1/11/14 - Victims and families affected by the fungal meningitis outbreak related to tainted steroids have until next week to file claims through a special compensation fund. The now-defunct Massachusetts company, New England Compounding Center, distributed tainted injections of a steroid to clinics throughout the country, including Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton. The contaminated injections were later linked to an outbreak that sickened hundreds of people in 20 states and led to some deaths in Livingston County. Victims and their families are eligible to file claims and secure funds from a $100 (m) million Victim Compensation Fund that was created in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Massachusetts. The deadline to file is Wednesday, January 15th and the amount of payments will be determined by the number of valid claims filed. Authorities in Michigan and Massachusetts have coordinated their criminal probes of the pharmacy, which remain ongoing at this time, and a grand jury was empaneled last April to investigate the outbreak in Genesee, Livingston, Macomb, and Grand Traverse Counties. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says the fund could be an option to help victims and families rebuild, and encourages them to consult with a private attorney to determine whether filing a claim is appropriate for their situation. Claim forms must be received by 4pm. Only hard-copy submissions sent by USPS or courier services will be accepted as electronic submissions are not available. Additional information and claim forms may be found through the link below. (JM)
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