Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Headquartered in Montgomery, AL, Beasley Allen law firm was founded in 1978 by Jere Beasley - former Governor of Alabama, the law firm quickly developed a national reputation as a leader in personal injury and mass torts litigation. To date Beasley Allen has recovered nearly 20 billion dollars ($20,000,000,000) for their clients.

Coal-fired power plants produce coal ash and other toxic waste byproducts. The toxic waste contains such heavy metals as arsenic, lead, barium, chromium and manganese, which have been shown to cause cancer, liver damage, and neurological complications. This hazardous material is usually stored on site at the facilities in retention ponds or dams. A failure in the dam's retaining wall, or an overflow, can result in an environmental disaster contaminating surrounding waterways, soil, and wildlife, and endangering human health and life.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are about 625,000 underground storage tanks nationwide that store petroleum and other hazardous substances. Until the mid-1980s most underground storage tanks (USTs) were made of bare steel, which is likely to corrode over time and allow UST contents to leak into the environment. The greatest potential hazard from a leaking UST is that its contents can seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans.

Beasley Allen has filed a class action lawsuit against British Petroleum (”BP”) and several other companies with ties to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The firm seeks to represent individuals and businesses that have incurred damages related to the disaster

Whether at home, at work or traveling, the catastrophe of a serious accident injury can leave a victim confused, helpless and hurting. And it happens often. According to the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics, serious personal injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans of all ages regardless of gender, race or economic status, and there are many millions more who survive.

Mesothelioma (a.k.a asbestos cancer) is a highly aggressive and rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lining of the lung (pleural), however it can also occur in the lining of the heart (pericardial) and abdominal cavity (peritoneal).

The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

The purpose of this site is to share information about Mesothelioma and/or asbestos-related cancer in a personal way. We are really interested in talking to people who have Meso, or their family members, to share their stories. Help raise mesothelioma awareness and support this website.

Over a million people in the United States wake up every day in nursing homes. Many of these individuals are helpless, vulnerable and completely dependent upon nursing home staff to meet most or all of their needs. After all, nursing homes are supposed to be in the business of providing skilled nursing care to elderly and disabled residents.

Personal injury and product liability legal resources covering automobile accidents, defective products, rollover accidents, workplace injuries and wrongful death.

Trucking is a dangerous profession. Driving certain types of rigs, like tankers and flatbeds, is probably among the most dangerous major occupations in the country. Rollover accidents account for the highest percentage of driver fatalities, at about 55 percent, while another 10 percent of fatalities are attributed to fuel oil fires. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports large trucks were involved in approximately 368,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in one year’s time.

Various antibiotic families, each containing a multitude of antimicrobial types and brands, have been known to distress the liver in many recipients, often causing severe liver damage and, in some cases, death. Researchers know that antibiotics adversely affect the liver more frequently than any other prescription drugs.

Avandia, sold by GlaxoSmithKline, is a blockbuster medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. More than 6 million people worldwide have taken the drug, whose U.S. sales topped $2.2 billion last year.

Analysis led by the Cleveland Clinic of 42 separate studies on Avandia concluded that it raised the risk of heart attacks by 43 percent. As many as 100,000 heart attacks may be linked to Avandia, according to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) in a floor statement placed in the Senate record on May 24, 2007.

Chantix has been prescribed to more than 4 million patients in the United States since its approval in 2006 as a treatment for smoking cessation. However, in 2007 and 2008, the FDA has issued a series of warnings regarding the product's safety, citing serious neuropsychiatric symptoms including depression, suicide and homicidal tendencies, as well as medical problems such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, hepatitis, liver failure and diabetes.

On April 25, 2008, drug manufacturer Actavis Totowa issued a Class I recall for Digitek, which is used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The recall came when it was discovered Digitek tablets had been manufactured at twice the intended thickness, doubling their strength and raising the possibility of triggering a toxic reaction. Side effects from the too-strong tablets include nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, bradycardia and even death.

On December 11, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Safety Alert calling for a black box warning to consumers and health care providers that a serious form of kidney injury, acute phosphate nephropathy, had been associated with the use of prescription OSP, namely Salix Pharmaceuticals' Visicol and Osmo Prep. The FDA expressed equal concern for kidney damage associated with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) products such as Fleet Phospho-soda and Fleet Accu-Prep solutions when used for bowel clearing.

Recent studies demonstrate a clear link between osteonecrosis and Fosamax. The irony is that these drugs, such as Fosamax, that are prescribed to prevent bone decay may actually be causing bone decay - such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) was first described in the medical literature in 2000, with the first case of NSF bering identified identified in 1997.

The cause of NSF is unknown but it has been reported only in patients who have severe kidney disease.  NSF causes fibrosis of the skin and connective tissues throughout the body which results in skin thickening that may prevent bending and extending joints, resulting in decreased mobility of joints.

Commonly used as an injectable anticoagulant, heparin was recalled in March 2008 due to contamination of raw heparin stock imported from China. It is believed that at least 81 deaths can be linked to the contaminated heparin ingredient, as well as nearly 800 reports of serious injuries. Problems associated with contaminated heparin include difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, and rapidly falling blood pressure that can lead to shock and possibly death.

On December 22, 2005, the FDA and Davol/Bard notified healthcare professionals of a class 1 recall of the Bard Composix Kugel Mesh hernia patch (X-Large Patch Oval with ePTFE).

Since this time, the hernia patch recall has twice been expanded by the FDA and Davol.

Patients who have who have been implanted with one of the recalled hernia patches should seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms that could be associated with hernia patch failure such as:

• fever
• unexplained or persistent abdominal pain
• tenderness at the implant site
• other unusual symptoms

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is medication containing one or more female hormones, commonly estrogen plus progestin. HRT is often prescribed to treat symptoms of menopause such as “hot flashes,” vaginal dryness, mood swings, sleep disorders, and decreased sexual desire. This medication may be taken in the form of a pill, a patch, or vaginal cream.

Recent studies now show that hormone replacement therapy places women at a higher risk for:

• breast cancer
• ovarian cancer
• non-hodgkins lymphoma
• heart attack
• stroke
• blood clots

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently notified health care professionals and patients that it is aware of four recently published observational studies that looked at the use of Lantus (insulin glargine) and possible risk for cancer in patients with diabetes. Three of the four studies suggest an increased risk for cancer associated with use of Lantus. Prescription Lantus is used for adults with type 2 diabetes or adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes who require long-acting insulin for the control of high blood sugar.

On October 15, 2007, Medtronic suspended sale of their Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator leads (Models 6930, 6931, 6948, 6949) after receiving reports of 5 fatalities.

According to Medtronic, since 2004 over 268,000 patients in the United States have been implanted with the defective lead as part of the defibrillator.

Johnson & Johnson already settled several of the lawsuits charging that its Ortho Evra contraceptive patch causes blood clots and other serious side effects due to heightened estrogen levels. Several lawsuits have already ended with confidential settlements, and the company has told plaintiffs lawyers it is ready to cut deals in remaining ones.

Learn more about Ortho Evra side effects.

A recent study published by The American Journal of Sports Medicine identified intra-articular pain pumps (aka post-operative pain pumps) as the likely cause of a condition known as chondrolysis.

Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis is a specific type of chondrolysis that is associated with pain pumps and shoulder surgery.

Anyone who has used a pain pump to regulate pain following shoulder, knee, hip, ankle or back surgery should consult their doctor if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• continued pain
• weakness in the shoulder
• clicking, popping or grinding in the shoulder
• decreased range of motion in the shoulder

In September 2005, drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline informed health care professionals that it was updating the Pregnancy subsection of the PRECAUTIONS section of the labels for the drug PAXIL (paroxetine HCI) and PAXIL CR controlled-release tablets. The new warning reflects the results of a study that indicates major congenital malformations in infants born to women taking antidepressants, including Paxil, during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning to consumers and healthcare providers warning of the risk of tardive dyskinesia with the long-term or high-dose use of metoclopramide, more commonly known as Reglan, a medication prescribed for the treatment of disorders like heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. Elderly patients, especially women, are at an increased risk of developing the condition while using Reglan. Tardive dyskinesia is a condition in which a person develops involuntary movements of their muscles.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening condition. SJS is defined as a hypersensitivity disorder affecting the skin and mucous membranes. There is a reported incidence of around one case per million people per year.

Gardasil and Cervarix are marketed as cervical cancer vaccines that can protect girls and women from human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer and genital warts. The vaccines are marketed to be administered to girls and young women ages 9 to 26. Gardasil has been approved for use in the United States since 2006, while Cervarix has been widely used in Europe, and was approved by the FDA for use in America on Oct. 16, 2009. However, the vaccine has been linked to serious adverse side effects including blood clots, Lupus and stroke, as well as more than 44 deaths. Now, an expert HPV researcher asserts the vaccine is largely unnecessary with current cervical cancer preventive measures and treatments, and claims Gardasil has never been fully tested on females under age 15.

Manufactured by Bayer, Trasylol was used to reduce bleeding during complicated surgeries. However, the drug was temporarily withdrawn worldwide in 2007 after studies suggested that its use increased the risk of complications or death, and Trasylol was entirely and permanently withdrawn in May 2008, except for very restricted research use. Risks associated with Trasylol include acute renal failure, myocardial infarction and heart failure, as well as stroke and encephalopathy.

Vytorin is commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol levels. However, recent studies call into question the drug's effectiveness and even indicate risk of serious side effects. Manufactured by Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough, Vytorin carries a risk of liver problems such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and even liver failure. Most recently, the drug has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

Yaz, manufactured by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a combination birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Studies indicate that Yaz poses a particular health hazard because drospirenone is a diuretic, which can cause an increase in potassium levels in the blood and lead to hyperkalemia, which causes heart rhythm disturbances that can cause blood clots and leading to sudden cardiac death or pulmonary embolism or strokes. Diuretics also can cause significant problems with the gallbladder, leading to gallbladder removal.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) laws require overtime compensation be paid (at time and one-half) for all “hours worked” over a prescribed “threshold” (typically 40 hours per week), for “nonexempt” employees. FLSA lawsuits typically seek recovery for unpaid or underpaid back wages, plus double damages (called “liquidated damages”) and attorneys’ fees.

Since September 2009, more than 8 million Toyota vehicles worldwide have been recalled. The recall involves both Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Beasley Allen has filed several class action lawsuits on behalf of Toyota owners, as well as individual product liability lawsuits in cases involving serious injury and death as a result of unintended acceleration.

Unum Provident is the largest disability insurance company, providing disability insurance for more than 17 million Americans. Unfortunately, for their policyholders, Unum has denied legitimate disability claims from seriously ill customers. This is a corporate strategy designed for one purpose - to boost profits.

Attorneys at Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., are currently evaluating claims against Yamaha Motor Corporation on behalf of people who suffered serious injury in a Yamaha Rhino ATV accident, or whose loved ones were injured or killed in these serious crashes.

A photoblog for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Montgomery, Alabama build. This website was created by Beasley Allen to chronicle the incredible efforts of Aronov Homes, the sponsors, and the thousands of volunteers that came together to build a new home for the Jordan Family.

The Jere Beasley Report is free newsletter published monthly and mailed to over 38,000 loyal subscribers all over the world. The report is an in-depth analysis of news and information that is important to consumers, but is rarely printed elsewhere in the mainstream media.

The Beasley Allen Legal Strategies Conference & Expo (LSCE) is the premiere annual event for Alabama attorneys in private practice. Enhance your knowledge of current legal issues while earning continuing legal education (CLE) credits. The conference will be held Nov. 20-21 in Montgomery, at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Conference Center. This is the largest gathering of its kind in the state, and will feature dynamic speakers and guests as well as a host of special activities including a tour of Montgomery's exciting new Alley Station entertainment district. Register online NOW to secure the best spot for you and your guests.