A lawsuit has recently been filed against Pfizer Inc., manufacturer of the cholesterol drug Lipitor, alleging that the drug caused the plaintiff to develop Type-2 diabetes.

The Lipitor lawsuit is part of the Lipitor MDL moving through the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, where numerous Lipitor lawsuits have been consolidated.

Plaintiff Shirley C., a 57 year-old resident of Alabama, began taking Lipitor in 2003 until 2012. She was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes in 2004.

In addition to developing type-2 diabetes following her Lipitor use, the Lipitor lawsuit claims that Shirley suffered severe and permanent physical and emotional injuries from use of the medication. This included pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Shirley claims to have suffered economic losses as well.

Shirley’s Lipitor lawsuit brings ten counts against Pfizer, including negligence, negligent misrepresentation, negligent design, strict product liability for both design defect and failure to warn, breaches of express and implied warranty, two counts of fraud, and unjust enrichment. She is seeking punitive damages and has demanded a jury trail.

Shirley’s individual Lipitor Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-04034-RMG in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division. It is part of the Lipitor Type-2 Diabetes MDL known as In re: Lipitor (Atorvastin Calcium) Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2:14-mn-02502-RMG in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division.

Lipitor Type-2 Diabetes Link

Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) is a cholesterol-lowering drug belonging to the statin family. Elevated cholesterol levels are linked to serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, as well as other conditions.

Lipitor was the highest grossing drug for many years before its patent expired in 2011. In 2006 sales topped $13.7 billion. Many individuals were prescribed this medication, and while many had success, a group of women have had nothing but trouble from the drug.

While the exact mechanism is not fully understood, it appears that female hormones somehow interact with Lipitor, increasing the odds patients will develop type-2 diabetes if they stay on the drug.

The volume of women affected by this Lipitor side effect increased with the number of women taking the popular drug, and in 2012, following an investigation by the FDA, the government agency required an update to the labels. Pfizer was then required to add the increased risk of developing Type-2 diabetes as a result of taking Lipitor to the drug label.

While many viewed the updated labeling as a step in the right direction, many women remained permanently affected by the damage Lipitor allegedly caused.

Pfizer Lawsuit and Lipitor MDL Information

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer alleging that Lipitor causes type-2 diabetes. Because of the similar claims, the lawsuits have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL). The lawsuits in an MDL are grouped together to be heard in one court with a single judge hearing the cases. This allows for more uniform rulings and speeds up the trial process.

If you or a loved one has developed type-2 diabetes after taking Lipitor, you may be eligible to file an individual Lipitor diabetes lawsuit or join the MDL that is in progress. A Lipitor attorney can review your case for free and educate you on your legal options.