Former FDA Commissioner Charged in RICO Lawsuit

[G_j]

http://ahrp.org/former-fda-commissioner-charged-in-federal-racketeering-lawsuit/

Federal Lawsuit charges Dr. Margaret Hamburg, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with conspiracy, racketeering & colluding to conceal deadly drug dangers – under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law (RICO) law. The amended RICO lawsuit was filed on April 11, 2016 in the U.S. District Court in Washington DC on behalf of eight plaintiffs who claim they have suffered severe harm by ingesting the drug, Levaquin whose deadly risks were concealed to protect financial interests.

The drug is one of the controversial group of antibiotics, including Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox and other fluoroquinolones. Public Citizen petitioned the FDA in 1996 and again in 2006, to issue Black Box warnings for tendon rupture and tendinitis. Had warnings been issued, the death toll from Levaquin– reputedly more than 5,000 — and the tens of thousands who were debilitated with life-threatening diseases would likely have been averted. (Read risks at RxList)

The suit, filed by Larry Klayman, a former federal prosecutor, charges Dr. Hamburg, her husband, Peter Brown, an executive in the hedge-fund Renaissance Technologies, with collusion, conspiracy and racketeering alongside the pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson to conceal those deadly risks — to protect their financial stake.

“While Defendant Hamburg was FDA Commissioner, her husband, Defendant Brown’s annual income, not coincidentally, increased from a reported $10 million in 2008 to an estimated $125 million in 2011 and an estimated $90 million in 2012, due in whole or in part to Defendants’ racketeering conspiracy to withhold information about the devastating, life threatening, and deadly effects of Levaquin.”
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[unc70]

1. Larry Klayman

This appears to be from part of The Daily Caller and discusses a suit with Larry Klayman as lead attorney. Klayman, founder of Judicial Watch, is certainly not one of my favorites.

That said, I prefer knowing about his current allegations. I've read the linked article. The issues involved seem vaguely familiar, but that is all. It looks like there might be something to at least part of the claims.

I don't trust Klayman. But there have been problems with the FDA being too close to the drug companies. Does anyone know what the real story is in this case?

[G_j]

2. I was unaware of this

though the name sounded familiar. Thanks for the additional information.

[Seeking Serenity]

3. I have a dear friend who had what is alleged to be a side effect

of Levaquin, that is, tendon rupture, happen to her, possibly twice now.

She's allergic to many common antibiotics, so she'd been given Levaquin numerous times for various infections. Several years ago, she needed surgery on her shoulder to repair a ruptured tendon and reattach her bicep muscle. And it looks like she may need it again on her other shoulder. Now I think I understand why.

Levaquin is BAD NEWS. Stay away from it except in rare and one-off occasions.

[G_j]

4. +100