The Current Status of the Fluoroquinolones Lawsuit

Claims Filed in the Fluoroquinolones Lawsuit

May patients who have suffered adverse side effects after taking Cipro®, Levaquin®, or Avelox® have already filed numerous claims. Many of these lawsuits allege that the manufacturers intentionally concealed information from the public regarding the safety of these drugs.

If you have been injured by a defective drug, Speak with an Attorney

One of the more recent lawsuits was filed on behalf of five patients against Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Levaquin®. Their claim alleges that the company intentionally concealed or downplayed the potentially serious side effects, as well as mislabeled and misbranded the drug. Similar allegations have been made in separate claims, including:

• Fluoroquinolones manufacturers were negligent and failed to perform adequate and thorough testing of the drugs prior to making them available to the public.
• The manufacturers failed to provide patients and health care providers with adequate warnings regarding the serious complications and side effects associated with fluoroquinolones.
• Cipro®, Levaquin®, and Avelox® manufacturers intentionally marketed their products as safe, concealing the dangers associated with the medications.

Multidistrict Litigation

Many lawsuits have already been filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson concerning their dangerous drugs. There were previously over 2,000 pending cases against Levaquin® and Johnson & Johnson in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in a Minnesota Federal District Court. MDL is used to consolidate similar cases against a single defendant for expedited pretrial proceedings. This allows all parties involved to conserve their resources and prevents duplications in discovery and conflicting rulings by separate courts.

Johnson & Johnson settled more than 800 of these cases, though the settlement amounts are undisclosed. There are currently more than 200 cases currently pending in MDL, and many more lawsuits are expected.

MDL vs. Class Action

Although they share some similarities, MDL and class action lawsuits are quite different. Both case types group together plaintiffs with similar claims against a common defendant. However, MDL plaintiffs are not legally bound by the results of any individual case. Each plaintiff’s claim is tried separately once the pretrial proceedings are complete. This allows each plaintiff the opportunity to secure a settlement or verdict that is reflective of his or her individual injuries.
In a class action lawsuit, all plaintiffs are treated as one. If a settlement or verdict is reached, the plaintiffs each receive an equal percentage of the award. This can frequently result in incredibly small compensation amounts that do not reflect individual injuries. Additionally, plaintiffs who participate in a class action lawsuit are legally prohibited from filing an individual lawsuit with similar claims against that same defendant.

Updates in the Fluoroquinolones Lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson and Bayer have settled many claims in the fluoroquinolones lawsuit for undisclosed amounts. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that the risks of these medications may outweigh the potential benefits, and they have strengthened their warning label requirements several times to caution patients about the dangers.

Schedule a Consultation

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious complication after being prescribed and taking a fluoroquinolone antibiotic such as Cipro®, Avelox®, or Levaquin®, please contact a pharmaceutical attorney today to schedule a complimentary consultation. An attorney with extensive knowledge and experience in pharmaceutical litigation can thoroughly review your claim and help you determine the best course of action to secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.