People Who Make a Difference

The 2013 Justice Served Awards honor each of these nominees for their commitment to a safer, more just America. Tell us which story moves you the most (see our nominating criteria below), and we’ll enter you into a drawing for a free subscription to Consumer Reports.

Women Protecting Women

Michelle Garcia and Angie Firmalino are warning women about problems with the birth control implant Essure.

Michelle Garcia and Angie Firmalino have never met in person, but together they are warning thousands of women about complications associated with Essure. Billed as effective, permanent and surgery-free birth control, the Essure procedure involves blocking the fallopian tubes with inserts that look like tiny metal coils. One of Michelle’s coils broke and pierced her abdomen, requiring surgery to remove the coil and both damaged fallopian tubes. After suffering sharp stabbing pains, heavy bleeding, fevers, fatigue and depression for two years, Angie also had the coils removed only to discover that a piece broke off during surgery and remains lodged in her uterus.

Since starting a Facebook page and website called Essure Problems to warn friends and families about the product, Angie has heard from hundreds of other women who have also suffered complications from Essure. Meanwhile, Michelle is working with the American Association for Justice to protest a Supreme Court decision that exempts the manufacturers of FDA-approved medical devices like Essure from legal responsibility for injuries caused by their products. Read more about Michelle, Angie and the latest news about women struggling with Essure.

A Mom Fights for Accountability

CNN’s Anderson Cooper talked energy drinks with Wendy Crossland.

In 2012, 14-year-old Anais Fournier drank two 24-ounce cans of Monster energy drink within 24 hours, went into cardiac arrest and died. The cause of death listed on her autopsy report was “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity“ in the presence of a heart condition. The caffeine Anais consumed is equivalent to 14 cans of Coca-Cola and is almost five times the recommended daily limit for children.

Thus began an odyssey for Wendy Crossland (Anais’ mom) that culminated recently with congressional hearings on the safety of energy drinks such as Monster, 5-Hour Energy, Red Bull, Rockstar and others. The revved-up sodas have been cited for a twofold increase in emergency room visits from 2007 to 2011 and reports of at least 18 deaths to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Several lawmakers and the American Medical Association are now calling for a ban on the marketing of energy drinks to children under 18. Meanwhile, Monster claims that its products are safe and were not the cause of Anais’ death. Read more about Wendy’s journey.

Double Amputee Helps Others Start Over

Aaron Holm was helping a coworker change a flat tire in 2007 when a car crashed into his, causing a chain reaction that pinned him between two vehicles. He lost both of his legs above the knee. Friends and family rushed to his side, and within hours a plan was in place that would help Aaron achieve a remarkable recovery.

One night before a difficult surgery, Aaron mentioned in his blog that he, like many amputees, still had sensation from his missing limbs. So he asked everyone to “wiggle your toes for me.” The phrase struck a chord with his supporters and inspired the name of the foundation Aaron started to help others regain a full life after losing a limb. Wiggle Your Toes replicates Aaron’s recovery plan with consultation on a full range of services for amputees and their family, from legal protection to transportation to prosthetics. Read more about Aaron and his foundation.

Parental Love Inspires National Movement

Casey Feldman courtesy of the Casey Feldman Foundation.

It took just a few seconds for a driver to reach for a drink and take his eyes off the road. In that moment, 21-year-old Casey Feldman was struck and killed while crossing a street in a crosswalk on her way to work. Distracted driving has become a national epidemic, killing more than 3,000 people in 2011 and injuring another 387,000.

Refusing to allow Casey to become just another statistic, her parents Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson founded End Distracted Driving (EndDD) to prevent more senseless deaths and injuries from distracted driving. Since its inception, EndDD has tirelessly advocated for an end to distracted driving through original, groundbreaking research and by enlisting trial lawyers to spread the message to thousands of teens across the nation. Read more about Casey and EndDD.

Justice Served Awards Nominating Criteria

The Justice Served Awards celebrate the stories of injured people and their families who decide to make a difference in protecting the health, safety and legal rights of others. Once a year, we ask our readers to read these remarkable stories and tell us which one touches them most and why. Winners are chosen based on their efforts to:

• Uncover negligence or other irresponsible behavior by organizations that put their interests ahead of the public interest;
• Prompt government action by shedding new light on defective products, services or other practices;
• Trigger manufacturing and quality assurance practices that lead to safer products and services; and,
• Increase public awareness that helps prevent additional injuries and protects an individual's right to civil justice in a court of law.