The Lipitor bellwether trial process moved forward when two Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits were chosen to be the first trials presented to juries. The federal judge presiding over the Lipitor MDL chose the cases at random.

U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel has been presiding over the Lipitor diabetes MDL in the District of South Carolina. During pretrial proceedings, Gergel set up a Lipitor bellwether trial process.

Bellwether trials are commonly used in MDLs. The Lipitor bellwether trials may be used to determine how a jury might respond to certain evidence and testimony.

The outcome of the Lipitor bellwether trials will not determine the outcome of other Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits filed, but may influence potential settlements between Pfizer Inc. and the plaintiffs.

A small number of Lipitor lawsuits were selected in 2014 to go through discovery and depositions that were case-specific. Eight claims were deemed eligible for the first round of Lipitor bellwether trials. Two Lipitor lawsuits were selected for the first bellwether trial dates, one chosen by each party involved in the Lipitor MDL. Gergel selected these cases at random on Jan. 30.

The first Lipitor bellwether trial is scheduled to begin in October.

Lipitor Lawsuit Allegations

Pfizer is currently facing over 2,000 Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits, many of which are consolidated in this Lipitor MDL filed in South Carolina. Plaintiffs allege Lipitor, a cholesterol medication, caused thousands of women to develop type-2 diabetes.

Pfizer has also been accused of failing to warn against Lipitor diabetes side effects. Lipitor has been a successful, profitable drug for Pfizer. It has been suggested that the company failed to disclose Lipitor side effects in order to protect its profits and neglected to warn against Lipitor type-2 diabetes or the need to monitor blood glucose levels during Lipitor use.

Plaintiffs have alleged in Lipitor lawsuits that had they been aware of Lipitor type-2 diabetes risks they would have either never used the medication or would have at least monitored their blood for early signs of diabetes development.

Type-2 Diabetes

Type-2 diabetes is a life-long condition. Once developed, it can never be fully cured and can put serious limitations on a patient’s life. Various medications and diets can help manage this alleged Lipitor side effect, but treatment will need to continue throughout a patient’s lifetime.

Patients who are postmenopausal, obese, or have a family history of type-2 diabetes are more likely to develop this Lipitor side effect. Signs of Lipitor diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Dry mouth
• Increased hunger (especially after eating)
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
• Areas of darkened skin
• Headaches