PRESS RELEASE:
FIRST MERCURY POISONING/VACCINE CASE FILED
MARCH 23, 2001
The law firm of Waters & Kraus, LLP, based in Dallas, Texas, announced
today that it has filed the first known civil case alleging that the
mercury-based preservative thimerosal, used recently in more than 30
childhood vaccines, has caused mercury poisoning in many children.
Counter, et al v. Abbott Laboratories, et al, (Cause No. GN 100866, 200th
District Court - Travis County, Texas). The symptoms of mercury poisoning
are, in many cases, identical to the symptoms of autism, although the suit
does not allege that all persons suffering from the symptoms of autism do
so as a result of mercury poisoning. However, many children suffering from
mercury poisoning have been previously diagnosed with autism due to the
similarity of symptoms.
Children have been exposed to cumulative levels of mercury from the
vaccines that exceed threshold safety levels that have been established by
the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In many instances,
children carry unmistakable evidence of mercury poisoning and the symptoms
of mercury poisoning were first manifested after receiving vaccines tainted
by thimerosal. In many cases, children exhibited normal neurological and
other developmental patterns until such time as the cumulative dose of
mercury caused irreparable damage to both the neurological and the general
developmental process. For example, many children had developed language
and other skills that were later lost as the result of the cumulative
exposure to mercury.
Thimerosal is a mercury-based additive. Mercury has been known to be
hazardous for literally hundreds of years, and its dangers have been well
known and documented during all times when the defendants manufactured
and/or sold mercury-containing pediatric vaccine products.
Waters & Kraus anticipates that a significant number of individual cases
against the vaccine industry will be filed in the near future. The firm
anticipates investigating and prosecuting individual claims throughout the
United States, in conjunction with the following firms and others:
Evert & Weathersby, LLP Atlanta, Georgia
Dogan & Wilkinson, PLLC Pascagoula, Mississippi
Doran & Murphy, LLP Buffalo, New York
Leach, Schwarz & Strassberg Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Jones, Martin, Parris & Raleigh, North Carolina
Tessener Law Offices, PLLC
Additional inquiries should be addressed to Melissa Miles at Waters &
Kraus (Dallas), (214) 357-6244 or miles@awpk.com.
Potential claimants
should call Claire Bothwell at Waters & Kraus (California), (562) 436-8833
or bothwell@awpk.com.