Zyprexa class action lawsuits as well as separate individual actions have been filed against Eli Lilly & Co., the makers of Zyprexa, by people who developed severe side effects (i.e., diabetes and other diseases) after taking the medication.

Suffered harm from Zyprexa? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.

A class action lawsuit combines a large number of Zyprexa claims brought by separate individuals under one representative lawsuit. The action is brought in the name of a class representative who is selected to represent the interests of all the members who have the same claim against the same defendant. If successful, the court judgment or settlement is distributed among the class members.

Is it worth it to file as a member of a class? There are advantages to a Zyprexa class action lawsuit over an individual action. It makes sense when a Zyprexa injury is too small to justify an individual, separate lawsuit. Combining smaller claims into a representative class adds more clout in terms of numbers which increases the likelihood of recovery and its size. Aggregating also conserves court resources and lowers the costs of litigation.

The major downside to a Zyprexa class action is the chance that your damage award or settlement will be somewhat lower than what you would have received had you filed separately. In a class action you recover only what was provided for in the large class action suit; you cannot later sue for a larger amount. (See the FAQ on Zyprexa damages.) Also, you lose some flexibility when you join a class action suit since you are bound to their timetable and their outcome collectively. Your own attorney will work up the unique aspects of your case and separate you from the pack of class action attorneys who you may see or deal with. In a separate filing, personalized legal representation is given to your specific injury and circumstances; you are not lumped in with all the others having comparable claims.

In June 2005, Eli Lilly announced it would pay almost $700 million in settlement to Zyprexa users that developed serious health conditions from taking the drug.

For more information on whether to file a class or individual lawsuit. Read our sections also on Filing a Lawsuit and How to Select a Lawyer.

Suffered harm from Zyprexa? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.