by

Oil and gas expert witnesses may opine regarding oil and gas pumps, fracking, petrochemical manufacturing, oil field explosions, and related matters. In the news, Mora County, N.M. has voted to ban oil and gas extraction using hydraulic fracking. Commissioners believe federal and state laws are not adequately protecting communities from hazards such as ground water contamination, risks to air quality, and migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals to the surface.

More news at http://www.usnews.com/.

by

Environmental toxicology expert witnesses may consult on chemical spills, forensic toxicology, toxic chemicals exposure, and related matters. In the news, two workers at the Idaho National Laboratory research facility have filed a complaint with OSHA against Battelle Energy Alliance after being exposed to plutonium contamination in 2011. Ralph Stanton and Brian Simmons accuse Batelle of creating an unsafe work environment and officials at INL have confirmed that at least two workers suffered internal exposure to plutonium and 14 others may have been exposed accidentally at the facility. Battelle is the world’s largest nonprofit research and development organization, with over 22,000 employees at more than 130 locations globally.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/

by

Over 1,000 plaintiffs are suing Merck & Co. in the Eastern District of Missouri over the birth control NuvaRing. The pharmaceutical company is charged with not warning women that the prescription medicine could cause blood clots and possible death. NuvaRing is different than other forms of birth control in that it dispenses hormones directly into the bloodstream which a plaintiffs’ pharmacology expert witness argues may cause “spikes” of hormones and lead to blood clots.

by

In Litigants Are Not Your Clients, expert witness marketing consultant Rosalie Hamilton offers the caution that rarely does good come from doing “legal work” for a non-legal client.

In the future, if/when you get a call from an individual, simply inform him/her that you do medical-legal consulting work only for attorneys, and they should ask their attorney to call you. If no attorney, pass. Too much risk for the pay.

Read more: http://expertcommunications.blogspot.com/

by

Materials expert witnesses may consult on material failure analysis, building materials, material testing, and industrial materials processing. SFgate.com reports this week that the new eastern span of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge has bolts made from galvanized steel that is virtually identical to that banned for use on bridges due to cracking. Dr. Charles J. McMahon, Jr., Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering, says “this steel is almost guaranteed to give you cracking under these conditions.”

Caltrans is testing bolts on the bridge that are similar to ones that cracked when workers tightened them in March.

by

Patents expert witnesses may consult on design patents, international patents, licensing, and related issues. In Will Spanx Case Make Design Patents a Fashion Trend?, Legal Blog Watch writes:

The escalating patent battle between shapewear makers Spanx and Yummie Tummie over body-slimming camisoles has sparked discussion about what it and similar cases may mean for the future of design patents in the fashion industry.

Read more: http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com

by

Cell phone tracking expert witnesses may provide reports regarding electronic surveillance, internet and computer surveillance, cell phone tracking and associated matters. In INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY VERSUS CELLPHONE PINGING: The Tension between Modern Technology, Constitution and the Courts, Houston criminal lawyer John Floyd and paralegal Billy Sinclair describe cell phone pinging and how it can be subject to abuse, e.g. violation of privacy.

Read their discussion: http://www.johntfloyd.com/blog/2013/04/individual-privacy-versus-cellphone-pinging/

by

Ernst & Young’s Andre Toh testified as a business valuation expert witness in the trial against three Profitable Plots directors accused of cheating 86 clients in Singapore of more than $8M US. The fraudulent investment plan was the work of Timothy N. Goldring, John A. Nordmann, and Geraldine A. Thomas. Mr. Toh specializes in valuation and business modeling.

by

In Zithromax and Sudden Death, emergency medicine expert witness Barry E. Gustin, MD, MPH, FAAEP, FACFM, writes:

At one time or another, most of us have taken the antibiotic, Zithromax. It is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for conditions including bronchitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, and others. The discussion that follows has to do with Zithromax’s side-effects, some of which are potentially life-threatening. Recently, I have seen a case in my emergency room of sudden cardiac arrest secondary to the cardiac effects of Zithromax. The FDA has recently warned of this phenomenon.

A recent FDA bulletin wrote that antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax; Pfizer) poses the risk of a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm and therefore warrants careful screening of patients for this drug.

Continue reading