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Judge Consolidating Depakote Birth Defect Lawsuits
By John Curran
While many Depakote birth defect victims are just finding out about the links to autism and decreased intelligence, judges are already moving existing product liability lawsuits to reduce the repetitive nature of cases spread throughout the country. There were six that Judge John Darrah moved to the U.S. District Court for Southern Illinois.
The move makes sense to save time for plaintiffs, and the number of Depakote lawsuits moved there could skyrocket. After studies were released linking the seizure medication to brain development delays in babies born to mothers who took the drug during pregnancy, Depakote lawsuit attorneys are completing an increasing number of consultations. In addition, researchers in the United Kingdom have found that a similar drug caused defects in more than 40 percent of babies whose mother took the drug.
Depakote birth defects have a causative link between the drug and problems for children, but it is unclear exactly why it occurs. Still, that may not be necessary for plaintiffs to be successful in cases against drug maker Abbott Laboratories. The research provides a strong foundation, and potentially significant problems for the manufacturer. The drug has been on the market for decades and was popular for doctors who wanted to limit a woman’s risk of seizures that could be harmful during pregnancy.
The good news for women who want to avoid Depakote side effects in their children is that there are a number of medications available that can treat epileptic seizures and bipolar disorder, the two indications for which Depakote has approval. There are also procedures available that can limit the likelihood of seizures in epileptic women, in some cases permanently eliminating the debilitating conditions.
Still, birth defect lawsuits could number in the thousands due to the widespread usage of Depakote and lack of information about its pregnancy risks. Keep in mind that the lawsuits consolidated in Illinois represent a small number of cases as many are initially filed in state and other courts before Darrah moves them to the MDL.
If these Depakote side effects sound similar, you may be eligible to pursue a claim against Abbott Laboratories. Find out more by getting a free legal consultation when you visit the Depakote Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. A Depakote lawsuit attorney will help you assess your legal options to see whether or not filing a lawsuit makes sense for you and your loved ones. It costs nothing, so get started today to obtain the legal remedy your potential case merits.
Updated March 8th, 2013
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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One thought on Judge Consolidating Depakote Birth Defect Lawsuits
i to have taken depakote since a young age i had my daughter when i was 18 and still was taking this medicine the doctors told me it was safe. i was in freehold n.j. then. my daughter has many defects. but is 15years old now and still strugles with her developemental delays and many more defects. i now live in texas and within the last year and a half have had 2 miscarries while on depakote. my doctor finally took me off this med. since my last misscarrage. i have contacted a law firm recently and i am hoping anyone else that has taken this medicine will to.