Attorney Advertising - Personal Injury TV ads

The Strength and Strategy of Television
Advertising
No other format has the potential to reach so many people so fast or with greater impact. But with sloppy placement, you may miss out on your ripest markets. While you are intently focused on your older target, the younger generation may be turning to your competition when the time is right. The television market draws from a vast pool of 80 million Americans between the ages of 10 to 29, more than the baby boomer generation. In a few short years, by 2010, this group will form the majority of the 18-to-49 demo that is the bedrock of all TV advertising and, hopefully, a loyal source of clients.

One of advertising's biggest myths is that people have quit watching TV. Have you? Or anyone else you know? Actually, according to Nielsen Media, people watch more TV than ever before - they just watch it differently. Even while television is used as background noise during dinner, its power to reach people is great. The old world of three networks has expanded to include cable, satellite and DVR's. Reality shows, creative competitions, educational series and documentary-style programming have wooed a new market of watchers in every age group. The typical viewer who has 120 channels watches about 20 of them, but with innovative new programs being added regularly, new watchers are constantly being groomed and recruited.


Too many law firms mistakenly ignore the TV goldmine

You've heard the mantra "TV advertising WORKS!", but if you're not placing strategically, you could be wasting great ads. And if you're not following the trends in the TV world, you could be ignoring easy targets. Fundamental shifts in TV viewing are already underway. Nielsen Media Research says DVR users aged 18 to 49 already time shift about 41% of their primetime viewing of broadcast networks - and this group watches a lot of TV: The average 18- to 49-year-old person watches 31 hours of television a week, which is up from five years ago. The biggest issue isn't fast-forwarding through ads. If you have a good program people will watch it, and if you have a good ad they will pay attention. The biggest problem is the fragmentation of viewership. Now that you're armed with knowledge, it's time to turn it into muscle. Time to pinpoint what our core group is watching.

Cue the all-important Media Buyer. That's where expertise in media analysis, planning and placement becomes critical. The days of buying rotators on 3-5 stations are over. Depending on your product, depending on your demographic, depending on your competitive landscape.....these all play into the need to have a "Media Gatekeeper" watching over every single penny you spend to ensure your hard-earned money is being spent in the most efficient and effective manner. Are you squeezing each format to produce highly visible advertising that translates into calls? If you're not investing in crucial media resources, the answer is most likely no.

Media planning and placement is equally, if not more important, than creative messaging. Their job is to help you find the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the advertising rainbow. Elite media teams spend thousands of dollars each year updating in-house media planning resources to dissect client market areas and design comprehensive media recommendations. This measured approach, utilizing trusted media advisory and evaluation services, allows for precise calculation and discovery of the most strategic advertising formulas to reach the right people in the right place at the right time-to reach potential clients and prompt them to call.

What is the cable penetration in your market? Are you buying stations or programs? Are your stations delivering the gross rating points you are paying for each and every quarter? Are you running rotators or buying program-specific? What is your reach and frequency? How much are your competitors spending and WHERE are they spending their media dollars? Take the time to explore these issues and invest in the power of television with the help of an experienced media team. Time is money and your efforts will most certainly pay off.

Looking to grow your business in 2007? Interested in learning what opportunities exist in your market? Give us a call at 1-800-525-3332 or email for your individual market analysis.

Put us to the test right now.

Stop what you're doing right now and take 10 minutes to call me at 1-800-525-3332. I'll give you two new ideas on how you can strengthen your TV Marketing today. You've got absolutely nothing to lose and a powerful practice marketing tool to gain.

Sincerely,

Harlan Schillinger

Network Affiliates,

Attached is an official memo from AIG about their status.

Good news: The Fed is propping them up.

Bad news: The former head of Allstate will be running the show !

For those of you who have not yet heard, Judge Fallon capped ALL attorneys’ fees, including common benefit fees, at 32% of the net recovery. The interim awards are to be distributed to claimants and counsel with all of common benefit fees to be taken out of the remainder. Fallon discusses at great length the “economies of scale” noted by Judge Frank and the “simple” claims process which results in substantial awards, thereby justifying a reduction in fees. Attached is a copy of the Order.

It is horrible: Judge Fallon waited until after everything was done and the unilaterally cut all private fee contracts down to 32%. He did this with no motion, no notice and no hearings on the matter. As there is an additional 8% which will be deducted from Attorneys fees for Common Benefit work done by the PSC, the final fee will be only 25% a reduction of 45% off all prior 40% contracts.
Many are saying that they simply cannot continue taking on the big pharmaceutical companies, with the attendant risk and expense, for that kind of return.
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Levin Papantonio Mass Tort Update
August 29, 2008
Vioxx Settlement Payments
Merck will begin making Vioxx settlement payments in August of this year but most plaintiffs will have to wait much longer before receiving any money. Merck will begin to make an interim payment, estimated at 40% of the plaintiffs total settlement amount in the next few weeks. The initial payments though are only for heart attack plaintiffs. The stroke plaintiffs will not start being paid until February 2009. Plaintiffs will receive payments on a rolling basis after a multi-step review process. Therefore one heart attack client may receive payment in September while another one may not receive any money until January. With 50,000+ claims to review, it is going to take quite some time before all payments are completed. Nevertheless Merck has committed to paying all eligible claims and can no longer walk away from the settlement. For more information on the Vioxx Settlement, contact Rachael Gilmer at rgilmer@levinlaw.com or (850) 435-7159.
Read the CBSNews Article
Read the BusinessWeek Article

Kugel Mesh Early Neutral Evaluation Program Broadened to Include Non-ring Break Cases
Judge Mary Lisi, the presiding judge in the Kugel Hernia Mesh patch Multidistrict Litigation, issued an order Monday broadening the court's "Early Neutral Evaluation" program to include non-ring break cases. Recalls of Bard's Kugel Hernia Mesh patches were initiated in 2005 because of a defect involving the device's monofilament polypropylene ring, which is designed to cause the patch to spring open after being inserted laproscopically. The order indicates that the extent of Bard's liability may be considerably wider than previously thought. Questions about the Kugel Mesh patch litigation should be directed to attorney Pete Kaufman, of Levin, Papantonio's Mass Tort Department. You can reach Pete Kaufman at pkaufman@levinlaw.com.
Read the MDL Order

Fosamax MDL District Judge Remands MDL Cases to State Court
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the presiding Court in the Fosamax MDL No. 1789, has remanded several cases to state courts in the States of California, Florida, and Illinois. In a lengthy order, the District Court also taxed costs and fees against Merck for the improvident removal of the cases to federal court. Levin Papantonio shareholder Tim O'Brien is the Plaintiffs Lead Counsel in the Fosamax MDL and has pledged to work closely with the state court groups in order ensure that multiple cases are ready for trial in mid-2009. Regarding the District Court's order, Mr. O'Brien said, "Federal jurisdiction is, by design, one of strictly prescribed parameters. The District Court's order deftly outlined those parameters, applied them, and put the state court cases where they belong - - in state court." A copy of the order is attached. Levin Papantonio is representing Fosamax patients who have been diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the jaw or who have had low-energy subtrochanteric femur fractures after long-term use of Fosamax. For information regarding Fosamax claims, please feel free to contact Tim O'Brien at tobrien@levinlaw.com. For more information relating to the Fosamax MDL, you may always feel free to access the MDL PSC website at www.fosamaxmdl.com.

Yamaha Rhino Demonstrated for CPSC
On July 28, 2008, Yamaha's professional drivers demonstrated the new 2009 Yamaha Rhino for the CPSC and the public. Of course the 2009 models include a modified door, new seatbelt latch and webbing, a reminder light to wear a helmet and seatbelt, along with several other features. Unfortunately, no modifications have been made to address the instability of the vehicle. At the demonstration, the public was invited to ride as a passenger so long as boots were worn and waivers were signed, but they were not permitted to drive. Please contact Kim Lambert at klambert@levinlaw.com for any questions regarding the Yamaha Rhino litigation. For information on CPSC injury reporting requirements and violations for failing to report injuries, please go to the following links.
Read the CPSC Article
Read the Access Article

JPML Enters Transfer Order in Digitek Litigation
On August 13, 2008, the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation entered an order transferring the Digitek products liability litigation to the Southern District of West Virginia. MDL No. 1968 In re: Digitek Products Liability Litigation was assigned to Judge Joseph R. Goodwin. The litigation consists of eight actions pending in six districts, which will now be transferred to the Southern District of West Virginia. At the time of the MDL hearing, the Panel was notified that fifty other related actions had recently been filed in other districts, those actions will be treated as potential tag-along actions. State court litigation will likely be focused in West Virginia and New Jersey, as Defendants Mylan and Actavis Totowa, LLC have their principal places of business in the two states, respectively. For more information on the Digitek litigation, contact Amanda Slevinski at aslevinski@levinlaw.com.
MDL Transfer Order

Gadolinium Litigation
Levin Papantonio continues in its long tradition leading the charge against Big Pharma by taking on several of its key players in the Gadolinium litigation. Because of its paramagnetic properties, solutions of organic gadolinium complexes and gadolinium compounds are used as intravenous contrast agents to enhance images in medical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Gadolinium-based contrast agents have also been used in Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA). Gadolinium in not found naturally in the human body, as a matter of fact, in its free state, Gadolinium is extremely toxic. Studies have liked Gadolinium-based contrast agents with a rare, debilitating and untreatable condition called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis. NSF is a systemic disorder with its most prominent and visible effects in the skin, but it can also affect the internal organs, and joints. Patients with NSF describe swelling and tightening of the skin, usually limited to the extremities but sometimes involving the trunk. The condition may develop over a period of days to several weeks. In many cases, the skin thickening inhibits the flexion and extension of joints, resulting in contractures. Severely affected patients may be unable to walk, or fully extend the joints of their arms, hands, legs, and feet. Complaints of muscle weakness are common. The skin changes may start as reddened or darkened patches, papules, or plaques. In time, the skin may feel "woody" and the surface may resemble the texture of the peel of an orange. Patients may experience burning, itching, or severe sharp pains in areas of involvement. There is no treatment for NSF, there is no cure for NSF, and there is only one cause…Gadolinium-based contrast agents. An MDL has already been formed for this litigation, and Levin Papantonio is playing a major role in it. Troy Rafferty is a co-chair of the Plaintiff's Executive Committee. If you are interested in getting involved in this litigation please contact Troy Rafferty at trafferty@levinlaw.com.

ReNu Litigation Continues
Two years after Bausch and Lomb removed its contact lens solution, ReNu with MoistureLoc, from the market, the litigation continues to move forward. Levin Papantonio is committed to ensuring that its injured clients receive compensation. We have met with experts and reviewed hundreds of cases, in order to pursue only those cases where serious eye injuries occurred. If you have any clients who were diagnosed with fusarium keratitis while using ReNu with MoistureLoc, please contact Rachael Gilmer at rgilmer@levinlaw.com or (850) 435-7159.