All Topics

• NJ Division of Workers' Comp Adopts New Medicare Policy

  Ricky Bagolie | September 02, 2006 9:35 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  The State of NJ, a State that has not accepted the invitation of CMS to data match via computer connection, has adopted a new policy of retaining jurisdiction to avoid delay in processing claims pending CMS review. This may help with the current delay in resolving workers' compensation matters that involve Medicare. The full memo may be viewed at: ...

• State Farm Wrongfully Denied Katrina Claims

  Ricky Bagolie | September 01, 2006 10:08 PM | 1 CommentJersey City, NJ

  Is anyone surprised that a giant insurance company has defrauded it's customers to increase profits? A Houston Chronicle article reports that two sisters working for a State Farm contract company revealed the company's fraudulent tactics to deny Katrina victims' claims. According to their lawyer, the company manipulated engineers' reports of storm damage. Several reports were based on a...

• Apple Announces Recall of Batteries Used in Previous iBook and PowerBook Computers Due To Fire Hazard

  Ricky Bagolie | August 31, 2006 12:24 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries with cells manufactured by Sony for certain previous iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 notebook computers only.Units: About...

• South Carolina Sues Drug Companies for Price Scheme

  Ricky Bagolie | August 30, 2006 11:50 PM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  The State of South Carolina has filed a lawsuit to recover over $40 million in taxpayer funds as the State believes several pharmaceutical companies fraudulently manipulated the prices of Medicaid and State Health Plan prescription drug claims. Attorney General Henry McMaster alleges that the pharmaceutical companies intentionally misreported the average wholesale price (AWP) of selected drugs...

• Jury awards $160 million in nursing home suit

  Ricky Bagolie | August 29, 2006 12:32 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  A San Antonio jury awarded one of the larged civil judgements ever recorded when it found that a nursing home knowingly paired a frail 81 year old man with a violent, mentally ill roommate who visciously beat him to death.During the 2 week trial, attorneys for the plaintiffs offered evidence that Mendoza's roommate was involved in 30 assaults before he was paired with the decedant.From San...

• Nursing Home Neglect Still Rampant in America

  Ricky Bagolie | August 28, 2006 2:04 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  Consumer Reports says nursing homes around the U.S. are still giving inadequate care for our loved ones and seniors. According to the report, not-for-profit homes generally provide better care than those operated for profit, although most, regardless of whether for profit or non-profit, fell well below the group's standards for a quality nursing home.

• 4 Dead, 4 Injured in NJ Turnpike Auto Accident

  Ricky Bagolie | August 27, 2006 1:56 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  In anothe example of out of control killer trucks on our roads, four people were killed and four others were hospitalized last Monday in a six-vehicle crash that closed a portion of the New Jersey Turnpike.According to the AP, the accident on the roadway's northbound express lanes was caused when a truck hauling bricks was unable to stop as it approached slowed traffic, state police said. The...

• 10 Hurt As Out of Control SUV Plows Into N.Y. Market

  Ricky Bagolie | August 26, 2006 1:41 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  A SUV driven by an 89-year-old man plowed into pedestrians and vendors at an open-air public market, injuring 10 people.According to the Associated Press:Police said Bernard Newmark was looking for a specific vendor at the Rochester Public Market when his foot slipped off the brake pedal and hit the accelerator, sending the vehicle through at least eight food stalls and into a shed.A total of...

• Testing urged for ex-Texas Vermiculite workers

  Ricky Bagolie | August 21, 2006 10:20 PM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  In another example of employers poisoning their workers and nearly a year after federal authorities revealed that hundreds of employees at the former Texas Vermiculite plant in West Dallas could have asbestos-related lung diseases, the state is getting ready to begin health screenings on the former workers.Workers exposed should be tested and those with disease may be eligible for treatment and...

• Merck Gets Hit For $50 million in Federal Vioxx Trial

  Ricky Bagolie | August 17, 2006 11:21 AM | 0 CommentsJersey City, NJ

  A retired FBI agent who suffered a heart attack after taking the painkiller Vioxx is entitled to $50 million in compensatory damages from drug manufacturer Merck & Co., a federal jury found Thursday.The jury said Merck was negligent for failing to adequately warn doctors about the risks associated with the drug. The jury also found that Merck "knowingly misrepresented or failed to disclose"...