New York Paralegal Blog

   A big company just got hit with a huge fine for lying about the safety of its surgical gowns. Kimberly-Clark, a major player in personal care products, has agreed to pay up to $40.4 million to the U.S. government. But what exactly did they do wrong, and why does it matter to all of us? Let's break down the law behind this case.  What is an "Adulterated" Medical Device? In simple terms, a product is considered adulterated if it's defective, unsafe, or made under unsanitary conditions. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) is the main law that the FDA uses to regulate products like food, drugs, and medical devices. This law is in place to protect the public from dangerous or fraudulent items. In Kimberly-Clark's case, their surgical gowns were considered adulterated because the company had changed the product's design, but then lied about its safety testing to avoid a necessary step with the FDA. They sold the gowns, knowing they didn...

By ADAM KLASFELD MANHATTAN (CN) - A federal judge slapped New York City with a $10,000 penalty for withholding demanded evidence pertaining to the alleged assault of a teenage inmate at the juvenile prison on Rikers Island.

BOSTON — Following an investigation and audit of Form I-9 documents by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), 14 New England employers have been fined this fiscal year for various violations that enabled companies to hire illegal aliens. The inspection of the employers' documents are part of ICE's worksite enforcement strategy, launched in 2009 to reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect employment opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce, by focusing its resources on the auditing and investigation of employers suspected of cultivating illegal workplaces by hiring workers who are later determined to be employed illegally.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has upheld civil penalties assessed against Stillhouse Mining LLC for four flagrant violations of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The violations were found during a Dec. 3, 2006, inspection of the company's Mine No. 1 operation near Cumberland, Ky. The initial inspection was prompted by an anonymous phone call from a miner to an MSHA field office supervisor about weak roof conditions at the mine. During the course of that inspection, enforcement personnel issued a citation for failing to follow mandated procedures after the shutoff of the mine fan. In addition, three orders were issued to the mine operator for intentionally changing the mine ventilation by shutting off and turning back on the mine fan, failing to follow roof control plans and failing to conduct an adequate pre-shift examination.

BELVEDERE, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited NDK Crystals Inc. in Belvedere with fines of $510,000 for alleged egregious willful and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards following an explosion at the company’s crystal manufacturing building that took the life of a truck driver parked at a nearby service station. Workers at this facility were exposed to hazards that created a dangerous environment. "The employer knowingly operated high pressure vessels even after being warned of the potential for a catastrophic failure due to material design and fabrication defects," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "This simply is unacceptable, and OSHA will use the full extent of the law to ensure the company is held accountable for its actions."