Author: Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers
10 years after coal ash spill, cleanup workers are sick and dying
Just before Christmas in 2008, over 1.5 million tons of coal ash escaped from an unlined containment pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston coal-fired power plant. It poured into the Clinch and Emory rivers and flooded 300 acres of land. The ash came in the form of a thick sludge that contained toxic substances
Limits dropping, consequences rising for DUIs in other states
Tennessee has some of the toughest DUI laws in the nation — but other states are working to crack down on drunk driving, too. This could affect you when you travel to other states, and it potentially could indicate how Tennessee may deal with the issue in the future. Changes to DUI laws are often
Concussions in youth sports: 3 things for coaches and parents to know
Youth sports coaches and parents are always contending with multiple goals. Sure, you want to win. But it’s also important to instill values of hard work, teamwork, and enjoyment of the game while protecting the long-term health of the kids. If you’re coaching or have a child who plays a sport with frequent head injuries,
Report: Johnson & Johnson tried to cover up asbestos in its talc
Reuters recently reviewed internal Johnson & Johnson (J&J) documents and found that, between at least 1971 and the early 2000’s, J&J talc products sometimes tested positive for asbestos. Company executives suspected as early as 1957 that their talc products contained asbestos. J&J is facing over 12,000 lawsuits from people claiming J&J talc products such as
Johnson & Johnson knew its baby powder had asbestos
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been under fire in the past for the health risks posed by its baby powder, but a new investigation has revealed the company’s liability may run even deeper. In prior cases, plaintiffs alleged -with some success – that J&J’s baby powder caused ovarian cancer by traveling to the ovaries via
Older drivers’ medications could be a DUI risk
According to recent research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, almost half of older adults remain active drivers while using seven or more prescription medications. More disturbing is the fact that almost 20 percent of those drivers may be using medications that are considered potentially inappropriate, meaning that their risks generally outweigh their benefits.
For service members, a DUI conviction has serious consequences
In Tennessee, the penalties for DUI can be harsh, even for first-time offenders. As we’ve discussed before, jail time, fines and a suspended license are just the beginning. You could miss work or even lose your job. You could lose your professional license or CDL. There are fees for testing your blood alcohol content and for
Insulin pump failures cause high number of injuries and deaths
Since 2008, insulin pumps and their components have been the subject of more malfunction, injury and death reports than any other medical device. During that time, the Food and Drug Administration’s medical device database received a number of injury reports for these devices second only to reports involving metal hip replacements. Yet the problems with
Were you exposed to asbestos while serving in the military?
Many military service personnel, especially those who served in the Navy, were exposed to asbestos while in service and are at risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related illnesses. These illnesses have a long latency period, and can be aggressive. Often, by the time you are experiencing symptoms and get a correct diagnosis,
Don’t start the New Year with a DUI
The holidays are a time when families come together – and when impaired drivers hit the road. Tragically, countless drivers and passengers lose their lives every year between Christmas and New Year’s. From 2012 to 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed an average of 300 fatalities to drunk driving. If you anticipate drinking this season,