Federal Judge Rules Against Motion to Dismiss Pradaxa Lawsuit

Federal Judge Rules Against Motion to Dismiss Pradaxa Lawsuit

By Andrea Gressman

There has been some big news for those who recently filed a Pradaxa lawsuit. Recently, a federal judge ruled against the Pradaxa drug makers in their attempt to get injury claims in a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit dismissed. Pradaxa has only been on the market since October of 2010, but patients using this drug quickly encountered severe complications as a result of the blood-thinning medication.

In fact, so many Pradaxa lawsuits were filed that on May 30, 2012 a group of Pradaxa lawyers filed a motion to request that the lawsuits be combined into one multidistrict litigation (MDL) and moved to a central federal court. In their motion for a Pradaxa lawsuit MDL (Case No. 2385), the Pradaxa lawyers estimated there will be up to 500 Pradaxa lawsuits filed in the new MDL. Recent arguments have been heard on combining the cases and those who have filed a Pradaxa lawsuit are anxiously awaiting the outcome.

In the meantime, on July 25, 2012, the judge who is currently overseeing many of the current Pradaxa lawsuits, Judge David Herndon, ruled in favor of a Plaintiff seeking compensation for Pradaxa bleeding injuries and denied a motion by Boehringer Ingelheim, Pradaxa’s manufacturer, to dismiss the lawsuit.

The legal team representing Boehringer Ingelheim based their motion to dismiss on the fact that there were warning labels placed on the drug’s packaging, and therefore claimed that the drug manufacturer was not responsible. However, Judge Herndon was not satisfied with this argument, noting that the risk of uncontrollable bleeding as well as the fact that there was not a reversal agent had not been addressed.

Pradaxa Side Effects and Complications

As mentioned above, Pradaxa was released onto the market in October 2010. Its main purpose was to prevent both strokes as well as blood clots in atrial fibrillation patients. It became very popular and in less than two years sold over $1 billion in product.

However, the success was short-lived and in December 2011 the FDA issued a warning to Pradaxa patients. The agency informed them that they were currently investigating the drug to see if there were any safety concerns. A number of reports of Pradaxa injuries as well as deaths prompted the investigation because they were far more than what would normally be expected. In June 2012, the ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) released a report that indicated that Pradaxa was the leading medication in the year of 2011 with reports of bleeding and death.

The use of Pradaxa has led many patients to experience internal bleeding and, as a result of this uncontrollable bleeding, many patients have died because they were unable to get the bleeding to stop. The judge’s recent decision is a big deal for those who have filed a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit and brings those who have filed a Pradaxa lawsuit that much closer to the justice they deserve.
If you or your loved one has used Pradaxa and has experienced any of the side effects that Pradaxa has been known to cause, it is important to contact an attorney that specializes in Pradaxa cases right away. A Pradaxa attorney can help you protect your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve.

Visit the Pradaxa Internal Bleeding Class Action Lawsuit Investigation for more information. There is a team of qualified Pradaxa lawsuit attorneys standing by to help you know and understand your rights.