A Delaware hospital that employed a pediatrician accused of sexually assaulting patients was negligent for failing to properly supervise the doctor, a lawsuit filed the parents of one of the victims claims. In the lawsuit, the family alleges that Beebe Medical Center was aware of complaints against Dr. Earl B. Bradley but failed to act on those reports. Bradley is also named as a defendant in the suit.

An Oklahoma meat manufacturer was hit with a lawsuit this week from a Utah family after their child was sickened by E. coli bacteria from some of the manufacturer’s meat. The 14-year-old boy contracted the bacteria in October and spent two days in the hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding. The manufacturer, National Steak and Poultry, initiated a recall on Christmas Eve of more than 248,000 pounds of meat that was infected with E. coli. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

A new study has found that as more and more doctors across the country prescribe opioid painkillers to treat chronic pain, more and more consumers are suffering fatal overdoses. An article published Monday found that 51 patients overdosed on opioids in the past three months, with six of those cases resulting in death. Opioids, including oxycodone, morphine and hydrocodone, are the most commonly prescribed class of medication in the U.S. The study found that some of the deaths resulted from accidental overdose, and many were the result of an alleged suicide attempt or part of drug abuse

The recent death of a six-month-old child has prompted the recall of about 635,000 Dorel Asia cribs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Tuesday. The cribs feature a defect that can cause the drop-side to detach from the frame, creating a small space a child could become trapped in and suffocate. The agency reported that it has received complaints of more than 60 other incidents of product failure, ten of which resulted in injury. The cribs were manufactured in China and Vietnam and sold at Wal-Mart, Kmart and Sears stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2009.

Plaintiffs involved in pending mass tort litigation over hormone replacement therapy may admit evidence from key expert witnesses, a judge presiding over the litigation has ruled. In the ruling, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Sandra Mazer rejected arguments by the defense that the experts’ methodologies were flawed. Plaintiffs allege that they developed breast cancer after taking hormone replacement drugs.

The families of two boys that were hit and killed by a Maryland light rail train in July 2008 received a $1.5 million settlement from the state of Maryland Wednesday. The boys were struck by a northbound train that was on southbound tracks due to vandalism on the northbound tracks. The lawsuit claims that the train operator took his eyes off the track at a critical moment and could not explain why. Along with the settlement, the Maryland Transit Authority has agreed to create new policies regarding trespassing and single-track operations.

Automobile giant Chrysler Group LLC announced this week it will recall more than 20,000 vehicles from some of its top lines due to improperly formed or installed clip retention tab on the brake pedal pin that could result in brake failure. The recall applies to 2010 model-year Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Nitro, and Jeep Liberty, Commander and Grand Cherokee SUVs, as well as 2009-2010 model year Dodge Ram trucks. Chrysler says that no deaths or serious accidents have been reported in relation to the issue.

A Montana family has filed a lawsuit against their local water and sewer district after their 3-year-old son fell into a septic tank and drowned. Loic Rogers fell into the tank that was located near the driveway of a family friend’s home in January 2007. The lawsuit claims the water and sewer district was negligent in placing the septic system so close to the driveway. It also alleges that if a “kid-catcher” safety device had been installed at the opening, the child would not have fallen in. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a trial by jury.

A Galveston County jury has ordered Maxime Crane Works to pay $1.72 million to Ernesto Tamez after he was severely injured in an accident at BP America Inc. oil refinery in Texas City. Tamez was struck by an oil burner being lifted by a Maximum Crane Works crane operator while at the plant in January 2006. According to the lawsuit he filed, his neck, back, ribs and shoulder were crushed, forcing him to endure extensive surgery to fix the damage. The crane operator had begun lifting the oil burner before the area was clear, trial evidence indicated. The verdict includes $300,000 in lost wages, $550,000 in medical expenses and $170,000 to the injured worker’s wife.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson, recalled several hundred batches of many of its popular medicines, including Benadryl, Motrin, Rolaids, Simply Sleep, St. Joseph Aspirin and Tylenol, due to consumer complaints of a moldy smell upon opening. The alarming news for consumers, however, is that the recall came 20 months after complaints were logged. The Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to the company last week, noting the consumers have also reported temporary digestive problems like nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. McNeil released a statement Friday claiming chemicals used to treat wood pallets that transport and store product packaging were the source of the moldy smell in some products.