A New Jersey judge is considering consolidating the numerous Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth control injury lawsuits filed in Atlantic, Bergen or Middlesex counties against drug manufacturers, Bayer Corporation and Teva Pharmaceuticals, into an MDL (multidistrict litigation). Plaintiffs' lawyers expect that nearly 1,000 lawsuits will be filed by next year – which would overburden the small New Jersey court.
Consolidation of NJ Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella lawsuits
Nearly 50 deaths have been linked to Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella oral contraceptives nationwide. These drugs are referred to as the fourth generation of birth control because the drugs contain a progestin component called drospirenone which may dangerously increase potassium levels (a condition known as hyperkalemia) and lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism and death. Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella's dangerous side effects also include sudden loss of vision or vision changes, liver damage, gall bladder disease, pancreatitis, anxiety and depression. Bayer Healthcare Corporation manufacturers Yaz and Yasmin and Teva Pharmaceuticals manufacturers Ocella – a generic version of the drugs.
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The MDL, proposed by New Jersey Assignment Judge Donald Volkert Jr., seeks to centralize the lawsuits to the Southern District of Illinois where mass torts are heard. Various news reports quote him as saying that further litigation on the matters in New Jersey "would place a fairly substantial strain on our already limited resources."
Centralizing lawsuits in an MDL is actually good for plaintiffs as it places the common issues of law and fact in front of one judge, reduces the risk of redundancy and inconsistent filings and allows the process to be facilitated more easily and with less expense. Public comments are being accepted until the end of 2009 to determine whether the MDL will be granted. Other state cases have already been consolidated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and federal cases have been consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois – and all have similar allegations.
Bayer concealed health risks
Yaz and Yasmin lawyers say that lawsuits currently filed against Bayer allege that the drug maker concealed the health risks associated with the pills and failed to warn consumers about the drugs' dangers. Numerous studies, including one recently published in the British Medical Journal, say that drospirenone puts women at a much greater risk for developing venous clots than other forms of oral contraceptives.
If you've been injured by taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, contact an experienced products liability attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. However, don't wait as each state has a different statute of limitations, or time allowed, in which to file a lawsuit.
Suffered harm from Yaz/Yasmin? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights. [Sponsored link]