New Pradaxa MDL Considered for Dozens of Pradaxa Bleeding Lawsuits

By Sarah Mirando | July 17, 2012

Category: Pharmaceuticals

By Sarah Pierce

In the last three months, a dozen Pradaxa lfawsuits have been filed against the drug’s manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., alleging the company did not adequately warn the public about the risk of severe Pradaxa bleeding side effects, including the lack of a reversal agent. All 12 of the Pradaxa lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, and Plaintiffs are now waiting to find out if multidistrict litigation (MDL) will be created to quickly and efficiently handle their claims.

In the most recent Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit, filed against Boehringer earlier this month, Plaintiff Leeta Witt claims she suffered cerebral bleeding in May 2011 and had to undergo two surgeries to resolve the problem. Witt claims her injuries were the result of taking Pradaxa, which she began taking in February 2011 for long-term maintenance and treatment of heart arrhythmia. According to her Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit, Boehringer confirmed in November 2011 that at least 260 fatal bleeding events had been linked to Pradaxa worldwide between March 2008 and October 2011. The Pradaxa lawsuit further claims that the FDA initiated an investigation into Pradaxa bleeding incidents in December 2011 after receiving 500 reports of Pradaxa deaths, 900 reports of gastrointestinal hemorrhages, over 300 reports of rectal hemorrhages, and over 200 reports of cerebrovascular accidents suffered by U.S. Pradaxa users.

Witt joins Plaintiffs from across the country suing Boehringer for failing to properly warn users about the risks of severe Pradaxa side effects, including internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, and even Pradaxa death — even though the company knew these risks existed. Witt’s Pradaxa lawyer filed 13 counts against Boehringer in the Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit, including claims for strict liability, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceptive trade practices. Witt is seeking a jury trial, punitive damages and actual damages in excess of $75,000. Her Pradaxa lawsuit, along with about two dozen other similar cases, could be heard in federal court or transferred to an MDL if the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multi District Litigation (JMPL) approves a recent request to create a Pradaxa lawsuit MDL.

Pradaxa Bleeding Lawsuits Could Join MDL

The complications alleged in Witt’s Pradaxa internal bleeding lawsuit are not uncommon. Numerous Pradaxa lawsuits have already been filed and Pradaxa attorneys don’t expect the number of cases to slow down. Presently, 27 Pradaxa lawsuits are pending in 13 different district courts across the country. The majority of the cases are being presided over by U.S. District Judge David Herndon in East St. Louis, who recently commented on a motion to consolidate the Pradaxa lawsuit cases into a single MDL.

“This is far too many cases to ignore the issues that are of concern to this Court while the MDL motion is being resolved,” Judge Herndon wrote. A hearing on whether to create the Pradaxa lawsuit MDL is scheduled for July 26.

“At this point there is no assurance that the JPML will consolidate all of the relevant cases before a single judge,” he added.

A Pradaxa lawsuit MDL would be a good choice for many Plaintiffs hoping to bring a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit because it allows thousands of Pradaxa bleeding victims to file lawsuits under the jurisdiction of one judge, while still allowing them to retain their own Pradaxa attorney and receive an individual award if the case is won or settled. The award a Plaintiff would receive in a Pradaxa MDL settlement is typically much larger than any individual award expected in a Pradaxa class action lawsuit, which would be shared amongst hundreds — if not hundreds of thousands — of Class Members. The Pradaxa MDL lawyers will determine exactly what each Plaintiff in the Pradaxa MDL will receive depending on the injury suffered. This may mean that those who file Pradaxa wrongful death lawsuits due to fatal bleeding would receive more than those who suffered more mild Pradaxa bleeding side effects. The Pradaxa law firms litigating the MDL will determine this as the case progresses.

Lawsuit Cite Severe Pradaxa Bleeding Side Effects

Pradaxa users have filed lawsuits alleging that the anticoagulant drug has severe undisclosed side effects which have killed patients. Pradaxa internal bleeding, wrongful death, or hemorrhage lawsuits typically allege that Boehringer Ingelheim did not adequately inform patients and their prescribing doctors of the risks of uncontrollable internal bleeding and hemorrhage associated with Pradaxa usage, nor did Boehringer Ingelheim warn or otherwise advise on how to intervene and stabilize a Pradaxa patient should a bleed occur after an accident or during surgery. Boehringer Ingelheim has stated that they are working on an antidote or treatment to help doctors when a Pradaxa patient is admitted with hemorrhage or severe internal bleeding.

It’s important that Pradaxa users know the preliminary signs of internal bleeding. Common internal bleeding symptoms include pink or brown urine, red or black stools, bruises that happen without a known cause and may get larger, coughing up blood or blood clots and/or vomiting blood or vomit which includes particles that look like coffee grounds. If you or a family member are taking, or were taking Pradaxa and experienced internal bleeding or hemorrhage, you may be able to file a Pradaxa lawsuit to help you pay for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and recovery. Only a qualified Pradaxa hemorrhage or internal bleeding lawsuit lawyer can determine if you have a case. In addition, the spouse of a Pradaxa victim of internal bleeding or hemorrhage may be able to join the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff and sue for “loss of consortium.”

If you would like more information about filing a Pradaxa internal bleeding class action lawsuit, would like to speak with experienced Pradaxa lawyers who are actively filing internal bleeding cases, or would like to file a Pradaxa bleeding personal injury lawsuit, just go to the Pradaxa Internal Bleeding Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. Pradaxa attorneys are actively investigating all claims regarding internal bleeding, wrongful death, hemorrhage and other problems which may have been caused by Pradaxa (dabigatran), warfarin (coumadin), blood thinner or other anti-coagulant medications. Remember, the Pradaxa lawyers who work with Top Class Actions will tell you if you have a case for free. There’s never any charge for an initial consultation with an attorney filing a Pradaxa lawsuit that you find through Top Class Actions. They don’t get paid unless you do.

Updated July 17th, 2012

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