The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will continue investigating reports of Ford F-150 gas tanks breaking loose, says The New York Times.   The agency is also upgrading its previously announced probe to a more serious “engineering analysis.” Despite Ford’s claim the gas tanks breaking loose do not represent “an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle [...]

Bayer’s promotion of contraceptive pill Yasmin is ruled misleading, says the pharmaceutical industry’s self-regulatory body in Great Britain. The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority ruled the company’s advertisement promoting Yasmin for acne and premenstrual symptoms was “misleading, prejudiced patient safety and brought the pharmaceutical industry into disrepute,” says the Financial Times.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a new program that could allow corporate whistleblowers to receive multi-million dollar payouts for reporting financial wrongdoing. On Wednesday, the Commission voted 3-2 to finalize a new measure of last year’s Dodd-Frank Wall Street overhaul law which expands the agency’s authority.  Prior to Dodd-Frank, the agency was only [...]

More than 300 home buyers are suing Donald J. Trump claiming the real estate mogul caused them to lose millions of dollars.  Over the last few years, enticed home hunters have purchased apartments marketed as “Trump properties” seeking to own the elusive level of extravagance often associated with the Trump name. Unfortunately, financing troubles halted [...]

A Montana state board will considering adopting a rule requiring oil and gas companies in the state to publically disclose what chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing. The Montana Board of Oil and Gas will hold a public hearing on June 15, to discuss adopting the proposed rule.  Under the disclosure rule, companies have the [...]

A class-action lawsuit was filed in Arkansas against Southwestern Energy over its use of hydraulic fracturing.  The company was drilling in the Fayetteville Shale, a major source of natural gas in Arkansas. James and Mindy Tucker allege Southwestern Energy’s drilling practices contaminated their drinking-water well.  The plaintiffs claim after the company began drilling in “areas [...]

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation recently consolidated all product liability lawsuits against DePuy Orthopaedics over the Pinnacle hip implant device.  In an order issued Monday, the panel sent the litigation  to the U.S. District Court for Northern Texas under Judge James Kinkeade. As of now, there are at least 57 product liability lawsuits [...]

A recent class-action lawsuit against Arkansas drilling companies claim injection wells used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) caused earthquakes and damaged residents’ property.  Named in the suit are BHP Billiton Petroleum (BHP), Chesapeake Operating, Inc., and Clarita Operating, LLC. Sam Lane of Faulkner County is filing the lawsuit suit and seeks property damages, loss of fair [...]

Researchers in Istanbul, Turkey have released what they deem “stunning proof” confirming cell phone radiation can impair brain function and lower sperm count.  The Environmental Health Trust sponsored the meeting where new research confirmed digital signals from cell phones cause damage to DNA, brain and sperm. The research also corroborates findings from the Council of [...]

Pfizer’s failure to correctly submit adverse event data on the smoking-cessation drug Chantix resulted in underestimated risks of psychiatric side effects.  According to the Institute for Safe Medicine Practice (ISMP), data from the third quarter of 2010 is inaccurate due to the manufacturer’s method of reporting suicide cases. In 2006, the U.S. Food & Drug [...]