Trina Goethals, Aaron Weir and Karl Schneider presented a symposium to the Denison University, Pi Phi Sorority Chapter on Sunday, April 18, 2010, in Granville, Ohio. The firm’s attorneys discussed employment contracts and other future employment issues including harassment and unpaid internships. Other topics included the evolution of hazing, social media risks including Facebook and MySpace, and various landlord-tenant issues.

Partner Karl H. Schneider was appointed to the planning committee for the 2010 Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.

FDA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2009

Media Inquiries:
Susan Cruzan, 301-796-4540
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products
Dietary Supplements Linked to One Death; Pose Risk of Liver Injury
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. Iovate has agreed to recall Hydroxycut products from the market.

The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.
Liver injury, although rare, was reported by patients at the doses of Hydroxycut recommended on the bottle. Symptoms of liver injury include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) and brown urine. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite.

“The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products,” said Linda Katz, M.D., interim chief medical officer of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names. The list of products being recalled by Iovate currently includes:

Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets

Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets

Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets

Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets

Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets

Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets

Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)

Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets

Hydroxycut Liquid Shots

Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)

Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed

Hydroxycut 24

Hydroxycut Carb Control

Hydroxycut Natural

Although the FDA has not received reports of serious liver-related adverse reactions for all Hydroxycut products, Iovate has agreed to recall all the products listed above. Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not affected by the recall. Consumers who have any of the products involved in the recall are advised to stop using them and to return them to the place of purchase. The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.
Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems with the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, by regular mail, fax or phone.

–Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
–Regular Mail: Use FDA postage paid form 3500 found at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
–Fax: 800-FDA-0178
–Phone: 800-FDA-1088
The FDA continues to investigate the potential relationship between Hydroxycut dietary supplements and liver injury or other potentially serious side effects.
____________________________________________________________

Maguire & Schneider is currently investigating Hydroxycut. If you feel you have suffered as a result of Hydroxycut® please contact:

Wayne Hassay
614-224-1222
800-600-1222

Partner Karl H. Schneider recently addressed the Columbus Commercial Industrial Investors Realtors’ (“CCIIR”) forum. Mr. Schneider described the operations of the Ohio Real Estate Commission and Ohio Division of Real Estate and discussed business practices with a view toward creating risk reduction. Trina N. Goethals attended the forum with Mr. Schneider, offering guidance to inquiring attendees.

Karl Schneider and Trina Goethals recently served as judges/instructors for the Denison University Moot Court team, in Granville, Ohio. The Denison team meets weekly and is preparing for the upcoming Regional Moot Court Competition, which will be held at the end of November. Moot Court is a practice in simulated appellate court proceedings where the teams are given a case record from which to work. This year’s case deals with issues of free speech and due process. Mr. Schneider and Ms. Goethals will continue to assist the team until their competition.

During September, 2008, Karl Schneider was twice appointed by the Ohio Secretary of State to serve as special hearing officer for two separate ballot protest proceedings. Mr. Schneider presided over the challenge brought seeking to strike pay day legislation that was signed into law during the spring, and thereafter rendered his report and recommendation to the Ohio Secretary of State who accepted the recommendation. Thereafter, Mr. Schneider was appointed to preside as hearing officer over the protest seeking to remove the State issue 6, which was an initiative petition for a Casino near Wilmington, Ohio in Southwest Ohio. Mr. Schneider presided over the evidentiary hearing on the Casino protest on September 24th, and rendered his written findings and recommendation to the Ohio Secretary of State. The Ohio Secretary of State adopted Mr. Schneider’s findings and his recommendation on September 25, 2008.

Please see the attached article appearing in the Columbus Dispatch September 15, 2008.

http://blog.dispatch.com/dailybriefing/2008/09/hearing_on_payday_petitions_se.shtml

Please see the attached article appearing in the Dayton Daily News September 25, 2008.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2008/09/25/casino_issue_certified_for_bal.html

Lisa Wu Fate and Karl H. Schneider presented an educational seminar regarding short sales to over 200 associates from Real Living HER, Inc. at the company’s 2008 All-Agent Kick-Off Meeting. The meeting is a quarterly event attended by hundreds of the company’s associates and is intended to keep Real Living’s associates at the cutting edge of developments in their chosen field. Recent events involving the mortgage market nationwide have caused increased risk of foreclosure and many homeowners find themselves in need of selling their properties on the open market to avoid a distressed foreclosure sale. Sometimes, to accomplish the arms-length sale, short sale negotiations are required. This option, however, creates a host of legal and ethical considerations for Ohio real estate agents, which were discussed in detail at the event.

Karl H. Schneider has been asked to speak at a title insurance agents’ forum sponsored by Old Republic Title Insurance Company on November 14, 2007. Mr. Schneider will address various litigation matters including foreclosure suits and attendant bankruptcy issues.

Karl H. Schneider and Bradley Davis Barbin have been asked to speak at the National Business Institute’s presentation “Criminal Defense: Pretrial Success." Mr. Schneider will address “Dealing With Uncooperative or Hostile Witnesses" and “Ethical Issues in Criminal Discovery." Mr. Barbin will discuss “Evidence--Do You Have All of It?” and “Trouble-Shooting Extreme Situations.” The seminar will occur on June 19, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio.

Maguire & Schneider, LLP had the honor of hosting the 2006 Pre-Paid Legal Annual Award Conference. One hundred and fifty eight Attorneys and Administrators from fifty law offices across the United States and Canada attended this event. The C.E.O., founder, and chair of the board Harland Stonecipher and Vice President of Attorney Resources, Leslie Fisher, presented Maguire & Schneider, LLP with the Outstanding Service Award for 2006.