Oral Arguments Heard for Lipitor Lawsuit Consolidation
A panel of federal judges heard oral arguments on Thursday over whether all Lipitor diabetes lawsuits filed throughout the country should be centralized into an MDL, or multidistrict litigation. If consolidated, each case will be treated fairly and given its own trial, Lipitor lawyers argued.
Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a cholesterol treatment drug that belongs to a category of drugs called statins. Lipitor assists the body in distributing and distinguishing between good and bad cholesterol, evening out the levels, and making the body healthier. It also helps lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, coronary heart diseases, and other cardiac complications. Lipitor is only prescribed to adults and children above the age of 10. Lipitor is one of the top cholesterol treatment drugs in the market, almost reaching $4 billion in revenues last year for Pfizer.
Unfortunately, recent studies and injury reports revealed that Lipitor could potentially be on-setting the condition of type-2 diabetes in its female prescribers. Pfizer had failed to put adequate warnings on the drug regarding this possible side effect, and made no effort to contact any of the plaintiffs or their physicians about the potential occurrence. Plaintiffs allege that Pfizer knew or should have known that they were manufacturing, selling and distributing a dangerous drug, and should have taken corrective measures to remedy the situation.
The Lipitor-Diabetes Connection is Made
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first became aware of Lipitor diabetes on February 28, 2012, after various injury reports and studies conducted. While the agency required an immediate label update for the warning section on the drug to include that women have an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes from this drug, it came too little, too late for many patients.
One of these Lipitor diabetes victims was a woman from Charleston, West Virginia, named Betty Pauley. While seeking her own case against Pfizer, she is alleging the same injuries and negligence charges against Pfizer that other women are in their own Lipitor lawsuits. Pauley claims that she developed type-2 diabetes in direct results of taking Lipitor as prescribed by her doctor.
For the rest of her life, Pauley must contend with the fact that she must undergo regular blood tests measuring her glucose levels, follow a restrictive diet designed for type-2 diabetes, and take medication to control her condition. Pauley also notes that because of her newly-formed type-2 diabetes, she is now has an increased risk of heart disease, blindness, neuropathy and kidney disease.
According to Pauley’s Lipitor injury lawyer, had she known about this possible development, she never would have taken the drug. Pauley claims as a result of Pfizer’s negligence and destructive conduct, she suffered severe and permanent physical and emotional injuries and had to go through severe economic loss. Pfizer’s negligent conduct allegedly included knowingly selling and distributing a dangerous drug while ignoring the patients’ well-being for the sake of their profit, according to her Lipitor diabetes lawsuit.
Along with many other women seeking to join the Lipitor diabetes MDL, Pauley is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The MDL is labeled In Re: Lipitor Products Liability Litigation(MDL No. 2459).
Did You Get Diabetes After Taking Lipitor?
If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of a Lipitor type-2 diabetes development, 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
Updated July 29th, 2013
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