U.S. Marshall Sues Cold Remedy Maker - Says He Can No Longer Smell Meth Labs

[matcom]

<snip>

A deputy U.S. marshal based in Charleston is suing the makers of the popular cold remedy Zicam over his lost sense of smell, which he says has put him in danger of being unknowingly exposed to methamphetamine labs.

William L. Seckman, 42, who lives in Putnam County, said he took the over-the-counter drug nasally late last year for a cold and soon after couldn't smell anything and suffered a partial loss of his sense of taste.

Seckman, in a lawsuit filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court, says Matrixx Initiatives and its subsidiary Zicam LLC did not warn him of the potential risks of "certain destructive qualities caused by the presence of zinc" in the product.

Seckman says he sought medical advice on his problem to no avail. He believes he's lost his sense of smell permanently.

And in his line of work that's no good, Seckman claims.

As a federal law enforcement officer, he said his duties sometimes expose him to methamphetamine labs, which are considered dangerous to be in contact with.

Police say an operating meth lab has a distinctive odor, sometimes described as similar to the smell of rotten eggs or ammonia. After authorities discover and shut down a meth lab, it's treated like toxic waste.

Seckman says he can no longer use his sense of smell to detect a working meth lab. He says he's endangered in his job and will continue to be so.

http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/200705219/Officer-sues-cold-remedy-maker-saying-he-cant-smell-meth-labs-anymore/

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. Sounds like the deputy could use some help

like a meth-smelling dog.

edited to add some words.