Law Offices Of Patrick E. Catalano

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Law Offices of Patrick E. Catalano
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You wrote:
Mr. Catalano:

My Husband, Cecil C. Young, is incarcerated in Lexington Detention Center, Lexington S.C. under indictment for bank robbery. The offense for which Cecil was indicted took place following major physical and mental damages from treatment with Peg-Intron / Rebetol for Hepatitis C. It is my belief that he is not competent to understand the charges or participate in his own defense. He is currently being heavily medicated with Geodon and/or Lithium in doses that are considered unsafe for a Hepatic patient without benefit of blood testing. I his wife, Brenda Kay Young, have been unable to persuade the treating Psychiatrist, Dr. Merrie Ann Cherry, to alter treatment, communicate with her or even to consult Cecil's treating physician, Dr. Michael Dragutsky, of Memphis relative to the increased risks in treating a hepatic patient without blood profile monitoring. She is ignoring the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Service codes, Subpart C, Section 46.306, by taking more than a minimal! risk with the health of a prisoner.

Cecil is a successful and locally known mural painter in Memphis, TN. A former drug user, he enjoyed an 8-year drug-free period in which his success as a painter excelled, prior to a complete relapse after being treated with Peg-Intron / Rebetol combo therapy dontaed by Schering Plough for Hepatitis C which he underwent in 2002. The drug was relatively new or experimental at the time it was used with the warnings that are now blackboxed by FDA.

Increasing frequency of suicidal and homicidal ideation indicates the treatment is responsible for major mental shifts and deterioration including drug relapse to some individuals. Cecil is represented by a Public Defender, Sally Henry, who in connection with the S.C. Solicitors Office, has offered him a 25 year sentence plea. Yet, the arresting officer made the comment in his arrest file that Cecil was "in a mental state" at the time he was arrested fleeing the scene with an unloaded BB pistol.

I am hoping to locate legal representation for Cecil that will pursue a two-fold purpose of both mental incompetence defense due to the Peg-Intron /Rebetol destructive drug treatment and also represent Cecil's interests as plaintiff against the pharmaceutical company, Schering-Plough, that issued the combination medication without sufficient warnings of the side-effects. Tennessee has a one year statute for filing suits in the state system. The extent of the damage and its resulting destruction did not appear to become apparent until approximately 3-4 months ago. Our preliminary research now indicates there are others who have suffered similar side effects of extreme depression, suicidal and other tendencies from the same type Peg-Intron / Rebetol treatment.

We do not have the money to fund a suit nor to provide representation for Cecil. We are now trying to set up a website to sell prints of his canvas paintings. However, this is not expected to result in immediate funding for Cecil's defense. He had accomplished works for many affluent families and businesses in Memphis, TN and surrounding areas in the form of, including but not limited too, wall murals, period finishes, marbleizing, painting restorations, portraits, oil on canvas originals and reproductions. We need to immediately locate an attorney that has interest in pursuing both areas Pro Bono or to be compensated through a class action or punitive action against Schering-Plough, the pharmaceutical company, who I believe should be contributing toward Cecil's defense due to the enormously detrimental damage caused by his donated therapy.

Do you have the ability or interest to handle cases like Cecil's? If not, can you refer us to someone who might be able to help us? I realize the law for mental competence is different in SC, however, we are not interested in Cecil pleading guilty to charges of which he is not cognizant or unable to recognize how he got to this point nor have clarity of mind through current over medication to participate in his own defense without the responsibility of the pharmaceutical company for the damage their drug has caused him, his family and to others in destroying his life.

Regards,

Brenda Kay Young
4817 Bowen Ave.
Memphis, TN. 38122
901-683-6438
901-336-0675
ccbky @ msn.com