Stevens Johnson Syndrome connected to Dilantin and Zithromax Most medications provide those who properly follow prescription directions with an opportunity to stave off an illness, combat cancer or reduce the risk of heart disease. However, there are times when these same drugs can lead to injuries -- even when the patient meticulously follows prescription directions. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to Brianna Maya when she was only three years old. The young girl was given alternating doses of Children's Motrin and Children's Tylenol as instructed by ...

US Supreme Court to review Maryland's DNA Collection Act Maryland's DNA Collection Act permits law enforcement to collect genetic material from those arrested for a crime, even if they have not yet been convicted of that crime. The law does provide some limitations. The state can only collect DNA samples from individuals charged with a violent crime, such as sexual assault or murder. The DNA samples are stored in a database and are used to link the suspects to other unsolved crimes. The constitutionality of the DNA Collection Act is being investigated by the United ...

NHTSA Devises New Strategy to Curb Speeding Nearly every driver speeds from time to time. For some, driving 10 or 15 mph over the posted speed limit is simply standard practice. The prevalence of speeding is one of the biggest threats to highway safety, both in New York and across the United States. Every year, speeding-related accidents claim more than 13,000 lives. Speeding is involved in one-third of all fatal accidents and is the third leading cause of traffic accidents overall. Regulators and safety experts have long been looking for ways to encourage drivers ...

Marketing Your Franchise on Pinterest Social media is a great way for franchisors and franchisees to define their brands and draw customers to their businesses. However, keeping up with changing trends can seem like a daunting task. With all the different social media options available, many businesses just don't know where to start. Pinterest is one of the most recent entrants into the social media game. Unlike Facebook or Twitter, which rely on text-based "status updates," Pinterest allows users to "pin" pictures or videos to "pinboards" ...

Many of us probably understand that a drunk driving conviction carries with it penalties like fines, loss of a driver's license, community service or even jail time. But many people many not quite realize the indirect consequences that stem from a DUI conviction--both short term and long. After completing all requisite requirements under the law, individuals typically wipe themselves clean of their DUI conviction. Citing poor judgment or human error, and realizing their mistake, many simply want to move on. However, they later realize their DUI conviction is still affecting ...

One of the most common questions we hear from veterans is: How long will the VA claims appeals process take? The answer depends on several factors, but the bottom line is that a good argument right away increases the likelihood of success at the earliest possible moment in the appeals process. When veterans initially apply for veterans disability benefits, they are often surprised by the lengthy wait before their applications are approved. Many have their applications denied, for confusing reasons. Veterans Affairs offices across the country have long wait times before ...

Recently, a former "The Price Is Right" model sued for pregnancy discrimination. The California court awarded her $7.7 million in punitive damages. She had previously been awarded $777,000 in actual damages due to the discrimination. The woman alleged that the show's producers were angry to hear of her pregnancy and ignored her when she tried to return to work after giving birth. Luckily, California recognizes pregnancy discrimination. Florida women who are victims of pregnancy discrimination may have a more difficult time. In Florida, courts weigh the issues ...

In today's tech age, you can scarcely find a business that doesn't have some type of online presence. In fact, many "stores" are almost exclusively found online - such as Amazon.com. Consequently, many traditional "brick and mortar" stores are finding themselves on the losing end of a battle between themselves and their online counterparts, given that online stores have much lower overhead costs. In an effort to take part in this technological revolution, business owners routinely register new domain names in order to protect their spot on the internet. ...

Doctors and other medical professionals have spent years learning about the various injuries and illnesses that may be affecting their patients. When a patient comes into a clinic or hospital, the doctor will have a discussion to find out some of the symptoms that are present. Using this information, the doctor may order tests to determine the condition or conditions that are causing the problems. However, this process relies upon the doctor or physician to use his or her training to understand what may be wrong with the patient. This can take time and can be expensive, ...

A recent string of pedestrian accidents on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge has many students concerned. Three accidents involving student pedestrians occurred during a two-week period. In each of the accidents, the pedestrian had the right of way. In the first accident, a 21-year-old student was relaxing in the grass on the campus quad when a maintenance truck drove past and rolled over the student's upper body. The student suffered facial injuries. Another accident occurred just six days later. This one involved a 25-year-old student who was ...

A recent ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals redefines the circumstances under which victims of child pornography may be awarded restitution. The ruling may change the outcomes of pending civil action against those convicted of viewing child pornography, though the decision will likely be appealed and challenged in the Supreme Court. Current federal child pornography statutes Federal statute 2259 allows victims of child pornography to collect restitution for the "full amount" of the losses they suffer as a result of their abuses, including medical ...

Motor vehicle accident rates in California fluctuate for many reasons. For instance, car accident rates tend to rise at certain times of the year due to traffic volume, increases in drunk driving or weather-related factors. On a recent year-to-year basis, car and truck accident rates have been affected both by increased use of cell phones and texting devices, as well as state laws that prohibit certain types of distracted driving behavior. A recent rise in the number of motorcycle fatalities in California has been attributed to other factors. Increased popularity of ...

Stryker Orthopaedic is the latest manufacturer of metal hip implants to issue a major recall, and it is now facing several lawsuits regarding those implants as well. In July, according to its own website, Stryker, a multinational medical device manufacturer based in Michigan, recalled its Rejuvenate Modular and ABG II modular-neck hip stem models due to "a potential for fretting and corrosion at the modular neck junction which may lead to adverse local tissue reactions." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") received at least 45 adverse ...

The federal government may soon mandate recording devices in all cars. Under proposed Senate Bill 1813, Event Data Recorders (EDRs), otherwise known as "Black Boxes," will be required in all new cars starting in 2015. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a similar bill soon. A bill agreed on by both houses is widely expected to become law. The bill is part of the fallout from Toyota's massive recalls due to unintended-acceleration defects. It was discovered that the company's cars sometimes accelerated contrary to the operator's actions. Crash ...

An alarming new study shows that more than half of drivers killed in car accidents in the United States had alcohol or drugs in their systems at the time of the crash. The study examined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and car crash deaths in 14 states and revealed interesting results. The results of the study From 2005-2009, the study looked at over 20,000 fatally injured drivers. Approximately 57 percent tested positive for at least one drug. One in five had more than one drug in their system at the time of the accident. Alcohol was ...

In early June, New York governor Andrew Cuomo put forth a novel proposition: decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public throughout the state. Being caught in public with 25 grams or less of pot is currently a class B misdemeanor in New York, punishable by up to 90 days in jail. Individuals convicted of publicly possessing a small amount of marijuana also face a permanent mark on their record, which could affect future employment prospects. Under Cuomo's proposal, public possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana would become a "violation," ...

Making a few youthful mistakes is simply a part of growing up. Most of us learn from errors made at a young age and simply leave the past behind. But one recent Pennsylvania appeals court decision could make it increasingly harder for those convicted of juvenile crimes to move on with their lives. Ruling Means Teenager's Juvenile Record Will Be Provided to University In Pennsylvania, a juvenile adjudication of delinquency is not the same thing as a criminal conviction. However, a record of juvenile delinquency can have many of the same effects as a criminal conviction ...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) introduced the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) to bring taxpayers that have used undisclosed foreign accounts and undisclosed foreign entities to avoid or evade tax into compliance with United States tax laws. Entering into the program would potentially reduce the civil and criminal penalties that these taxpayers would face for not reporting the income and disclosing their foreign financial accounts. The OVDP has resulted in over $4 billion in collections since implemented and has made it safe for many taxpayers to get ...

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case from Missouri that, depending on the court's decision, could potentially affect the way that blood alcohol tests are performed around the nation. The case The case at issue concerns a Missouri resident suspected of driving while intoxicated. The defendant in that case, Tyler McNeeley, was initially pulled over for speeding in the wee hours of the morning on October 3, 2010. At that time, the officer noted several typical indicators of intoxication, including slurred words, a smell of alcohol and bloodshot eyes. The ...

In Tennessee, drunk driving is treated as serious crime. DUI offenses have always been punished strictly, but over the last year the state's drunk driving laws have gotten even tougher. During the 2012 session, state legislators passed a number of bills aimed at strengthening the penalties for people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. Changes to implied consent laws The biggest change concerned the state's implied consent law. Under that law, drivers who are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving can, in some circumstances, refuse to take a breath ...

When a person is accused of a crime, it can often be a time of great confusion. Sometimes the individual has never had any interaction with law enforcement before the arrest, and may feel that they can talk their way out of trouble. This almost never happens, as police have conducted very extensive investigations before making an arrest. Certain crimes, especially drug crimes, often receive more attention from investigators. Officers may receive tips from confidential informants or may discover evidence of wrongdoing from others who are arrested. Police can use this ...

When you are heading out for a drive, the last thing you expect is to be in a car accident. Many people have never been in a car accident and have no idea what they should do or what happens next. It can be difficult to stay calm immediately after an accident, as it can be difficult to stay calm immediately after an accident because your body gets flooded with adrenaline immediately upon impact. Compound the shock of the accident with the activity going on at the scene and it is easy to understand how you would become overwhelmed. Here are some helpful tips that explain ...

Drunk driving is one crime that often receives significant attention from both legislators and law enforcement. Legislators propose new rules that impose harsh penalties for those convicted, and law enforcement is aggressive in its effort to take drunk drivers off of local roadways. In South Carolina, police in some communities received additional training on some new issues that are beginning to show up more frequently during DUI stops. As part of their investigation, officers may ask motorists if they have been drinking before they were pulled over, or if they have ...

A rash of recent pedestrian and bicyclist accidents in South Florida has resulted in more deaths added to the state's already high non-motorist fatality rate. In the past few months alone, at least four people have been struck by vehicles and killed in the Manatee county metropolitan area, something that has bicycle/pedestrian advocacy spokesmen like Mike Lasche, executive director of Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocates and Florida Walks & Bikes, frustrated. Florida has one of the highest bicycle and pedestrian accident fatality rates in the nation, due in no small part ...

The United States Department of the Treasury recently partnered with five other countries to publish a model intergovernmental agreement to implement provisions of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). FATCA is a federal law that contains provisions to enforce tax compliance among holders of foreign accounts and assets. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom joined with the United States to build an agreement that would help all countries join together to fight tax evasion while creating minimal burdens for countries trying to comply. All six ...