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Low Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits


Men who have been diagnosed with low testosterone levels are often prescribed testosterone therapy or low-T drugs. However, testosterone therapy is linked to a host of serious medical conditions and deaths.

Studies show men who are prescribed low-T treatments may have a greater risk of a heart attack or a stroke, leading to permanent damage or death. If you have suffered any of these side effects or lost a loved one after he took low-T supplements, you should talk to an experienced Virginia trial lawyer.

The Impact of Low Testosterone

Testosterone is a hormone produced by the human body. Men produce it in their testicles. Testosterone affects a wide range of functions. It impacts a man’s sex drive and physical appearance. It also boosts muscle and bone mass.

Testosterone levels decrease as men age. The American Urological Association, states about two out of 10 men over the age of 60 suffer from low testosterone. By the time men reach their 70s almost a third suffer from low testosterone.

Symptoms of low testosterone include the following:

  • Low sex drive
  • Hair loss
  • Tiredness
  • Increased body fat
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Erectile dysfunction

 

What is Low Testosterone Therapy?

If a blood test confirms low testosterone in a man, a doctor may suggest treatment. Millions of men who have low testosterone levels but suffer from no symptoms, are not prescribed treatment. Low T medication has not been approved for men with low testosterone levels because of aging.

An oral pill for low testosterone is not usually proscribed due to a potential link to liver damage. Typically, low T medication is prescribed via.

  • Gels: AndroGel and Testim are provided in clear packets. The testosterone is absorbed directly into the skin. AndroGel, Axiron, and Fortesta can also be applied via a pump that regulates the amount of testosterone prescribed by a doctor. A gel called Natesto may be applied inside the nose.
  • Skin Patches. Androderm is a skin patch worn on the upper body or upper arm and applied once a day.
  • Injections or Implants: In some cases, testosterone is injected directly into the user’s muscles or implanted as pellets into soft tissue. This allows a slow release of testosterone into the body’s bloodstream.
  • Mouth Patches: Testosterone may be released into the blood via the mouth using a tablet called Striant.

 

The Popularity of Low T Drugs

In recent years, more and more men have started taking Low T drugs. According to Drugs.com, an independent medical website, sales of the testosterone gel Androgel surpassed sales of Viagra in 2013. Often men feel a surge of energy when they first take testosterone supplements and it can be difficult to stop taking them.

The rise in the popularity of low T treatment is linked to a vigorous marketing campaign. However, a report released last year suggested Low T therapy has a little or no impact in addressing problems such as low energy and low sex drive, reported the New York Times. More alarmingly, Low T drugs are linked to serious and potentially-fatal health conditions.

The Dangers of Low Testosterone Therapy

Small numbers of men experience side effects of low testosterone therapy immediately. These include disturbed breathing, acne, breast swelling or tenderness, or swelling in their ankles. A rise in high red blood cell counts may increase the risk of clotting.

The risks of testosterone therapy over the long term are greater Men may experience:

  • Strokes
  • Heart attacks
  • Premature death

 

In 2010, researchers halted a study called Testosterone in Older Men when initial results showed men taking hormone treatments suffered more heart problems, stated Harvard Medical School.

There are other potential health impacts of low T therapy but less evidence to support them. Some doctors fear it could stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. The evidence is mixed because prostate cancer is common.

The FDA Issues a Warning About Testosterone Therapy

In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning related to products used to treat low testosterone. The FDA said the safety of low T products was not established and improved warnings on boxes should highlight the risks of strokes and heart attacks in low testosterone products.

Low Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits Are Filed Across The Country

More than 25,000 lawsuits were filed against AbbVie, Eli Lilly & Co., Pfizer Inc., Endo International and other manufacturers of low T products.

Juries have ordered AbbVie to pay $150 million and $140 million to two men who suffered heart attacks after using AndroGel. A third AbbVie trial ended with a verdict in favor of the drug manufacturer.

Low T manufacturers Endo, Eli Lilly, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline reached tentative global settlements involving hundreds of cases brought against them.

If you or a loved one has suffered strokes or heart attacks after low testosterone therapy, you should consult an experienced Virginia dangerous drugs lawyer, it is important to act fast in these cases. Call the Smith Law Center at (757) 244-7000.

 

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If you or a relative had a severe reaction to military housing mold, it might be time to talk with a toxic mold lawyer. Mold is everywhere, and can be dangerous. Researchers have linked mold to serious respiratory illnesses in some individuals.

Smith Law Center may be able to help if a property owner failed to keep you safe from mold in your military housing. We are one of Virginia’s oldest and most successful firms. We know how to hold negligent property owners responsible, especially when the military is involved.

Call us at (757) 244-700 or contact us online to set up a free consultation. There’s no fee for learning more about Virginia mold laws, your rights, and your legal options.

Mold in Military Housing

Black mold in military housing became widely known when Reuters published an investigation in 2018. Since then, the Department of Defense and the housing providers were supposed to take steps to improve the situation.

Unfortunately, a 2020 audit by the DoD Office of Inspector General found many issues, including the need for mold remediation, still persist.

Monetary Awards in Military Housing Toxic Mold Cases

If the property owner lets toxic mold run wild and continue to cause you harm, talk with our toxic mold attorneys about filing a lawsuit.

You may receive financial compensation for:

Service members and their families do not receive different types of damages than civilians. These are civil lawsuits in traditional courts of law.

Military Housing Mold Toxicity Symptoms

The Institute of Medicine discovered there was evidence connecting exposure to indoor mold with:

  • Upper respiratory tract symptoms;
  • Coughing;
  • Wheezing;
  • Asthma symptoms in individuals with asthma; and
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals with weak immune systems.

There is also limited evidence that mold causes respiratory illnesses in healthy children or causes people to develop asthma.

Understanding Exposure to Toxic Mold in Military Housing

The topic of toxic mold is complicated. This Is in part because the term “toxic mold” isn’t accurate. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains mold isn’t toxic or poisonous. However, some molds are toxigenic, which means they produce toxins called mycotoxins.

Mold is common in military housing because it’ll grow anywhere there’s moisture. That includes on and inside walls, carpet, upholstery, wallpaper, and heating and air conditioning systems. This is especially pronounced in humid conditions such as those present in Virginia.

Some people have no difficulties around mold, even large infestations in their homes. Other individuals are sensitive to molds, including those that produce mycotoxins. Someone can have a severe reaction when exposed to a large amount of mold indoors.

People may be more likely to experience mold toxicity symptoms if they have:

  • Allergies,
  • An underlying lung disease,
  • Immune suppression,
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder,
  • Asthma, or
  • Another chronic respiratory disease.

Common Types of Military Housing Mold

When you’re trying to learn more from the CDC and other resources, you’ll see the word “fungus” a lot. Mold is a type of fungus, which is something that exists all around us. Fungi are living organisms different from animals, plants, and bacteria. There are over 200,000 types of fungi and over 100,000 types of molds.

If you discovered mold in your military housing, it could be Cladosporium, Penicillium, Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus, or many other types. Stachybotrys is what everyone knows as black mold. Aspergillus is a common indoor fungus, which releases mycotoxins and can cause illness. Your symptoms may resemble common allergy or asthma symptoms.

Who is Liable for Military Housing Mold?

Since 1996, most military housing has come under the management of private companies:

  • Belfour Beatty Communities: Fort Eustis and Fort Story/li>
  • Lincoln Military Housing: Dahlgren, Little Creek, Naval Station Norfolk, Northwest Annex, Oceana, Portsmouth, Quantico, and Yorktown/li>
  • Hunt Military Communities: Fort Lee and Langley AFB

Outside of Virginia, Lendlease and Corvias Military Living are two more housing providers. Together, these five companies formed the Military Housing Association.

Military families living in on-base housing must take their complaints to their private management company — not the military. The company is responsible for providing habitable conditions and making repairs, including mold remediation.

If you’re unsure about your rights, review your state law and local ordinances about mold. In general, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide a habitable unit, which means it has to be safe to live in. A unit isn’t safe if it’s causing a tenant health issues due to mold.

The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires landlords to disclose if there’s mold in the written report of the move-in inspection. If a tenant discovers visible mold in the unit, then the Act requires the landlord to remove the mold and relocate the tenant until it’s gone at no additional cost to the tenant.

Unfortunately, many families find their housing providers aren’t receptive to complaints. Attorney Stephen M. Smith has handled many mold lawsuits against military housing providers who fail to abide by their lease terms and the law when it comes to mold remediation and other hazards.

Other Hazards in Military Housing

Many service members and their families deal with uncomfortable, if not hazardous, conditions in privatized military housing, including:

Lead Paint: Lead-based paint can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, irritability, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures, organ damage, and in extreme cases, death.

Asbestos: Exposure to asbestos harms a person’s lungs, and can lead to lung fibrosis (scarring), lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Radon: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It naturally forms underground, however cracks and gaps in buildings lead to over-exposure indoors.

Poor Water Quality: Dozens of military sites have water with detectable levels of harmful chemicals.

Other issues involve rodent or insect infestations, pesticides, and faulty electrical wiring.

What Happens When a Lot of People Get Sick?

Sometimes mold exposure impacts a single individual or family. However, when the mold spreads throughout military housing, it can impact hundreds or thousands of people.

Occasionally, a large enough group of people are injured to allow for a class action or mass tort lawsuit. A class action lawsuit is one where a class representative acts as the plaintiff on behalf of the group of hurt individuals. Not every victim participates in the lawsuit. There are rules about when a group is big and similar enough to create a class action.

Mass tort lawsuits are different. When there are fewer plaintiffs who have their own set of circumstances, each person files a lawsuit. For efficiency’s sake, one or a couple of law firms may represent most plaintiffs, and the lawsuits are consolidated in a federal court.

Call the Military Housing Mold Lawyers at Smith Law Center for Help Right Away

Mold cases come about in a few ways. You or a loved one may start getting sick, and after weeks or months of struggling to find answers, you finally realize your military housing has a mold infestation. In other cases, you struggle with visible mold and then become ill.

Once you connect the illness with the mold, it’s time to talk with a toxic mold lawyer. Reaching out to an attorney early helps you build a strong compensation claim. We know how to collect evidence, identify who is liable, and craft a successful argument for a settlement or court award.

Attorney Stephen M. Smith has decades of experience handling injury claims and has been internationally recognized for his work. He has litigated cases involving catastrophic injuries and complex legal and scientific issues. In 2019, he was inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame.

You’re in good hands when you come to Smith Law Center for help. Reach out online or call (757) 244-7000 to schedule your 100% free consultation.

Military Housing Mold Lawsuits: FAQs

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