Since 1995, Michigan law has shielded drug manufacturers from legal action stemming from FDA-approved products. In other words, Michigan residents cannot hold drug companies accountable for defective products in the state of Michigan. This remarkably anti-consumer law – the only one of its kind in the country – has come under fire recently and may be on the way out.
The Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill ten months ago that would level the playing field and bring Michigan law back in line with the rest of the nation. Unfortunately, Republicans in the Michigan Senate have stubbornly chosen to block the bill in order to protect pharmaceutical corporations.
Democrats are now taking up the battle for victims’ rights. Senators Gretchen Whitmer and Representative Mark Meadows have chastised the Republican leadership for delaying a vote on the bill. Rather than keep jobs in Michigan, Whitmer and Meadows point out that the state has lost jobs in the pharmaceutical industry since drug manufacturer immunity was adopted in 1995.
Under the current law, Michigan residents who are injured or killed by defective drugs cannot sue drug makers in the State of Michigan. As a result, countless victims of dangerous products have been denied legal recourse in this state. If you feel that it is time for individuals to get a fair shake against massive corporations, please contact your state Senator and let them know that drug industry immunity in Michigan must end.
recently named in the 2009 edition of Best Lawyer's In America, David Mittleman has been representing seriously injured people since 1985. A partner with Church Wyble PC—a division of Grewal Law PLLC—Mr. Mittleman and his partners focus on medical malpractice, wrongful death, car accidents, slip and falls, nursing home injury, pharmacy/pharmacist negligence and disability claims.
5 Comments
Steve Lombardi
As a Republican I find this type of legal shield from being held accountable despicable and simply greedy. How can a political party tell consumers to be accountable and then turn around and give Big Pharma a free pass from responsibility? That’s what is wrong with the country. We carve out safe havens for those considered “too big to fail” while stepping on those who work for a living in the trenches of industry. The Americans who work for a living and make up the middle class are treated to a risk lottery; and each has to hope their number isn’t called. All the classes to include white collar, blue and grey are left alone when they suffer kidney failure, a stroke, heart damage or other disorders that affect everyone no matter how conservative or liberal you think. The Republican legislators in Michigan should be ashamed to look their electorate in the eye.
But if you want to really change the way the system works then force everyone, Congressman and legislators to join the same health plan as those that toil for a living. That way their votes apply to their families just like common working class Michigonians. (Is that a word? Michigonians? Or are you Michiganites?)
David Mittleman
thanks steve and the answer is.....
http://www.micaucus.com/michigan_caucus/2006/12/from_wiki_michi.html
Steve Lombardi
Dave: Well maybe that's not the answer. Okay I wondered aloud if the citizens of Michigan were Michigonians, Michiganites or Michiganders. Wikipedia says Michigander is a demonym. "Michigander is a demonym for residents of the U.S. state of Michigan. It coexists principally with Michiganian. Less common alternatives include Michiganer, Michiganite, Michiganese, and Michigine.[1][2] Various Michigan residents may prefer one or the other. (Residents in the Upper Peninsula more typically refer to themselves as Yoopers instead.) The term was once considered pejorative, but has since lost its negative connotation. The web sites of the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Historical Center use Michiganian, though there is no officially correct term." Did you know that Abe Lincoln is attributed with starting the Michigander moniker? No matter, the Hawkeyes are still going to win in football. Basketball I'd rather not discuss.
Steve Lombardi
And what better on a Michigan lawyer site than a Buckeye joke....
One foggy night, a Buckeye fan was heading north from Columbus and a Michigan fan was driving south from Ann Arbor. While crossing a narrow bridge, they hit each other head-on, mangling both cars.
The Michigan fan manages to climb out of his car and survey the damage. He looks at his twisted car and says, “Man, I’m lucky to be alive!”
Likewise, the Buckeye fan gets out of his car uninjured, he too feeling fortunate to have survived.
The Wolverine fan walks over to the Buckeye fan and says, “Hey, man, I think this is a sign that we should put away our petty differences and live as friends instead of being rivals.”
The Buckeye fan thinks for a moment and says, “You know, you’re absolutely right! We should be friends. In fact, I’m going to see if something else survived the wreck.”
The Buckeye fan then pops open his trunk and removes a full, undamaged bottle of Jack Daniel’s. He says to the Wolverine, “I think this is another sign–we should toast to our newfound friendship.” The Wolverine fan agrees and grabs the bottle. After sucking down half of the bottle, the Wolverine fan hands it back to the Buckeye fan and says, “Your turn!”
The Buckeye fan calmly twists the cap back on the bottle, throws the rest of the bottle over the bridge into the river and says, “Nah, I think I’ll just wait for the cops to show up.”
David Mittleman
cute steve - i may be a michigan lawyer but i am a Michigan State fan and can sympathize w the Buckeye fan
Comments for this article are closed.