Author Archives: Kurt Niland

Florida’s Emerald Coast tourism agency overhauled amid criminal investigations

Posted: May 18, 2012 Environmental

FT. WALTON BEACH, FLA–State and federal authorities are investigating the alleged criminal misuse of BP oil spill funds and bed taxes by Northwest Florida’s Okaloosa County Tourism Development Council. The probe has prompted county officials to make big changes to

BP oil spill pollutants turn up in migratory pelicans nesting in Minnesota

Posted: May 18, 2012 Environmental

Petroleum compounds from BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico two years ago and some of the chemicals used to clean it are being found in pelican colonies nesting in Minnesota, according to a report by Minnesota Public Radio.

Dashboard video captures Hyundai Sonata sudden acceleration crash

Posted: May 17, 2012 Product Liability

A South Korean couple was injured when their 2009 Hyundai Sonata suddenly accelerated out of control on the streets of Daegu, South Korea, and crashed into another car at a high speed. The incident, which was captured on video by

Actos patent expiration sets Takeda on acquisitions hunt

Posted: May 16, 2012 Pharmaceutical

Faced with sharply dwindling profits, Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. has gone on an international shopping spree in search of drug company acquisitions that would introduce new drugs to the Takeda line and help offset a cash crunch brought about by

Drugmakers credit Androgel and Testim for first-quarter profit surge

Posted: May 16, 2012 Pharmaceutical

The market for testosterone replacement drugs is booming, with no signs of easing in the future, market analysts say. Abbott Laboratories, the maker of Androgel 1.62% and Androgel 1% and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, which makes Testim 1%, are aggressively marketing their

2012 Hyundai Elantras under investigation for potential airbag hazard

Posted: May 16, 2012 Product Liability

U.S. safety regulators are investigating a complaint made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning a 2012 Hyundai Elantra whose airbag allegedly deployed and sliced the driver’s ear in half.

Arrested BP engineer says secret evidence will clear him of charges

Posted: May 16, 2012 Environmental

An engineer who was the first person to be arrested on charges related to BP’s 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill for deleting a series of text messages has asked the court to allow him to share undisclosed records that,

Town and Country minivan design defects led to crash deaths and injuries, lawsuit claims

Posted: May 15, 2012 Product Liability

A 2011 crash on a Fort Stockton, Texas highway that was so horrific and devastating it compelled pop star Justin Bieber and scores of others to organize fundraising efforts is now the subject of a lawsuit against Chrysler over alleged

Button battery injuries rising among kids, new study finds

Posted: May 15, 2012 Personal Injury

Household batteries, especially the little button batteries that are powering more and more toys, remote controls, and other common devices, are sending nearly twice as many children to the Emergency Room than they did 20 years ago, according to a

Canada issues new alert for metal hip patients and their doctors

Posted: May 15, 2012 Pharmaceutical

Canadian regulators have issued a new alert for patients who have been implanted with metal-on-metal hip devices, advising them to watch for certain signs that could indicate the implants are failing.