Ariz. Woman Sues Pfizer for Lipitor Damages after Diabetes Diagnosis

When Gloria Hatton of Arizona was prescribed Lipitor by her physician, she thought she was taking the right steps to fight off “bad” cholesterol and reduce her risk of cardiac events. She didn’t know that Lipitor has been linked to causing type-2 diabetes, especially in women over 50 (one of the largest demographics to be prescribed the cholesterol medication).

Pfizer Inc., the manufacturer of Lipitor, is facing dozens of lawsuits after a number of victims have come forward, mostly older women, alleging that the drug caused them to develop diabetes. Hatton filed her Lipitor lawsuit on Nov. 1, 2013.

According to her Lipitor complaint, “Despite its knowledge of data indicating that Lipitor use is causally related to the development of type 2 diabetes and/or blood glucose levels diagnostic for type 2 diabetes, Pfizer promoted and marketed Lipitor as safe and effective for persons such as Plaintiff throughout the United States.” Her diabetes is permanent, and now she’s facing a host of other potential problems because of it and has had to drastically alter her lifestyle.

Lipitor has been having problems with adequate labeling for quite some time. “On Aug. 11, 2011, the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products of the FDA requested that Defendant make labeling changes for Lipitor based upon the FDA’s comprehensive review, including clinical trial data,” Hatton says in her lawsuit.

In February 2012, Pfizer complied with the FDA request and added the following language to its Warnings and Precautions Section: “Increases in HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including Lipitor.” Until the change, Lipitor’s label had never warned patients of any potential relation between changes in blood sugar levels and taking Lipitor. Despite the February 2012 label change, Lipitor’s label continues to fail to warn consumers of the serious risk of developing type 2 diabetes per se when using Lipitor.”

In Hatton’s case, she was an extremely long-term Lipitor user, having started the drug in 1990 and continuing through 2012. She says that throughout these 20+ years, Pfizer “knew or should have known that the risks of Lipitor including the severe and life-threatening complications of type 2 diabetes. At all times material hereto, Defendant, by and through its agents, servants, and/or employees, negligently, recklessly and/or carelessly marketed, distributed, and/or sold Lipitor without adequate instructions or warnings of the drug’s serious side effects and unreasonably dangerous risks.”

She never knew, over two decades, to watch for signs of diabetes or that her development of diabetes can be caused by Lipitor.Hatton “was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in or about November 2011. As a result, for the rest of her life she must undergo regular testing of her blood glucose levels, adhere to a restrictive diabetic diet, and take medication to control her diabetes. Due to her diabetes, she is now at markedly increased risk of heart disease, blindness, neuropathy, and kidney disease,” the lawsuit says. However, there’s no telling how long she’s actually had diabetes. She says she “was very healthy prior to taking Lipitor. In keeping with her healthy and proactive lifestyle, Plaintiff agreed to initiate Lipitor treatment in an effort to reduce her risk of developing heart disease. She relied on claims made by Pfizer that Lipitor has been clinically shown to reduce the risk of developing heart disease.”

Thousands of Female Lipitor Users at Risk

There are a number of Lipitor users taking on the drug giant for failing to warn about the risk of type-2 diabetes from Lipitor, and all have similar stories.

According to Hatton’s Lipitor lawsuit, “As a direct, proximate, and legal result of Defendant’s negligence and wrongful conduct, and the unreasonably dangerous and defective characteristics of the drug Lipitor, Plaintiff suffered severe and permanent physical and emotional injuries, including, but not limited to type 2 diabetes. Plaintiff has endured pain and suffering, has suffered economic loss, including incurring significant expenses for medical care and treatment, and will continue to incur such expenses in the future.”

She’s suing Pfizer for failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, constructive fraud, unjust enrichment and punitive damages. Hatton is seeking compensation for general damages, medical/incidental/hospital expenses, interest, a full refund of Lipitor, compensatory and consequential damages, attorney’s fees and any other appropriate relief.

Pfizer “so negligently and recklessly labeled, distributed, and promoted the aforesaid product that it was dangerous and unsafe for the use and purpose for which it was intended,” states Hatton’s Lipitor claim.

The case is Gloria Hatton v. Pfizer Inc., Case No.: 3:13-cv-08266-DKD, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.

Free Help for Women who Took Lipitor & Developed Diabetes

If you’re a woman who took Lipitor, or you know a woman who took Lipitor, and later developed type-2 diabetes, you have legal options. Please visit the Lipitor Diabetes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Lipitor lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Lipitor attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.