2012 Archives

GlaxoSmithKline Pleads Guilty in Fraud Case

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Well-known pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline’s guilty pleas were part of the nation’s largest health-care fraud settlement, under which GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $3 billion, including more than $35 million to the Massachusetts Medicaid program, to resolve allegations that the company engaged in illegal schemes related to the marketing and pricing of some of the drugs that it manufactures, more specifically, Paxil and Wellbutrin. The company also pleaded guilty to failing to report safety data to the FDA about the drug Avandia.

GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $3 billion in total to resolve all of its criminal and civil liabilty related to this fraud scheme.

Even celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky has been linked with the fraud. He was accused of taking payments from GlaxoSmithKline to promote the two antidepressant medications. “In the late 90’s I was hired to participate in a 2-year initiative discussing intimacy and depression which was funded by an educational grant by Glaxo Wellcome,” Pinsky told HealthPop in a statement. “Services for the non-branded campaign included town hall meetings, writings and multimedia activities in conjunction with the patient advocacy group the National Depresive and Manic Depressive Association (NDMDA). My comments were consistent with my clinical experience.” Pinsky was mentioned in the complaint filed by the Unites States government against the company.

The complaint states that “Pinsky allegedly received two payments in March 2009 and April 2009 from GlaxoSmithKline totaling $275,000 to promote Wellbutrin SR.” The Wall Street Journal reports that in 1999, Pinsky made statements on a television and radio show. In these statements, Pinsky claimed that he prescribed the drug Wellbutrin to depressed patients because it “may enhance or at least not suppress sexual arousal,” like other similar medications are known to do. Pinsky has also been accused of promoting the drug for uses that had not been approved by the FDA.

If you or someone you know has been charged with fraud, it will be in your best interests to speak with an experienced federal criminal lawyer. The criminal defense lawyers at The Mace Firm are ready to speak with you about your case. Call one of the Myrtle Beach criminal defense lawyers to schedule your free consultation.

Deadly Weekend In Miami

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Wrongful death can occur anywhere.  In a tragic introduction to a holiday week, car accidents caused by out of control vehicles have claimed seven lives in Miami, including three members of a single family and two church leaders.

The deadliest of the crashes happened in Little Havana last Saturday when a van crashed into a family from Georgia walking to their car after an afternoon baseball game at the new Marlins Park. The family was on the sidewalk when they were struck by the van. Of those killed were a 13-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy, a 50-year-old woman and the driver of the out of control minivan. All were pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to authorities. A surviving 10-year-old girl was in extremely critical condition Sunday night and a fifth family member, a man in his 60s who was unhurt but witnessed the horrific accident and was overcome with grief, was also hospitalized.

The driver of the van was identified as Raul Herberto Ortega, 67, and is believed to have suffered a heart attack just before losing control of his red 2006 Dodge Caravan, police said.

At approximately the same time in Liberty City, two more deaths occurred. Two church leaders stopped to have something to eat at Jumbo’s Restaurant, a landmark in the city. While they were standing outside, a pick-up truck sped by and flew out of control, slamming into the pair. As a result of the crash, one of the victims was “sent flying into the restaurant as the truck pushed one of the victims’ parked vehicle into the restaurant’s front wall, shattering three window panels and leaving a gaping hole.” The driver of the pick-up, Antonio Lawrence, 53, was charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter and was being held in jail on $30,000 bond.

The seventh victim in the flurry of fatal crashes died around 1 a.m. Sunday morning in Pembroke Pines. Police said “a white, two-door Nissan spun out of control, hit the curb and slammed into a concrete utility pole near the Shops at Pembroke Gardens, in the 900 block of Southwest 145th Avenue.” The impact split the vehicle in half which caused the front-seat passenger to be ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene. Police did not identify him, but said he was 22 years old. The driver, 21-year-old Kevin Singh, was hospitalized and is said to have non-life threatening injuries.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a car accident, you will benefit from speaking with a good personal injury lawyer or wrongful death lawyer. Call one of the Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys at The Mace Firm. Our experienced Myrtle Beach lawyers are ready to speak with you about your case.