THE PINNACLE OF FAILURE: Jury ordered Johnson & Johnson and its DePuy Orthopaedics unit to pay $247 million to six patients who said they were injured by defective Pinnacle hip implants: the metal-on-metal Pinacle hip implants were defectively designed and that the companies failed to warn consumers about the risks.

Johnson & Johnson hit with $247 million verdict in hip implant trial
Tina Bellon



NEW YORK (Reuters) -

A federal jury in Dallas on Thursday ordered Johnson & Johnson and its DePuy Orthopaedics unit to pay $247 million to six patients who said they were injured by defective Pinnacle hip implants. 


Delivering a third straight win to patients, the jury found that the metal-on-metal hip implants were defectively designed and that the companies failed to warn consumers about the risks.

Six New York residents implanted with the devices said they experienced tissue death, bone erosion and other injuries they blamed on design flaws.

J&J, which faces more than 9,700 Pinnacle lawsuits in state and federal courts across the United States, said in a statement it would immediately begin the appeal process.

A DePuy spokeswoman said the company was still “committed to the long-term defense of the allegations in these lawsuits,” adding that the metal-on-metal hip implants were backed by a strong record of clinical data showing they were effective.

Plaintiffs claimed the companies falsely promoted the device, most commonly used to treat joint failure caused by osteoarthritis, by saying it lasted longer than similar implants that include ceramic or plastic materials.

“We thank this jury for sending a very strong message about the responsibility the defendants have to take care of their consumers,” Mark Lanier, who represented the New York patients, said in a statement.

Thursday’s verdict came in the fourth test trial over the devices in Dallas federal court, where some 9,000 of the cases are pending. Test cases have been selected for trial, and their outcomes will help gauge the value of the remaining claims and inform potential settlement talks.

J&J won the first Pinnacle test trial in 2014, but subsequent juries determined the companies to be liable.

“This nine-week trial was a disservice to everyone involved because the verdict will do nothing to advance the ultimate resolution of this six-year old litigation,” attorney John Beisner, who represented the companies, said in a statement. He said the firms would seek further appellate guidance.

A jury in March 2016 awarded five Texas plaintiffs $500 million in damages. That award was later cut to $150 million.

J&J and DePuy were also found liable at a trial in March, during which a jury awarded six California patients $1 billion - a verdict that was later reduced to $543 million.

DePuy ceased selling the metal-on-metal Pinnacle devices in 2013 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration strengthened its artificial hip regulations.

Massive 5-alarm fire consumes the senior living community of Barclay Friends on North Franklin Street in West Chester, PA; 20 seniors went to the hospital

Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team, Pennsylvania State Police, and Chester County Fire Marshal's office have located the remains of two individuals inside the Barclay Friends Senior Center at 700 North Franklin Street in West Chester.

Investigators initially located the remains of the first victim late Tuesday morning and then the second victim later in the afternoon.

The remains were transported from the scene by the Chester County Coroner and the families of the four missing residents were notified.

Investigators are still in the process of conducting an origin and cause investigation of the fire and it is expected to continue throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.

A large crane and other excavating equipment were brought to the scene and began removing large sections of fire debris early Tuesday morning.

Efforts to locate the two remaining missing residents will continue Wednesday.

"The thoughts and prayers of the men and women of ATF are with the families of the victims during this difficult time. Their losses only strengthen our resolve to provide answers to them as a result of our investigation of this tragedy," said Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson.

ATF's NRT, along with Special Agents from the ATF Philadelphia Field Division, were activated to respond to the 5-alarm fire at the Barclay Friends Senior Assisted Living Center.

The fire occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m., November 16.

First responders from West Chester and surrounding fire departments in the area arrived on scene shortly after the first call was made to 911, assisting with the evacuation of approximately 160 residents and staff members.

The NRT arrived on scene Saturday morning to start processing the fire scene and determine the origin and cause once the building was secured and hot spots extinguished.

The fire investigation is being worked in coordination with the Chester County District Attorney's Office, Chester County Fire Marshal's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, West Chester Police Department, Chester County Sheriff's Office and Chester County Department of Emergency Services.


=====================
WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania --

At least 20 people have been injured in a massive, multi-alarm fire at a senior living community in Pennsylvania.

The fire was reported just before 11 p.m. Thursday at Barclay Friends on North Franklin Street in West Chester.

The fire quickly spread to multiple buildings and flames could be seen shooting from the roofs and windows of the structures.

Residents were forced to evacuate outside into the cold, with temperatures overnight hovering in the low 40s.

Dozens of residents were on the lawn or along the street, wrapped in blankets. Many of them had been pushed in wheelchairs or rolled on beds to safety.

Chester County emergency officials said at least 20 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

WPVI-TV in Philadelphia is told nine people were taken to Chester County Hospital and seven were taken to Paoli Memorial Hospital. There was no immediate word on the conditions of the injured.


A spokeswoman for Main Line Health, a not-for-profit health system, said one of its hospitals also was prepared to provide shelter to some additional residents of the senior living community. According to its website, Barclay Friends offers various levels of care including memory care, skilled nursing and post-acute rehab.

Early Friday morning, the local chapter of the American Red Cross said on Twitter that it had multiple teams on the scene and that it was working with county officials and facility staff to assist displaced residents.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.



==================



Flames ripped through a senior living community in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Thursday night, forcing 140 residents into the cold and local shelters. About 20 residents were sent to local hospitals.

The five-alarm fire at the Barclay Friends community on the 700 block of North Franklin Street in West Chester led staff to evacuate vulnerable residents on foot, in wheelchairs and even in beds, wrapped in blankets.

A look at the inferno that engulfed Barclay Friends overnight.
Photo credit: Chester County Working Fires

Residents were triaged on a neighborhood street, then transported to a number of different shelters on ambulances and school buses.

At an early-morning news conference, Chester County officials said they weren't ready yet to confirm the number injured or how serious the injuries were.

Fire Sweeps Through Pa Senior Living Home
Seniors were evacuated into 40-degree weather and some were sent to local hospitals when a 5-alarm fire erupted at a senior living home in West Chester, Pa. Thursday. NBC10 News' Katy Zachry and Dray Clark report.(Published Friday, Nov. 17, 2017)

But people at the scene described a frightening rescue from the inferno, which started before 11 p.m. Thursday.

"I'm just envisioning the elderly people burning in their beds because it was so massive... before any rescue came," neighbor Scott Baker said.


A look at the smoldering senior-living community Friday morning.
Photo credit: SkyForce10


Firefighters were still dousing hot spots as smoke continued to rise after daybreak Friday, even though the inferno was declared under control at 1:22 a.m.

An employee who was inside the building said staff rushed into residents' rooms when they realized the scope of the fire and began rushing them to safety.

Seniors took shelter in places including the Hollinger Field House at West Chester University.



Another worker, with tears in her eyes, said she was worried about the residents that she had come to know over three years working at Barclay Friends.

"It's sad," said Nellie Mingey. "This is their home. A lot of them don't have anywhere to go."

Unhurt residents were being reunited with friends and family at the nearby shelters, including at West Chester University. The Red Cross had moved everyone from the West Chester shelter to specialized health care facilities and closed the shelter by late morning.

The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania responded to help those displaced. The Red Cross said its Disaster Mental Health and Spiritual Care team met with each resident and their families.

"They're cold, they're scared, they're anxious, they wanted to get out of here, so we're glad to have gotten them out," registered nurse Noreen Cibley said.


Neighbors rushed to the scene as well to help comfort evacuees. One woman who lives within a mile of the scene said she called a first responder friend as soon as she saw the flames, then rushed over with donations from Wawa of coffee and water for the overwhelmed evacuees.

"Everyone seems OK, but they are tired," the neighbor said. "They look really, really exhausted. They've had a long night."

Barclay Friends, a Kendal Affiliate, is a senior living community that provides professional nursing staff 24 hours a day, meals and other services, according to its website.

20+ Injured in Assisted Living Facility
Crews battled heavy flames at an assisted living facility late Thursday night into early Friday morning. NBC10's Aaron Baskerville was on scene.(Published Friday, Nov. 17, 2017)

Firefighters warned people in the area to expect traffic troubles in the area of Franklin Street and Goshen Road as roads in the area remained closed Friday as ATF agents led the investigation into the blaze.

Getting inside the building was a challenge as part of the building collapsed and smoke continued to rise from the rubble throughout the morning.

2 killed and 2 injured after a 2012 Toyota Tundra crashed into the rear left of a disabled 2012 Peterbilt rig on the northbound 5 Freeway near Pyramid Lake, CA

A SigAlert was issued on the 5 Freeway in the Pyramid Lake area Wednesday night after a crash killed two people and left two others injured, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred on the northbound 5 just south of Vista Del Lago Road around 8:35 p.m., according to CHP’s incident log.

Officers were dispatched to the location after receiving a report of a crash with people trapped, CHP Supervisor Martin Rangel said.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Rangel.

Two trauma patients were transported to a nearby hospital, Rangel said. Their conditions were not immediately known.

A SigAlert was in effect for the closure of the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 northbound lanes, CHP Officer Kimble said.

Southbound lanes remained open and were not impacted.



============================



A 72-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, both who were passengers in a truck, were killed Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on the northbound 5 Freeway near Pyramid Lake.

Ed Winter, of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, said both identities were not being released pending next of kin.

The California Highway Patrol said the 72-year-old man was from Lamont while the 19-year-old woman was from Tulare in the Santa Clarita Valley crash.

The crash was reported at 8:35 p.m. on the freeway, which is south of the Vista Del Lago off-ramp, the CHP said.

A 2012 Toyota Tundra drove northbound on the 5 Freeway and approached a 2012 Peterbilt big rig, which had become disabled in the No. 2 lane, the CHP said.

As the Toyota attempted to swerve to avoid the Peterbilt truck, the front wheel of the Tundra crashed into the rear left of the big rig, the CHP explained.

After the crash, the CHP said, Los Angeles County Fire Department first-responders performed life-saving measures to the front and rear right side passengers of the truck, but both died on scene.

The Toyota’s driver and left rear passenger sustained moderate to major injuries and were transported to Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital in Valencia, the CHP noted.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash, the CHP said.

A SigAlert was issued in the No. 1, 2 and 3 lanes for the northbound 5 freeway. The alert was cancelled at 4:10 a.m. Thursday.
 ==========================



http://metroforensics.blogspot.com/2015/03/united-states-still-has-one-of-highest.html

UNITED STATES STILL HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST ROAD ACCIDENT DEATH AND INJURY RATES IN THE WORLD: 34,000 DIE AND 2.5 MILLION INJURED EACH YEAR.

Despite the improvements in vehicle and road safety, the United States has one of the highest death rates at about 1 person dead per 10,000 people. 

Unfortunately, only undeveloped countries have higher death rate.

Some states, such as Texas and West Virginia (sorry, WV, despite your tremendous progress in traffic safety, you are still at the top of the worst-death-rate list) have death rates of nearly 1.5 percent, i.e., fifty percent more people die compared to the national death rate.

Approximately 34,000 people are getting killed each year.  In the 1950s and 1960s, about 55,000 people used to die on the roads – so, there has been improvement in the number of dead. 

However, the number of injured is rising, as "safer" vehicles (the SUVs) minimize the number of dead.  Roughly 2.5 million are injured (yes, you read it correctly – 2.5 million injured) per year.  That is, 1 percent (1%) of the population that is eligible to drive is injured every year.  Over a lifetime of 75 years, almost the entire population could be injured or died in a crash crash.

It is worse than a war zone out there.  So, please be safe and be on the lookout for weaving-through-the-traffic drivers, crazy drivers, reckless drivers, sick drivers, medical-condition drivers, sleepy drivers, negligent drivers, stupid drivers, careless drivers, drunk drivers, speeding drivers, drugged drivers, texting drivers, talking-on-the-phone drivers, looking-at-the-GPS drivers, hurry-hurry drivers, tailgating drivers, upset drivers, eating-while-driving drivers, putting-the-lipstick-on-while-driving drivers, elderly drivers, and so on.
 

Two children were killed, and three others were injured when several pedestrians were struck during a multi-vehicle crash involving an on-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy vehicle Thursday night in the Boyle Heights area

Two Minors Dead, Three Others Are Hurt in Crash Involving Deputy in East Los Angeles
By Staff and Wire Services


Two minors died and three other pedestrians were injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a sheriff's deputy vehicle. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News at 11 on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (Published 4 hours ago)


Two minors died and three other people were hurt Thursday in a multi-vehicle crash involving a sheriff's deputy in East Los Angeles.

The accident was reported about 7:30 p.m. in the 800 block of South Indiana Street.

The crash happened when a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy patrol car responding to an emergency gunshot victim crashed with other vehicles, officials said. The five victims struck in the crash were all pedestrains, according to Amy Bastman of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"They're going to conduct a full-scale investigation where they'll do a speed assesment," Captain Alfonso Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Deputy Involved in Fatal Crash
One person died and four others were injured in a crash in East Los Angeles. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017.(Published Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017)

One youth died at the scene and the other four victims were transported to a hospital, where the other youth died.

"It could happen at any time," witness Carmen Rodriguez said. "They're the law enforcement; they should be more cautious of how they're driving."

Although the deputies were unharmed in the crash, they were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated.

The other motorists of the two vehicles involved did not sustain any injuries and stayed on the scene. They are reportedly cooperating with investigators.

The LAPD, Multi-Discipline Collision Investigation Team is handling the investigation.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contanct the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station at 323-264-4151.



=============================


2 Children Dead After On-Duty Deputy Vehicle Strikes 5 Pedestrians in Boyle Heights Area: LAPD 

by Tracy Bloom and Steve Kuzj, 

Updated at 11:57PM, November 16, 2017



Two children were killed, and three others were injured when several pedestrians were struck during a multi-vehicle crash involving an on-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy vehicle Thursday night in the Boyle Heights area, authorities said.


Five pedestrians were struck, one fatally,
in Boyle Heights on Nov. 16, 2017. (Credit: KTLA)

The crash occurred shortly after 7:20 p.m. in the area of Indiana Street and Whittier Boulevard, according to Los Angeles Police Department Officer Tony Im. The location is on the border of East L.A. and Boyle Heights.

The deputies were responding to an emergency call of a gunshot victim and traveling southbound on Indiana when a three-vehicle collision took place near Whittier, LAPD Captain Alfonso Lopez said at a late-night news conference at the scene.

The sheriff's vehicle struck five pedestrians on the southeast corner of the street, according to Lopez

One of victims died at the scene, he said. A second victim was later pronounced deceased after being transported to the hospital, he said.


A deputy was involved in a fatal crash in the Boyle Heights area on Nov. 16, 2017, authorities say. (Credit: KTLA)

None of the victims' families have been notified yet, and Lopez would not disclose their names, ages and genders, other than stating that one was a child.

Three other patients were being treated at hospitals; their conditions were not immediately known.

Two deputies were in the SUV at the time of the crash, and both were transported in stable condition, according to Lopez. They were expected to be released from the hospital soon.

The other two drivers involved in the collision were uninjured. Both remained at the scene, police said.

An investigation is underway into the deadly collision, and anyone with information is encouraged to call the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station at 323-264-4151 or the LAPD Hollenbeck Community Police Station at 323-342-4100.

Anonymous tips can also be left by calling 877-527-3247.

TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone pipeline has been shut down after it leaked an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil in northeastern South Dakota

Keystone pipeline leak spills 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota




Last Updated Nov 16, 2017 9:13 PM EST


AMHERST, S.D. -- TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone pipeline has been shut down after it leaked an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil in northeastern South Dakota, the company and state regulators reported Thursday.

Crews shut down the pipeline Thursday morning and activated emergency response procedures after a drop in pressure was detected resulting from the leak south of a pump station in Marshall County, TransCanada said in a statement. The cause was being investigated.

Late Thursday evening, TransCanada tweeted a picture that apparently shows the "approximate release area" as seen from an aerial patrol of the company's initial response:


Officials don't believe the leak affected any surface water bodies or threatened any drinking water systems, said Brian Walsh, an environmental scientist manager at the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which has dispatched a staff member to the site.

"Ultimately, the cleanup responsibility lies with TransCanada, and they'll have to clean it up in compliance with our state regulations," Walsh said.

The pipeline transports crude from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma, passing through the eastern Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. It can handle nearly 600,000 barrels, or about 23 million gallons, daily. TransCanada says on its website that the company has safely transported more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil, or about 63 billion gallons, through the system since operations began in 2010.

"We told you so," Daniel Sheehan, chief counsel of the Lakota People's Law Project, said in a statement. "It was just a matter of time. There have been over 200 significant leaks in these pipelines since the year 2000. This is the exact threat that the Lakota people were trying to protect their sole source of water from at Standing Rock."

The Project has been defending activists who oppose the Keystone XL pipeline, an extension of the Keystone project, because it passes close to tribal lands and could endanger their drinking supply.

TransCanada said in its statement that it expected the pipeline to remain shut down as the company responds to the leak. It did not offer a time estimate.

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration didn't immediately return an email requesting additional information from The Associated Press.


A leak and spill in southeastern South Dakota in April 2016 prompted a weeklong shutdown of the pipeline. TransCanada estimated that just under 17,000 gallons of oil spilled onto private land during that leak. Federal regulators said an "anomaly" on a weld on the pipeline was to blame. No waterways or aquifers were affected.

TransCanada said at the time that the leak was the first detected on the pipeline since it began operating, though there had been leaks at pumping stations. One of those leaks happened in southeastern North Dakota in May 2011, when 14,000 gallons spilled after a valve failed at a pumping station near the South Dakota border.

The Keystone Pipeline is part of a 2,687-mile system that also is to include the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which has faced persistent opposition from environmental groups, American Indian tribes and some landowners.

President Trump issued a federal permit for the project in March even though it had been rejected by the Obama administration. The project has received needed approvals in states between Alberta, Canada, and Nebraska. Nebraska regulators plan to announce their decision next week. 

===================

November 16, 2017 15:28 ET

TransCanada responds to oil leak in Amherst, South Dakota

AMHERST, SOUTH DAKOTA--(Marketwired - Nov. 16, 2017) - 

News Release - TransCanada (TSX:TRP) (NYSE:TRP) crews safely shut down its Keystone pipeline at approximately 6 a.m. CST (5 a.m. MST) after a drop in pressure was detected in its operating system resulting from an oil leak that is under investigation. The estimated volume of the leak is approximately 5,000 barrels. The section of pipe along a right-of-way approximately 35 miles (56 kilometres) south of the Ludden pump station in Marshall County, South Dakota was completely isolated within 15 minutes and emergency response procedures were activated. 

Crews, including TransCanada specialists from emergency management, engineering, environmental management and safety as well as contracted, nationally recognized experts are assessing the situation. TransCanada is providing State and Federal regulators, including the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the National Response Center (NRC), with accurate and confirmed information on an ongoing basis.

TransCanada appreciates the collaborative support of local officials, emergency response personnel and commissioners in Marshall County, as well as the landowner who has given permission to access land for assessment, identification and clean-up activities.

We have been keeping our shippers and customers up to date and have communicated that the pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to Cushing, Oklahoma and to Wood River/Patoka, Illinois is expected to remain shut down as we respond to this incident. This does not affect the Marketlink pipeline system, which uses the facilities of the southern leg of the Keystone system from Cushing to the Gulf Coast.

The safety of the public and environment are our top priorities and we will continue to provide updates as they become available. 

TransCanada operates a network of natural gas pipelines that extends more than 91,500 kilometres (56,900 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is the continent's leading provider of gas storage and related services with 653 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A large independent power producer, TransCanada currently owns or has interests in approximately 6,200 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is also the developer and operator of one of North America's leading liquids pipeline systems that extends over 4,800 kilometres (3,000 miles), connecting growing continental oil supplies to key markets and refineries. TransCanada's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. Visit TransCanada.com to learn more, or connect with us on social media and 3BL Media.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This publication contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "intend" or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada security holders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its subsidiaries, including management's assessment of TransCanada's and its subsidiaries' future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TransCanada's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release, and not to use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information except as required by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the Quarterly Report to Shareholders dated November 8, 2017 and 2016 Annual Report filed under TransCanada's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Contact Information

TransCanada Media Enquiries:
Terry Cunha/Matt John
403.920.7859 or 800.608.7859

TransCanada Investor & Analyst Enquiries:
David Moneta/Stuart Kampel
403.920.7911 or 800.361.6522 ============================

Latest update - 2:28 p.m. CST, November 16, 2017

At approximately 6 a.m. CST (5 a.m. MST) today, we safely shut down the Keystone pipeline after we detected a pressure drop in our operating system resulting from an oil leak that is under investigation.

The estimated volume of the leak is approximately 5,000 barrels. The section of pipe along a right-of-way approximately 35 miles (56 kilometres) south of the Ludden pump station in Marshall County, South Dakota was completely isolated within 15 minutes and emergency response procedures were activated.

The safety of the public and environment are our top priorities and we will continue to provide updates as they become available.





More details:

Crews, including TransCanada specialists from emergency management, engineering, environmental management and safety as well as contracted, nationally recognized experts, are assessing the situation. TransCanada is providing State and Federal regulators, including the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the National Response Center (NRC), with accurate and confirmed information on an ongoing basis.

TransCanada appreciates the collaborative support of local officials, emergency response personnel and commissioners in Marshall County, as well as the landowner who has given permission to access land for assessment, identification and clean-up activities.

We have been keeping our shippers and customers up to date and have communicated that the pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to Cushing, Oklahoma and to Wood River/Patoka, Illinois is expected to remain shut down as we respond to this incident. This does not affect the Marketlink pipeline system, which uses the facilities of the southern leg of the Keystone system from Cushing to the Gulf Coast.


More information

TransCanada takes all incidents related to our business and communities seriously. When we activate our emergency response plan, we work immediately with communities and emergency responders to mitigate all risks as quickly and professionally as possible.

For more information about our emergency response and preparedness, click here.

For media inquiries, please call 1.800.608.7859 toll-free.