Audet & Partners, LLP Files First Raptiva Lawsuit After Announced Withdrawal
Audet & Partners, LLP, a San Francisco, California-based trial law firm, filed the first complaint against Genentech arising out of the recently announced withdrawal of Raptiva medication. Filed in Alameda Superior Court, the complaint seeks general and punitive damages.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 10, 2009 -- Audet & Partners, LLP, a San Francisco, California-based trial law firm, filed the first complaint against Genentech arising out of the recently announced withdrawal of Raptiva medication. Filed in Alameda Superior Court (Case #rg09-446158), the complaint seeks general and punitive damages.
Raptiva is a medication used to treat severe to moderate psoriasis and works by suppressing the immune system. According to allegations in the complaint filed by Audet & Partners, LLP Raptiva allegedly causes a number of serious life-threatening infections, including encephalitis, viral meningitis and a rare brain infection known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). At least three and possibly four cases of PML brain infections have been confirmed by the FDA.
Due to safety concerns, Raptiva already is suspended from the market in both Europe and Canada, and as of April 8, 2009, Genentech announced a phased withdrawal of Raptiva from the United States market.
"We have a number of clients who have contacted our firm over the past couple of months regarding Raptiva, and this is one of the first cases filed in the United States," noted William M. Audet, managing partner of Audet & Partners, LLP, "We expect that more cases will be filed by our firm as our investigation continues."
In the complaint, Plaintiff Mary Hedrick alleges that she suffered herpes viral encephalitis, a rare brain infection, as a result of being treated with Raptiva. This left her with permanent brain and nervous system damage requiring her to undergo intensive rehabilitation to relearn how to walk and speak. Plaintiff Shirley Boxell is suing on behalf of her daughter, Megan, who died of a brain infection at age 26, after taking Raptiva for one year. Plaintiff Bruce Harwell has suffered from severe leucopenia, as well as other injuries, allegedly due to Raptiva.
"All of the plaintiffs in this case have suffered serious injury while taking Raptiva, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits T-cell activity," stated Susanne Scovern, a trial attorney at Audet & Partners, LLP. "No one would choose to take a life-threatening drug for a non-life-threatening injury. The dangerous side effects of Raptiva far outweighed the good it did to treat psoriasis," she stated.
Audet & Partners, LLP, (221 Main Street, Suite 1460, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415.982.1776) a San Francisco-based law firm, represents individuals, governmental entities, small businesses and shareholders in product liability, tort, negligence, consumer, construction defect, investment fraud, securities, insider trading, antitrust, environmental, whistle blower, aviation and employment cases. The founding partner, William M. Audet, has served as court-approved lead counsel in dozens of federal and state cases throughout the United States.
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