The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) ordered to consolidate Zofran birth defect lawsuits in Massachusetts.
Why did the JPML consolidate Zofran cases?
An increasing number of families across the US are coming forward, seeking to hold Zofran’s manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), accountable.
And accounting for the current number of pending Zofran lawsuits, in addition to estimates of future lawsuits, the move to consolidate is wise.
What is an MDL?
Think of a multidistrict litigation like this.
Say you ask 10 small grocers across the US for 10 red apples. And the small grocers hop to it, and each of them meets your request.
In doing so, they’re duplicating the same action, over and over again.
This duplicative process is what MDLs seek to avoid. When similar lawsuits are consolidated, there’s no replicating the same legal process over and over; put another way, grocers don’t have to pick out those 10 red apples over and over again.
Another benefit of MDLs is they avoid the confusion of conflicting rulings that can happen when cases are tried separately in courts all over the US.
Zofran MDL
On October 13, 2015, the JPML consolidated Zofran lawsuits into MDL No. 2657 before Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV.
GlaxoSmithKline has been here before
In 2012, GSK pled guilty to criminal charges brought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The charges alleged that GSK “promoted certain forms of Zofran, approved only for post-operative nausea, for the treatment of morning sickness in pregnant women”.
GSK and the DOJ agreed to a civil settlement in excess of $1 billion.
GSK also pled guilty to “promoting…Zofran for off-label, non-covered use and paying kickbacks to physicians”.
Do you want to hold GSK accountable?
If so, we can help you.
The team of experienced Zofran lawyers at Carey Danis & Lowe are available to discuss your case with you during a free case evaluation.
We can walk you through your legal options and compensation eligibility.
Call Carey Danis & Lowe today at 800.721.219. You can also reach us by completing a confidential personal injury claim form.
