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Author: Steve Terry

Steven Terry is the co-founder and current managing partner of TSR Injury Law. His practice consists solely of representing injured people and pursuing justice against wrongdoers. He has handled thousands of injury claims over a 20-plus-year career. Steve continues to exceed his clients' expectations and hold insurance companies responsible for the damage their insured's cause.

Man Awarded over $1 Mil in Levaquin Lawsuit

By Steve Terry |

The victory by a plaintiff in his Levaquin lawsuit against the manufacturer has brought about some very interesting details regarding the prescribing of the drug.

John Schedin was awarded over $1 million by a jury after he had experienced two ruptured Achilles tendons days after he started taking Levaquin with a steroid. The doctor who wrote the prescriptions to the man, then 76, stated that he was aware of the potential tendon issues with Levaquin, but he was not aware that there was an increased risk to the elderly population when the drug was taken in combination with a steroid.

Now Schedin has to crawl up his stairs at night in order to go bed. As for the doctor, he is mortified because of the role he played in Schedin’s disability.

The trial consisted of a lot of back-and-forth arguing as to what was known about the drug and what wasn’t. The manufacturer claimed that all of the pertinent information was made available to doctors and patients in the form of a medication guide that comes with the drug. Schedin countered that the information was so buried within the document that not many patients are going to read it, let alone doctors that are extremely busy on a daily basis.

The doctor said in his testimony that he did not remember the Levaquin representative ever mentioning tendon problems when she visited his office. The sales rep did testify that she included an information packet with the basket of free samples that she provided the doctor. She did not, however, recall whether or not she had verbally referenced the tendon issue with Levaquin.

The rep further stated that she may not have had time to mention the tendon issue to the doctor. She said that with doctors having such high caseloads, she is lucky if she is able to speak to a doctor for 30 seconds. She said speaking to a doctor that long would make her feel “lucky.”

If you have suffered serious side effects after taking the drug “Levaquin”, contact a personal injury lawyer in Bloomington, MN at TSR Injury Law for your free consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Playground Injury Lawsuits in Minnesota

By Steve Terry |

Playgrounds are fun and exciting areas for children to play, interact with other kids, and exercise their imaginations. However, unsafe playground equipment or facilities can turn a fun afternoon at the park into a dangerous injury very quickly.

As such, it is critical that you carefully examine your neighborhood playground to make sure that it is a safe place for your children and their friends. There are a number of elements you will want to consider when determining the safety of a local playground.

What material serves as the “floor” of the playground?

Children should never play on a playground that is paved with cement, as this increases the likelihood of broken bones and head injuries should a fall occur. You will want to make sure that there is some sort of “cushioning” material provided, like shredded rubber or sand, that will give your child a safe landing place should they happen to fall from the playground structures.

How far apart are the various playground elements?

You will not want to let your children play on a playground where the various pieces of equipment are located too closely to one another. The reasoning for this is that if a child should happen to fall or be thrown from one of the pieces of equipment, they will not injure or endanger any other children accidentally if they are located a safe distance away from the other kids.

Are there any dangers present on the structures themselves?

To help prevent cuts, you will want to carefully monitor and inspect the playground equipment for any unsafe elements, such as:

  • exposed nails / screws
  • sharp edges
  • splinters

Common Types of School Injuries

There are a number of aspects of school life that can lead to an injury if a child is not properly protected or supervised. TSR Injury Law is here to answer any questions you have and to represent you if your child has been affected by:

  • Teacher negligence
  • School district negligence
  • Failure to supervise
  • Sexual assault

Contact TSR Injury Law Today

If your child has been injured because of unsafe or poorly maintained playground equipment, contact a Minneapolis personal injury attorney at TSR Injury Law today by calling (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Why Should I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

By Steve Terry |

Why should I file a personal injury lawsuit?

Anisocoria Due to Blunt Trauma

By Steve Terry |

Air bags save many lives. They are also the cause of many injuries – including permanent disfigurement to the eyes. If this has happened to you, call a law firm that cares. Call 612-TSR-TIME or submit our contact form. Our Minnesota Anisocoria Eye Injury Attorneys can help you through the legal maze. We will answer your questions, handle all of the paperwork, and file your claim.

There are three main types of injury from the extreme force of an air bag explosion:

  • anisocoria – difference in pupil sizes
  • concussion – which is a form of brain damage
  • tinnitus – ringing in the ears

Anisocoria

Suffering a blunt trauma to the head or eye area may tear the pupil sphincter causing a permanently dilated pupil, termed anisocoria. This condition has become more prevalent since air bags have become standard features in motor vehicles.

Initially, anisocoria may present as retina damage or even sudden vision loss. The vision usually returns completely within 4-6 weeks, leaving the disfiguring dilated pupil.

Diagnosing Anisocoria

After blunt force trauma to the head, as in an air bag deployment which can snap the head back, a neurological examination should be performed. The exam should include checking the corneal reflex and manual palpation of the eyeball. A CT scan is also helpful in diagnosing the extent of the injury.

There have been cases where there were no symptoms or signs of spinal or brain injury, where the patients have had a Glasgow Coma score of 13-15 (where a 3 is severely brain damaged and 15 is very mild brain damage), but then during neurological examinations anisocoria was discovered. At this point an MRI needs to be done on the patient. It will usually show more damage than was originally diagnosed — possibly a spinal cord compression or spinal cord contusion requiring surgery.

Minnesota Anisocoria Eye Injury Attorney

If you have suffered an eye injury due to blunt force trauma, you may be eligible for compensation. At TSR Injury Law, our personal injury attorneys are skilled, aggressive litigators and have been named Super Lawyers many times by Law & Politics. Partner Chuck Slane was named to the prestigious list of Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Attorneys. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Batteries Plus Recalls Batteries

By Steve Terry |

If you have any RAYOVAC replacement battery packs in your home, you may want to take a look at them and determine whether or not they are one of the packs recalled by BatteriesPlus and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at the end of August.

This comes after a recall of 111,800 units in December 2011. This time 65,300 of the NI-CD and NI-MH Cordless Tool Battery packs have been taken off of the shelves. This is due to the battery pack exploding unexpectedly. This can pose a significant risk to the customer, resulting in a product liability issue for the company.

The packs that are involved have part numbers that start with “CTL.” So if you have a RAYOVAC battery pack that starts with a part number that starts with those letters printed in white and is “NI-CD” or “NI-MH,” you may have a recalled pack. The voltage of the affected packs range from 2.4 and 18 volts and they come in different shapes and sizes. They were sold as replacement batteries for the following tool brands: Makita, Bosh, DeWalt, Black and Decker, Milwaukee, Lincoln, Skil, Panasonic, and Ryobi.

The packs were sold at BatteriesPlus retail stores around the country and online on the BatteriesPlus website at batteriesplus.com between June 2008 and July 2012. The cost of each pack ranged from $60 to $70. They were manufactured in China.

If you have one of these packs, you should stop using it immediately by removing it from the tool. You can then return the pack to a BatteriesPlus store for store credit.

If you have been injured by an exploding battery pack, you must seek immediate medical care. After seeking medical care, contact a personal injury attorney regarding the injury so that the incident can be properly investigated and you can be notified of your rights. The parties responsible for the problem can also be notified of the incident.

Minnesota Mercury Poisoning Lawyer

By Steve Terry |

In today’s world full of chemicals, toxicity, and pollution, people face a whole host of hazards. The air they breathe, the water they drink, and the food they eat all may be contaminated with dangerous materials. Moreover, the products they use, like computer and light bulbs, are made with products and from chemicals that can be harmful to people’s health.

One such chemical is mercury. People can come into contact with mercury through a number of channels. One such channel is the consumption of salmon. There have been a number of cases where people who have eaten salmon have ingested mercury as well. Another source of mercury is the production of things like coal, gold, and cement. Also, things like batteries and light bulbs contain mercury.

The effects of coming into contact with mercury can be very serious. Milder symptoms include burning, itching, or pain sensations. Skin discoloration and swelling occur, as do peeling of nails and skin. More severe symptoms include excessive sweating, high blood pressure, and loss of hair. Among the worst symptoms are kidney malfunction, insomnia, and loss of memory. When severe enough, mercury poisoning can also lead to death.

People who get poisoning with mercury need to be treated immediately. As with all medical problems, the longer people wait to address them the worse they will get. Moreover, mercury poisoning can lead to severe financial and emotional stress.

Speak with a Minneapolis Mercury Poisoning Attorney

If you have been poisoned by mercury, contact a Minneapolis mercury poisoning lawyer of TSR Injury Law by calling (612) TSR-TIME or submit our consultation form.

Steve Terry Speaks at The MADD Minnesota Statewide Recognition Ceremony

By Steve Terry |

TSR Injury Law supports Minnesota MADD. Every year, MADD recognizes law enforcement, members in the legal community and first responders whose efforts have made a difference in protecting Minnesotans from drunk drivers. Partner Steven Terry was honored to speak at a recent event. As a decade long MADD board member, Steven has provided both financial help through the Firm as well as hundreds of hours of volunteer service. TSR Injury Law is proud to honor law enforcement and legal members who make a difference in this worthy cause.

Robert Street, West St. Paul – One Killed, 5 Injured

By Steve Terry |

There was a two-car crash Saturday night in West St. Paul. All six occupants were taken to Regions Hospital where one woman died from her injuries.

At about 9 p.m., a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out from the mall parking lot at Robert Street and Marie Avenue, into the path of a 2000 Mercury Mystique. The Mercury broadsided the Cavalier and 2 people were ejected from the broadsided vehicle, including 26-year-old Leslie J. Garvia who died from head and abdominal injuries. Ms. Garvia was not wearing a seat belt.

Another passenger, 26-year-old Jorge Zuniga, was also ejected and suffered non life-threatening head injuries. Zuniga was not wearing a seat belt either. The driver of the Cavalier, Fabio Dierings, and 2 other passengers sustained non life-threatening injuries. Lynette Landrum, driver of the Mercury, of West St. Paul, suffered minor injuries.

Four of the six people involved in the car accident were wearing seat belts. Alcohol is not suspected, according to police.

List of Names Released by Minnesota State Patrol:

  • Leslie J. Garcia, 26, St. Paul, MN
  • Jorge R. Zuniga, 26, Columbia Heights, MN
  • Kimberly J. Fuentes, 8, St. Paul, MN
  • Breidy Garcia, 19, St. Paul, MN
  • Fabio R. Dierings, 23, St. Paul, MN
  • Lynette J. Landrum, 40, West St. Paul, MN

Who Is At Fault?

Minnesota is a No Fault Insurance state; but in the event of a wrongful death due to the negligence of another, which includes inattentive driving, the next of kin can recover compensation. The monetary damages may include:

  • medical expenses
  • funeral expenses
  • loss of companionship
  • loss of advice
  • loss of potential earnings

Contact a Minneapolis car accident attorney at (612) TSR-TIME, to retain legal representation. Our partners are skilled, aggressive, and compassionate lawyers with years of experience handling car accident and wrongful death cases.

DePuy Hip Implant Lawsuit

By Steve Terry |

DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. has recalled its DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems and its ASR XL Acetablar Hip System, as well as its Pinnacle Hip Implant due to evidence that the products are defective. Claims of these defects have been coming out for years, but not before injuries were seen.

In addition to the DePuy recalls, the Zimmer Next Gen Knee Implant has resulted in patients requiring knee revision surgery due to the NexGen loosening and causing a great deal of pain. If you have been injured by any of these products, Terry, Slane, and Ruohonen can help you in holding the manufacturers responsible for the pain and suffering these defective products have caused you.

What Is The DePuy ASR Hip Implant?

The DePuy ASR Acetabular System is used for total hip replacement. The ASR Hip Resurfacing System is used in a newer procedure that is designed to preserve bone. The ASR Acetabular System has been approved by the FDA, but the hip resurfacing system has not been. Overall, about 93,000 of these devices have been implanted in patients all around the world.

The voluntary recall is the result of a British Joint Replacement Registry that showed approximately 12 percent of those who had received the implants needed to have revision surgeries or corrective procedures within five years of receiving the implants. This means that the failure rate is two times the industry average. Doctors have stated that the reason for this failure rate is a faulty design, and this faulty design was not discovered until the devices had already been implanted.

What About The DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant?

The DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant has yet to be recalled, but it could be next. Both patients and doctors have reported issues with the Pinnacle Hip Implant that are similar to that of the ASR Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System when the implant is used with a metal liner. The FDA has never approved the DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant to be used with a metal liner. When used with this liner, the implant becomes loose. Approximately 1,300 complaints regarding corrective surgery to remove and replace the implant have been logged. DePuy has yet to issue a recall, but this does not mean that the product is not defective. The FDA may eventually issue a recall, but the FDA is not always quick to do so.

Zimmer NexGen Knee Implant

The Zimmer NexGen Knee Implant is a piece that is not made of the standard cement and it attaches to the bottom of the thigh bone. Unfortunately, this product is showing a high failure rate. The blame has been placed upon the design, while Zimmer has blamed the surgeons, stating the failure is due to surgical errors or the type of patient receiving the implant.

Patients have experienced:

  • Implant failure
  • Knee pain and other knee complications
  • Loosening of the implant

Each issue results in corrective surgery that can be expensive and very painful.

Call Today For a Free Consultation

If you have one of these implants and you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or you have already had to have revision surgery, call a Minneapolis defective product lawyer from TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME.

Minnesota Fungal Meningitis Lawsuit

By Steve Terry |

If you or a loved one has become ill with fungal meningitis resulting from an epidural steroid injection for back pain, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

The Methylprednisolone acetate steroid injections were manufactured by New England Compounding Center (NECC) of Farmington, Massachusetts and delivered to seventy-six clinics in 23 states, including Minnesota. Administration of the steroid began on May 21, 2012. Many individuals have become ill and some have died. There was also a case of a patient receiving the injection for ankle pain and contracting a joint infection as a result. More of these cases may exist.

Fungal Meningitis Symptoms

Fungal Meningitis has an incubation period of 42 days, which is why those that received the initial injections took so long to become ill. However, the CDC is not entirely sure if 42 days is the longest the illness will incubate; it could be longer. Patients could experience subtle symptoms for month before becoming seriously ill. The early symptoms of fungal meningitis, which affects the spinal cord and membranous lining of the brain include:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stiff neck
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Slurred speech
  • Pain
  • Numbness
  • Redness and swelling at the injection site a month or so after the injection

The CDC has also stated that methylprednisone acetate is used to treat knee, ankle, and shoulder pain and it is expected that there will be more joint infection cases. The symptoms of a joint infection include pain or redness at the injection site, swelling, and fever.

A fungal infection in any part of the body can be cause for disability or death. In addition, the antifungal medications that are being used to treat the fungal infection can be difficult for patients to tolerate over time. It is unclear how the fungi found its way into the vials. After distribution of the steroid to the clinics, the FDA confiscated fifty sealed vials and found that they were contaminated. It is also unclear exactly how many individuals will require treatment. Nonetheless, having to deal with a life threatening illness involves a great deal of pain and suffering, as well as medical bills that are not the fault of the patient.

Fortunately, all infected patients and their families have rights and it is important to know those rights. Because of the injuries and medical costs, you may be entitled to compensation. In fact, the lawsuits against the manufacturer have already begun and representation by a Minneapolis fungal meningitis lawyer who is experienced in representing clients in infectious disease cases will yield the best results.

Contact A Fungal Meningitis Attorney

Fungal meningitis can be fatal or lead to permanent disability. If you have a loved one currently battling fungal meningitis or you have suffered from it and are recovering or recovered, contact Terry, Slane & Ruohonen as soon as possible to learn about your rights and options. Contact a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis immediately at (612) TSR-TIME for a free consultation.

Minneapolis Cephalohematoma Attorney

By Steve Terry |

We cannot even imagine your pain right now, but we do care and want to help. At TSR Injury Law, we are committed to helping families that have suffered preventable birth injuries win the compensation they deserve. Contact our Minnesota Cephalohematoma Attorney at 612-TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

What Is a Cephalohematoma?

All bones, including the skull, have a tough covering called the periosteum. When the skull experiences sufficient force, blood vessels that nourish the periosteum can be torn. This causes a small pool of blood to form between the skull and the skin covering it. This is known as a cephalohematoma.

Causes and Consequences of Cephalohematoma

A cephalohematoma is almost always the result of a birth injury. It can happen any time the infant’s skull is placed under pressure during birth. The most common causes include:

  • Difficult births
  • The use of forceps during childbirth
  • Vacuum extractions

This injury causes a small, soft lump to form on the baby’s head. It usually resolves on its own within a few weeks or months. However, there are certain complications associated with cephalohematoma, such as:

  • An increased risk of jaundice within the first few days
  • A cyst formed over a skull fracture, which can be confused with cephalohematoma
  • Possible trauma to the brain beneath the cephalohematoma

If your child experiences health complications following this injury, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. An experienced Minnesota cephalohematoma attorney can inform you of your rights and guide you through the legal process.

Contact a Minneapolis Cephalohematoma Attorney

Childbirth is stressful enough without any medical complications. If your infant has suffered a preventable birth injury, call TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME, or submit our contact form.

Pedestrian Killed in Crosswalk, Cokato, MN

By Steve Terry |

A 91-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing Highway 12, in Cokato, Minnesota. She died before she could be airlifted from the scene.

Ruby Voight had just gone shopping. She was walking home at about 5:15 p.m. with her packages in the basket of her walker. The 1996 Chevy Tahoe, driven by 55-year-old David Rostomily, was driving westbound on Hwy 12. Ruby was in the crosswalk at Johnson Avenue NW when she was struck.

Wright County Sheriff’s Office and the State Patrol were at the scene. They will continue to investigate the accident. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor. Mr. Rostomily stopped and is cooperating with authorities.

Helping Accident Victims and Families

In pedestrian accidents, especially when a wrongful death has occurred, it is vital to interview eyewitnesses and protect evidence. The loss of a parent or grandparent is very difficult and if the estate was not in order, a significant amount of money could have been lost to taxes.

The attorneys with TSR Injury Law have years of experience handling pedestrian accidents and wrongful death cases. We will support you through this difficult time by providing legal counsel, doing all of the paperwork, and filing your claim. Call (612) TSR-TIME and speak to a licensed Minneapolis personal injury attorney or submit our free consultation form and a member from our legal team will contact you shortly.

Free Consultation – Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.