**NOTE: Memphis Actos attorney Darrell Castle is no longer accepting new Actos cases. We’ve kept the following information on our website for informational purposes only. If you would like to discuss another dangerous drug case, contact us today at 901-327-1212.** The seventh Actos case out of thousands went to trial recently. Frances Wisniewski, a 79-year old retired accountant, received a $2 million verdict. The jury found Actos contributed to Wisniewski’s bladder cancer. This case follows a $9 billion verdict and is the second heavy-hitting verdict against Actos. Actos Connection to Cancer Presented at Trial Actos users claim Takeda, the manufacturer of the drug, either ignored or downplayed Actos’ cancer-causing risks. They claim the company knew the risks before it ever went on
Stay-at-Home Parenting and SSDI What are the rules on disability benefits for stay-at-home parents? The answer depends on what other work history you might have. SSDI and Work Credits Social security disability insurance (SSDI) is an insurance policy set up by the federal government. In order to take part in the policy, you pay into it just like any insurance. For employees whose employer takes out their taxes for them, it happens automatically. For self-employed workers, you pay when you file your quarterly taxes. In return, injured or disabled workers can apply for disability insurance. Most people hope never to make that application, but in dire times it can cover some of your lost wages. To qualify for SSDI, you
We joke sometimes about creditors hating what we do – OK, one creditor in particular. But that’s not exactly how it works. Some creditors hate the work we do, but a lot of them love the way we do it. Here’s why: Video Transcript: If creditors hate me, it’s because I do my job very well. Here at Darrell Castle and Associates, we help people keep their cars if they’re behind on their car payments. We help them keep their homes when they’re behind on their house payments. So they’re not dispossessed, with children and families having no place to live, and their children displaced from their school system. We prevent all those things from happening. That’s what creditors
The Dangers of Asbestos Exposure As a Memphis personal injury attorney for asbestos exposure, I have seen firsthand the serious and frequently life-threatening illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos-related medical issues account for about 10,000 lost lives each year. And despite what many people believe, U.S. regulators never officially banned the product. So asbestos-related medical issues still commonly occur for many Americans every year. What Is Asbestos? Asbestos is a durable, flame resistant natural fiber. As a result, the building construction industry has used it for years, including in: Renovation Demolition Roofing Heating and cooling And more. You can find it in many homes and large buildings across the U.S. It also shows up in car clutches, brake repair,
The National Crisis of Debt According to the Commercial Appeal, almost 45% of Greater Memphis residents and more than 35% of all adult Americans have been reported to collection agencies. The article claims the number is so high because wages barely kept up with inflation over the past five years. This debt comes from human mistakes, job loss, and medical bills. “Roughly every third person you pass on the street is going to have debt in collections,” said Urban Institutes’s Caroline Ratcliffe. “It can tip employers’ hiring decisions or whether or not you get that apartment.” That’s because the debt is only one problem. If you let it fester because you can’t pay it, the debt and its consequences only get worse.
Why Do You Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage? As a Memphis car accident lawyer, I hear this question all the time: “Why do you need uninsured motorist coverage?” You need it because without it, you could lose everything. Uninsured motorist coverage is a crucial part of your auto insurance policy and usually doesn’t cost very much to include. Tennessee law requires insurance companies offer uninsured motorist protection, but you can choose to waive it when you sign up for your policy. Some of the low-cost insurance companies might encourage you to waive the coverage. They might tell you it saves money and isn’t worth it. And you might be tempted to make your insurance payment as low as possible. But the
A recent study shows the average bankruptcy cost has increased nationwide over the last few years. What caused this change and what does it mean for you? Bankruptcy Cost and the BAPCPA According to the study, this change in the cost of filing bankruptcy is directly linked to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). BAPCPA, which has been hailed by some politicians as reform, drastically complicated the bankruptcy process. As a result, more people have to hire an attorney for their bankruptcy proceedings, and those attorneys have additional work to do for every case. Because the bill put new obligations on attorneys, trustees, and courts, the system in general has to charge more for the
Why a Good Bankruptcy Attorney Makes the Difference If you need to file bankruptcy, a good bankruptcy attorney can make all the difference between success and failure. A lot of detail goes into a successful bankruptcy case. And your bankruptcy attorney has your financial future in his or her hands. So you should hire someone you can trust to get the job done, even when it requires more work than expected. Here are a few reasons having a good bankruptcy attorney matters more than people realize: A Good Attorney Will Do Everything They Can for Your Case At my Memphis bankruptcy firm, we’ve taken way too many clients who tried other attorneys and had to rush to us when their cases
The Benefits of Bankruptcy for Everyone Bankruptcy not only benefits the person trying to get out of debt, but it benefits society as a whole. When you’re behind on your bills and in debt, you think about and focus on how you’re going to get out of the hole. Your income and energy goes towards the debt, to the point of stress and worry. You may have to sacrifice payments of other bills. And you may not be able to go out or spend money around town. The debt keeps you from paying sales tax or buying goods and services. In comes bankruptcy – a resource for getting out of that debt. As a federal law designed by the government,
GM Recall for Ignition Switches On Friday, GM added 971,000 vehicles to their already extensive list of faulty vehicles affected by the GM recall for ignition switches. (Originally published March 29, 2014) GM’s faulty ignition switches suddenly shut off cars, which disables the brakes, power steering, and air bags. In that moment, you have no power steering or brakes. Airbags won’t deploy to soften the blow upon impact. As a result, investigators report 13 deaths so far and many more injuries. GM could have avoided such a high death toll. Instead, they waited a decade to make the recall. So why did GM wait so long? According to many people familiar with the automaker, the corporate culture affected their decision. Managers