Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) typically involves a number of lawsuits filed by several people across the country who have all suffered an injury caused by the same defendant or defendants, being consolidated into a single action overseen by a single judge in a specialty federal court with experience handling these types of cases.
When lawsuits involve dangerous drugs, defective products, and other complex issues affecting large numbers of people, sometimes the federal court system uses multi-district litigation (MDL) to better manage the cases. In multi-district litigation, multiple civil cases that share a common issue are transferred to a single district court. That court then handles all discovery and pretrial proceedings for the lawsuits, ensuring efficient and consistent rulings when there are a common core of similar issues across the cases. The goal of MDL is to conserve resources and foster consistent court rulings across different lawsuits that involve similar legal issues efficiently. While the active roster of current MDLs varies, below are some examples of recent or current MDL cases:
Hernia Mesh
Currently there are lawsuits pending against manufacturers of defective hernia mesh products. Most plaintiffs in the hernia mesh MDL suffered complications that relate to hernia mesh requiring corrective surgery and/or a hospitalization due to the mesh used in your hernia repair surgery. There are a variety of products and manufacturers involved in this litigation currently and some of the cases are nearing trial. Therefore, if you believe you may have a case to pursue, it is imperative that you act urgently to confirm whether you might be a fit to file a case into this MDL
Belviq Recall
As of Feb. 13, 2020, the FDA requested that Eisai Inc. voluntarily withdraw the drug over the potential cancer link. People who developed lung, pancreatic or colorectal cancer after taking Belviq for a total of six months may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Note that generally, the six months of exposure does not have to be six months in a row, though most firms limit representation to individuals who have taken Belviq within seven years of being diagnosed with cancer. The cancers must have originated in the lung, pancreas or colon in most cases, for it to be a fit for a firm to file into the MDL. Every firm will have a different criteria for cases that they are willing to take on and there is no risk in speaking with an attorney to confirm whether a potential case might be a fit. If you believe that you or a loved one developed cancer after taking Belviq, contact Judson Graham Firm to discuss your concerns and learn if you might have a case that is potentially eligible for compensation.
Paraquat Parkinsons Study
A number studies have linked Paraquat to Parkinson’s disease. An MDL has been filed and the case is being litigated on behalf of individuals who developed Parkinson’s after taking Paraquat. If you believe that you or a loved one developed Parkinson’s Diseases after exposure to popular herbicide Paraquat, contact Judson Graham Firm to a lawyer to discuss your concerns.
Elmiron Vision Damage
Elmiron lawsuits claim the drug is defective. The primary allegation raises in the Elmiron MDL is that the medication causes an eye disorder called maculopathy and other disorders of the retina that may lead to blindness. People who took Elmiron and suffered maculopathy or other serious vision problems may be eligible to file an Elmiron case in the MDL that is currently being litigated.
Xeljanz Side Affects
Pfizer’s Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis by relieving pain and swelling in the joints. Xeljanz can also be used to treat symptoms of ulcerative colitis by lowering inflammation. The FDA has warned that taking high doses of Xeljanz can increase the risk of blood clots in the lungs and death.
The FDA approved the black box warning for increased risk of blood clots and death in July 2019. Before the addition of this black box warning, the agency released a warning in February 2019 about a safety clinical trial that found that people who used higher doses of Xeljanz to treat RA had a higher risk of blood clots and death. On Feb. 4, 2021, the FDA released a safety communication about an increased risk of cancer and serious cardiovascular events in people who took Xeljanz in clinical trials. The allegations in the MDL primarily allege that the medication was dangerous and that the proper warnings were not given to patients and their medical providers.
Information provided by https://www.drugwatch.com/xeljanz/
Uloric Health Risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a black box warning for Takeda’s gout medication, Uloric. The FDA warns that Uloric may cause increased risk of cardiovascular death and states that the medication should be reserved for patients who did not respond to or cannot take allopurinol for treatment of gout. Patients who suffered serious side effects and family members of those who may have died due to Uloric treatment are filing cardiac death or drug injury lawsuits against Uloric manufacturer, Takeda, in the MDL, in many instances.
Information provided by https://www.drugdangers.com/uloric/lawsuit/
Information provided by https://www.drugdangers.com/uloric/lawsuit/
If you have suffered a personal injury from product liability, a car accident, or other situation, contact a Judson Graham Firm located in Chicago, Illinois for a case evaluation.