Latest Yaz, Yasmin Lawsuits Alleging Blood-Clotting Side Effects: Resource4thePeople Reports Consolidated Cases Continue to Be Opened, Settled and Dismissed
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 06, 2013 -- http://www.resource4thepeople.com/defectivedrugs/yasmin.html
Resource4thePeople announced today its latest update for consumers interested in birth control litigation today with details about the progress of consolidated federal lawsuits involving allegations that the popular birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin may cause serious blood-clotting problems.
The court docket* in the case shows that there has been considerable activity in the Yaz and Yasmin Multidistrict Litigation in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Illinois.
"This activity shows that as Yaz and Yasmin cases are being settled over allegations that the oral contraceptives caused women to suffer serious blood-clotting problems that some cases are being closed," said Resource4thePeople.
"At the same time new cases are being opened in which other women are making similar allegations and Resource4thePeople will remain available to review additional cases from women who are seeking compensation."
Resource4thePeople also announced that as cases are being settled its national network of attorneys will continue to offer free consultations to women who are alleging blood-clotting problems as a result of their use of Yaz and Yasmin.
The court docket shows that between July 30, 2013 and Aug. 2, 2013 at least 24 cases were closed and 9 cases were opened in these consolidated cases in Illinois.
U.S. District Judge David R. Herndon is now overseeing 9,961 federal court Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits consolidated from across the country because they contain similar allegations, according to the latest figures** issued by the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
“These statistics document the substantial number of women who are alleging that they have suffered serious blood-clotting problems from the use of oral contraceptives that were marketed as safe to women choosing this type of contraception,” said Resource4thePeople.
“As these cases proceed forward we will continue to offer free consultations for other women who have allegedly suffered similar side effects and wish to determine what their legal rights to compensation may be.”
Women who have filed Yaz and Yasmin blood-clotting lawsuits have claimed that they suffered blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, strokes and pulmonary embolisms as a result of their use of the contraceptives according to allegations contained in their lawsuits.*
Resrouce4thePeople notes that Bayer Pharmaceuticals -- the company that manufactured and marketed Yaz and Yasmin -- confirmed in its Feb. 28, 2013 annual report*** that many of these cases are in the process of being settled.
"As of February 12, 2013, Bayer had reached agreements, without admission of liability, to settle the claims of approximately 4,800 claimants in the U.S. for a total amount of about US $1 billion," according to the annual report.
Bayer also has agreed to pay up to $24 million to settle other lawsuits in the multidistrict litigation involving allegations over gall bladder side effects, according to the court file.
These settlements are a different component of this consolidated litigation in Illinois in which plaintiffs claimed that they suffered gall bladder injuries because they used Yaz and Yasmin as contraceptives.
Meanwhile, Reuters News Service reported**** March 20, 2013 that the settlements also include Yaz and Yasmin cases in state courts in California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
"Under the agreement, Bayer will pay $2,000 to plaintiffs who suffered gallbladder injuries and $3,000 to individuals who had their gallbladders removed, according to the agreement," Reuters reported.
Women who have filed Yaz and Yasmin blood-clotting lawsuits have claimed that they suffered blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, strokes and pulmonary embolisms as a result of their use of the contraceptives according to allegations contained in their lawsuits.*
"The number of lawsuits involving Yaz and Yasmin blood-clotting allegations will likely continue to increase in light of news from Canada about links reported by government officials there between the contraceptives and deaths," said Resource4thePeople.
The Canadian Broadcasting Company reported in a June 12, 2013 posting***** that "According to documents obtained from Health Canada, doctors and pharmacists say Yaz and Yasmin are suspected in the deaths of the women, who mostly died suddenly from blood clots."
“This is a disturbing report but the information contained in Health Canada’s documents mirrors some of the allegations contained in Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits that are being filed in the United States,” said Resource4thePeople.
Health Canada is the Canadian equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which, on April 10, 2012, issued a Health Warning informing consumers and physicians about possible Yaz and Yasmin blood clotting side effects.******
"The Health Canada report comes shortly after a Canadian judge certified******* a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of women who are making allegations that Yaz and Yasmin can cause life-threatening blood clots," said Resource4thePeople.
The CBC also reported in its posting that "According to the documents obtained from Health Canada, between 2007 and February 2013, doctors and pharmacists have reported 600 adverse reactions and 23 deaths where Yaz or Yasmin were suspected. More than half of the reported deaths were women under 26, with the youngest age 14."
The April 10, 2012 Food and Drug Administration warning about Yaz and Yasmin blood-clotting side effects mirrored these allegations:
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its review of recent observational (epidemiologic) studies regarding the risk of blood clots in women taking drospirenone-containing birth control pills. Drospirenone is a synthetic version of the female hormone, progesterone, also referred to as a progestin. Based on this review, FDA has concluded that drospirenone-containing birth control pills may be associated with a higher risk for blood clots than other progestin-containing pills.”
Sources:
- In re: Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 2100, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
**http://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending%20MDL%20Dockets_By%20District_May-14-2013.pdf
***http://www.annualreport2012.bayer.com/en/legal-risks.aspx
****http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Legal/News/2013/03_-_March/Bayer_agrees_to_settle_Yasmin,_Yaz_gallbladder_law
*****http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/06/11/birth-control-pills-yaz-yasmin.html
******http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm299305.htm
*******Case # 52030110, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada
Bill Callahan, iLawSuit, +1 (858) 602-2749, [email protected]
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