Lawyersandsettlements.com; November 3, 2013

Cheyenne, WY: A lawsuit filed by environmentalists regarding the risks of fracking contamination is set to be heard by the Wyoming Supreme Court in November. The lawsuit was filed due to concerns about hydraulic fracking and possible contamination due to the chemicals that are used during the process. Critics of fracking argue that it has been linked to instances of water contamination and illness in people.

he Wyoming lawsuit was filed by environmental groups to force the state and Halliburton Energy Services to make public the list of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, according to The Associated Press (10/17/13). The defendants, meanwhile, claim the chemicals they use in the process fall under protected trade secrets and do not have to be publicly listed. In a previous ruling on the issue, a district court judge found in favor of the defendants.

While some states are fighting to protect energy companies, some municipalities have banned fracking due to concerns about health and environmental risks. According to the New York Times (10/24/13), bans against hydraulic fracturing are popping up across the country, but even those bans face legal challenges. One town, Dryden, New York, faces a lawsuit from energy companies alleging the municipalities do not have the right to impose fracking bans. Although a lower court found in favor of the town, the Court of Appeals has agreed to hear the lawsuit.

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News Inferno; October 30, 2013

Headgear on the football playing field does not necessarily increase player protection from concussion, according to emerging research, according to a new report presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando.

Manufacturers have touted that special headgear will reduce concussion risks. “Despite what manufacturers might claim, newer and more expensive equipment may not reduce concussion risk,” said lead co-investigator Dr. Margaret Alison Brooks, MD, MPH, FAAP in a news release. “So is it worth the significant extra cost to families and schools?” Some 40,000 sport-related concussions are reported in United States high schools each year, according to Counsel and Beal.

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News Inferno; November 1, 2013

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just issued an updated Drug Safety Communication asking Ariad Pharmaceuticals, the maker of the leukemia drug, Iclusig (ponatinib), to suspend its marketing and sales following increased reports of serious blood clots in arteries and veins. Iclusig received FDA approval in December 2012.

The October 31, 2013 Communication is a follow-up to its prior announcement dated October 11, 2013.

The agency indicated that it would continue to evaluate Iclusig to better understand its risks-benefit profile, and advises patients currently being treated with Iclusig to speak to their heath care professionals concerning continuing treatment. Ariad Pharmaceuticals indicated that it agreed with the agency’s request.

To read the complete article, please click here: newsinferno.com.