Recent Chantix Suicide Settlement Gives Hope to Other Victims’ Families
By Andrea Gressman
Chantix, the drug Pfizer created to help smokers quit smoking, has been responsible for a number of negative side effects. As a result of these Chantix side effects there have been over 2,000 lawsuits filed against Pfizer. Headline news was recently made when Pfizer reportedly settled its first Chantix lawsuit. Although the details have not been released from the Chantix lawsuit settlement, it gave many of the Chantix lawsuit plaintiffs hope that the end of their legal process might be coming to an end. However, that does not appear to be on Pfizer’s agenda any time soon.
In 2007, the FDA told physicians they should monitor patients taking the drug for signs of mood swings as this may have represented one of Chantix’s potential side effects. Then, in 2008, the FDA received more than 1,000 reports of Chantix side effects with 50 of them resulting in death. In 2009, the FDA required the drug company to place a warning label on the drug. However, this warning label does not appear to have made a significant impact in the number of Chantix lawsuits being filed against Pfizer.
As mentioned above, even though there are over 2,000 Chantix lawsuits, only one has been settled. In June of 2012 Judy Whitely filed a Chantix lawsuit for the suicide death of her husband, Mark, alleging that his death was caused by this drug. It was reported in the Chantix suicide lawsuit documents that Mark Whitley had no history of depression before he started taking Chantix.
The Whitley Chantix suicide lawsuit trial was supposed to have taken place in October of 2012 but the drug company settled just days before the trial, therefore avoiding the first Chantix lawsuit trial date. The court approved the Whitley’s motion for punitive damages but still has to decide whether or not to award them the money. So far, this is the only Chantix lawsuit settlement that has been approved to move forward.
The drug company has tried to delay the Chantix trials multiple times now. They recently tried again claiming that they needed more time to evaluate studies concerning the side effects of Chantix. The Chantix lawsuit MDL judge, Judge Inge Johnson, denied the motion stating that the studies will continue for the next five years. The court has ordered that three of Pfizer’s executives testify at the trial but Pfizer is appealing the order on the fact that these executive live more than 100 miles from the courthouse.
The Chantix lawsuit bellwether trials are scheduled to start in January of 2013. These Chantix lawsuit trials are used to see how judges and juries will respond to certain pieces of evidence that will be submitted. There are both Chantix lawsuits in class actions as well as multidistrict litigation. The difference is that in a MDL all plaintiffs join together for the discovery and trial portion. However, each individual Chantix lawsuit is resolved individually.
Chantix Side Effects
The major side effect issue that Pfizer faces in the Chantix lawsuits filed against them includes the following:
* Psychological issues
* Aggressive behavior
* Depression
* Suicide
If you took Chantix and developed negative side effects, including suicidal thoughts, violent behavior, or other side effects, you or your family may be eligible to file a Chantix lawsuit. Visit the Chantix Suicide, Heart Attack, Suicide Attempt & Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation page to learn more about your legal rights. Receive your free legal consultation from a qualified Chantix lawsuit lawyer.
Updated November 21st, 2012
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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I ended up in a hospital after trying to end my life