy at no cost, to make sure you have appropriate coverage.

At this time of year, it’s likely that children are dreaming of toys and not sugar plums. Gifts and toys should inspire joy, not injuries. The best toy gifts are fun and provide enjoyment. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In 2017, the latest statistics available, there were 251,700 estimated emergency department-treated injuries associated with toys. World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (WATCH) reports one child is treated in U.S. emergency rooms every three minutes for a toy-related injury. For 47 years, WATCH has released its nominations for the 10 worst toys this holiday season. Highlighted this year were projectile toys that could fire with enough force to potentially cause eye injuries and toys that encourage children to jump or ride with the potential for head injuries. See this year’s list at toysafety.org. Gifts and Toys Should Inspire Joy, Not Injuries The American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offer these tips to consider when gifting toys: Toys are age-rated for safety, not for children’s intellect and physical ability, so be sure to choose toys in the correct age range Choose toys for children under 3 that do not have small parts, which could be choking hazards For children under 10, avoid toys that must be plugged into an electrical outlet Be cautious about toys that have button batteries or magnets, which can be harmful or fatal if swallowed When giving scooters and other riding toys, give the gift of appropriate safety gear, too; helmets should always be worn, and they should be sized to fit. Also be sure to consider supervision. Just because a toy is labeled with age-appropriate guidelines does not mean children should not be supervised when playing with it. Children are inventive and may come up with uses other than those intended and without supervision, and injuries may occur. In addition to poor supervision, toy-related injuries can originate from toys sold with flaws or defective parts. Possible injury from toys include: Lacerations or cuts from sharp edges Strangulation from cords, laces or straps Choking from small pieces or parts Hearing impairments from loud toys Suffocation due to improper use Toys can also be recalled, so it is important to keep up with safety recalls. With internet shopping expected to account for 59% of holiday spending based on a holiday survey by Deloitte, shoppers need to know safety hazards to watch out for when making online purchases. E-shoppers should beware of recalled toys or toys with deadly track records, whether making retail or consumer-to-consumer purchases. Learn more about product recalls at safekids.org/product-recalls. Safe Kids compiles product recalls specific to children and sends twice-monthly e-mail alerts for recent recalls. Information is also available at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). There is some good news in toy safety. According to the CPSC, many toys are being rejected at the ports before even getting to the market. In 2008, 172 toys were rejected at the port, 19 of them because of use of lead. In 2018, 18 toys were rejected, two because of lead. A new CPSC global system to make toys safer means: Toys are now tested by independent, third-party testing laboratories around the world CPSC and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are at the ports, stopping toys that violate U.S. standards before they reach children’s hands. Enjoy this season of giving and the joy that toys bring by preventing toy-related injuries. If toys have caused harm because they’re unsafe, seek advice from attorneys experienced in personal injury. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Attorney Jeffrey Rice, of Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz, emphasizes his practice on commercial and construction law, construction lien cases and real-estate law. He has been named one of Florida’s “Super Lawyers” annually since 2006.

Today’s news is concerning the Belviq diet drug recall. It’s very disconcerting to find out that a drug you were taking to improve your health may be seriously harming it. In February, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that the manufacturer of Belviq and Belviq XR (lorcaserin) voluntarily withdraw the weight-loss drug from the U.S. market because a safety clinical trial identified an increased occurrence of several types of cancer, including pancreatic, colorectal and lung in people taking the drugs. Belviq Diet Drug Recall: What You Should Know Studies conducted since Belviq was approved for use in 2012 found that of 12,000 patients taking it, about 7.7 percent were diagnosed with cancers, compared to 7.1 percent in a placebo group. Belviq was approved as a prescription weight loss drug for adults who are obese or who have weight related medical problems that prohibit them from losing weight through traditional diet and exercise. The active ingredients of the pill are intended to trigger chemical signals that make people want to eat less. Despite pre-market testing that suggested Belviq exposure in rats could cause cancerous tumors, the FDA approved Eisai to start promoting the drug. However, the manufacturer was required to conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in order to determine if there were any cancer or cardiovascular side effects in humans from Belviq. After reviewing the results of the clinical trial, the FDA decided to ask for the Belviq diet drug recall, believing the risks of lorcaserin outweigh the benefits. The trial was conducted in 12,000 patients over 5 years. A range of cancer types was reported, with several different types of cancers occurring more frequently in the lorcaserin group, including pancreatic, colorectal and lung. Belviq and Belviq XR are manufactured by Japanese drug maker Eisai Co. who began selling the medication in the U.S. in 2013. The medication quickly became a popular choice among prescribing doctors, with more than 600,000 prescriptions filled in 2015 alone, with sales reaching an estimated $50 million. In light of the recall, patients should stop taking lorcaserin and talk to healthcare professionals about alternative weight-loss medicines and weight management programs. Belviq and Belviq XR are manufactured by Japanese drug maker Eisai Co. who began selling the medication in the U.S. in 2013. The medication quickly became a popular choice among prescribing doctors, with more than 600,000 prescriptions filled in 2015 alone, with sales reaching an estimated $50 million. It appears that manufacturers knew or should have know about the link between the Belviq diet drug recall and cancer for years. As a result, users who were harmed by the drug may be entitled to financial compensation and settlements from the manufacturers. Further, if a member of your family died because of cancers potentially caused by Belviq, you may be able to pursue compensation for wrongful death. If you are someone you love used Belviq or Belviq XR for weight loss for at least three months since 2012 and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, lunch cancer or another cancer along the digestive tract, we welcome the opportunity to assist you. For a free consultation and more information about the Belviq diet drug recall, please call one of our Southwest Florida legal firm offices at (239) 326-0558. If you prefer, you may complete our form and a client relations representative will contact you.

Personal Injury While Shopping in Southwest Florida Retailers should do their best to make your shopping experience the safest it can be – especially so customers avoid personal injury while shopping. The retail industry in the United States is incredibly large, and growing. According to the CDC, over 5 million Americans are employed through retail stores. Florida is one of the busiest shopping states with 26% of our employment coming from the retail market. Unfortunately, an industry so vast is not without misconduct. Negligence on the part of the store can sometimes lead to personal injury. Types of Florida Retail Store Accidents The most common types of accidents in retail establishments can be avoided if the store takes the steps to create a safe environment. The first common injury category is slip and fall, usually as a result of wet floors, spills, poor lighting, or walkway obstructions. Slip and falls can also occur in an establishment’s parking lot due to poor road conditions or standing water. Injuries to a person not resulting from a slip or fall but still due to adverse conditions in the store such as falling items, low signs, and items out of reach are also common. Finally, faulty shopping equipment such as shopping carts and baskets can result in customer injury. Sometimes injuries are not a result of the day to day conditions of the store, but due to overcrowding during the busy shopping season, such as Black Friday. If the store fails to manage crowd control, leading to a mêlée, injuries can occur. If you sustain an injury while shopping, the store may be liable if you feel they were aware of the conditions that lead to the accident, or even if you feel as though they should have been aware. If you are injured while shopping, and you feel it was the fault of the store, it is important to document the conditions of the accident with photos and witnesses and to seek legal assistance. Who to Call If You Sustain Personal Injury While Shopping in Southwest Florida If you or someone you love has been injured while shopping, it is important to seek legal counsel. SWFL attorneys at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz have over 50 years of legal experience in dealing with personal injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.