Deadlines for GranuFlo and NaturaLyte Multidistrict Litigation Quickly Approaching, Notes Hissey Kientz, LLP
Austin, Texas (PRWEB) November 25, 2013 -- Judge Douglas P. Woodlock has announced a timeline of deadlines for GranuFlo and NaturaLyte Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) No. 2428, notes Hissey Kientz, LLP. According to the timeline, Plaintiff Fact Sheets must be submitted November 27, 2013, with Defendant Fact Sheets due on January 31, 2014. On January 6, 2014, both parties must submit a proposed Case Management Order and then the process for selecting specific lawsuits for the first Granuflo bellwether trials will begin. (In re Fresenius GranuFlo/NaturaLyte Dialysate Litigation, MDL No. 2428)*
In March 2012, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class 1 Recall of GranuFlo dry acid concentrate and NaturaLyte liquid acid concentrate after it was presented with a leaked internal memo from the manufacturer, Fresenius Medical Care (FMC). According to court documents, more than 300 GranuFlo lawsuits are now pending in the District of Massachusetts. (In re Fresenius GranuFlo/Naturalyte Dialysate Litigation, MDL No. 2428)
The leaked Fresenius memo explained that GranuFlo and NaturaLyte acid concentrates contain bicarbonate, which is used during hemodialysis treatment to neutralize acid build up in the blood. When patients have elevated pre-dialysis bicarbonate blood levels, the addition of GranuFlo or NaturaLyte acid concentrates could raise bicarbonate levels to dangerous heights. Fresenius warned that patients with elevated bicarbonate levels were six times more likely to suffer a heart attack or sudden cardiac death from GranuFlo or NaturaLyte than patients using other dialysis products.
A June 2012 article from the The New York Times, reported that Fresenius allegedly issued this memo to FMC-owned clinics, but did not warn thousands of non-Fresenius owned dialysis clinics using GranuFlo and NaturaLyte products until March 2012.**
Patients who have experienced heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke or other complications from GranuFlo and NaturaLyte acid concentrates may wish to speak with a lawyer to find out if they are eligible to file a lawsuit. For a free GranuFlo or NaturaLyte lawsuit consultation, contact the attorneys at Hissey Kientz, LLP by calling toll-free at 1-866-275-4454, or by email at info(at)hkllp(dot)com.
*http://www.mad.uscourts.gov/worcester/MDL2428/MDL2428.htm
**http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/15/health/fda-investigates-fresenius-for-failure-to-warn-of-risk.html?_r=2&;
About Hissey Kientz, LLP
Hissey Kientz, LLP represents individuals experiencing complications from GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, as well as victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, birth defects linked to the antidepressant drugs Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa and Effexor, Medtronic Infuse Bone Grafts, Stryker and BioMet hip replacements, transvaginal mesh implants, Mirena IUDs and other defective drugs and medical devices.
Allison Sass, Hissey Kientz LLP, http://www.hkllp.com, +1 (866) 275-4454, [email protected]
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