Plaintiffs Charge LevaquinWith Score of Issues

When Levaquin entered the market, warnings about tendon Levaquin side effects were required on all fluoroquinolone labels, but were buried in a long list of potential adverse reactions, the plaintiffs claim. In addition, the warnings did not advise that tendon injury was tripled with fluoroquinolone use in people older than 60 and in those who are on corticosteroid therapy, according to the complaints. In fact, Levaquin manufacturers marketed the drug toward the elderly, especially those with upper respiratory infections who were likely to be chronic corticosteroid users, the suits state. "More disturbingly, Defendants' promotional campaign was themed on Levaquin's excellent safety profile and failed to disclose the risks of tendon injury," the complaints say. Johnson and Johnson and its subsidiary, Ortho-McNeil, are named as defendants because they test and manufacture Levaquin. 

The FDA has received reports of hundreds of individuals who experienced a Levaquin tendon rupture after using Levaquin or one of the other fluoroquinolones. As a result of the inadequate warnings currently provided, the consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, filed a Levaquin lawsuit in January 2008 as a result of the FDA’s failure to act on a petition they filed in 2006, calling for more detailed information about the risk of Levaquin tendon ruptures to be added to the warning label. In addition to this,

Levaquin Trial Denies Wrongdoing by Manufacturer

Paul Gaffney, 67, and Robert Beare, 72, both of New Jersey, claim to have suffered Levaquin achilles tendon tears injuries because of Levaquin. Both men, who took Levaquin to treat sinus infections, were left them unable to walk and required surgery. The jury, in the end, found for the defendant leading to the second victory for Johnson & Johnson out of the three Levaquin cases that have made it to trial. In December 2010, the first trial ended in a $1.8 million award for the plaintiff, including punitive damages to punish the drug maker for their conduct. However, the drug maker successfully defended the second trial, which ended in June 2011.

In July 2008, the FDA announced that they will require the makers of fluoroquinolone antibiotics to place a prominent “Black Box” warning about the risk of Levaquin tendon rupture and tendonitis. They are also requiring a Medication Guide to be given to users when the prescription is filled. This requires the manufacturers to adequately describe the risk and urges users to contact their doctor if they develop signs of a tendon rupture, such as pain, swelling or inflammation.In August 2006, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen filed a Levaquin lawsuit with the FDA requesting that these stronger warnings be provided, but the drug makers and FDA failed to take steps at that time to warn users.

More Work for Levaquin Lawyers as Lawsuits On the Rise

More and more patients of the antibiotic Levaquin have decided to take legal action against drugmakers after experiencing serious side effects, which usually include tendon and rotator cuff damage. The antibiotic, often prescribed for upper respiratory infections, was approved for the United States market in 1996 and enjoyed relative popularity ever since. When it was approved it included a warning on its label of the possibility for tendon damages, although these Levaquin side effects were effectively buried in a list of other potential side effects.

Now thousands of lawsuits have been filed regarding the antibiotic as patients begin to come to terms with the damages it has caused them.Levaquin achilles tendon tears damages can range from mild to serious and as such the repercussions of these side effects can be minimal, but they can also be extreme. If the patient was still working when the tendon damages occurred, they might be unable to continue, especially if the patient was involved in manual labor. Depending on the patient’s insurance, he or she may have to pay as much as thousands of dollars out of their pocket in order to get treatment for their tendon injury. Because of this, many Levaquin lawsuits filed by former Levaquin patients are asking for compensation that will help cover medical bills,lost wages or ability to work, and other related costs.
 
Many of the Levaquin lawsuits are concentrated in New Jersey, where the first of almost two thousand trials is set to begin soon. Federal Levaquin litigation involves more than 1,300 individual cases, which have been consolidated in multidistrict litigations which are set to take place in the United States District Court of Minnesota. Levaquin litigations in most cases is still pending, so patients do not know what kind of settlement to expect, if anything. Depending on how the first cases in consolidated litigations pan out, it is possible that the makers of Levaquin will choose to make out-of-court settlement offerings towards some patients.

Former Levaquin patients who have experienced Levaquin side effects should take legal questions to an experienced personal injury lawyer. Potential plaintiffs should act fast to avoid the statue of limitations and should talk to their doctor to see if their tendon problems could be linked to their use of the drug.

Lawyers Gear Up For Levaquin Lawsuit Trials

Over a thousand Levaquin patients have been so affected by the side effects the antibiotic sometimes comes with that they have filed Levaquin lawsuit against the makers of the drug. Levaquin lawyer are handling over 1400 Levaquin lawsuits that have been combined in a form of litigation called multidistrict litigation, which allows plaintiffs with similar case details to have their pretrial processes be combined, making for a faster litigation process. Since many patients’ only hope of paying off medical bills accrued while convalescing with their side effects, a faster litigation process would be beneficial for all.

Patients with Levaquin side effects complaints were likely prescribed the antibiotic, which has a label warning of complications that range from insomnia to liver damage, to combat a relatively minor infection such as bronchitis, sinus infections, kidney infections, and urinary tract infections.

Minnesota MDL To Contain Thousands of Levaquin Trials

There are 1,314 Levaquin lawsuits pending in a multidistrict litigation in federal court in Minnesota, where two cases have already gone to trial. The first resulted in a $1.82 million verdict for the plaintiff, while the second ended in favor of the defendant. Across the country, there are more than 2,600 lawsuits making similar claims about Levaquin. One of these cases involves Barbara Urynowicz, who seeks damages claiming that she has suffered from sever Levauin  tendon rupture in her left ankle. An active

Levaquin Trial Begins in New Jersey

The Gaffney-Beare lawsuit is the first to go to trial in the New Jersey Levaquin mass tort litigation. The trial, which is being presided over by Judge Carol Higbee, is expected to last about four weeks. It is compiled of various Levaquin lawsuits filed by individuals whom have sustained unwanted Levaquin side effects. In his opening statement, Andres F. Alonso alleged that Paul Gaffney, 67, and Robert Beare, 72, both of New Jersey, suffered Achilles-tendon injuries because of Levaquin that left them unable to walk and required surgery. He said both men

Many Different Types of Tendon Rupture in Levaquin Lawsuits

Levaquin (levofloxacin) is an antibiotic which is prescribed to prevent bacteria from rapidly reproducing, causing infection.  It is part of a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones.  Although many of the reported cases of tendon ruptures have been one of the painful side effects of Levaquin, this condition has also been seen with the use of other antibiotics which are part of this class, including Cipro. A tendon rupture is a painful and debilitating injury which can require surgery and substantial recovery time.  The most common injury is Levaquin tendon rupture involving the: achilles tendon, shoulder and hand. In December, a federal jury ruled that the drug makers failed to adequately warn about the risk of Levaquin tendon ruptures,

Levaquin MDL Status Covered in New Conference

There are currently more than 2,500 lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of individuals throughout the United States who suffered a Levaquin tendon rupture. Of those cases, more than 1512 are pending in New Jersey state court and about 1000 are pending in federal court, where the litigation has been centralized for pretrial preceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota before U.S. District Judge John Tunheim. A recent conference in Minnesota was held to review many subjects pertaining to Levaquin litigation. According to a prior Wall Street Journal report, one of the latest Levaquin lawsuits filed in a New Jersey state court on behalf of three plaintiffs from around the U.S. charged

Levaquin Punitive Damages Sweeten Pot

Many Levaquin patients who have experienced rotator cuff tearing and Levaquin tendon rupture associated with the popular and common antibiotic are looking for compensation that will help them cover costs like medical bills, lost wages, and other monetary losses associated with the side effects they have suffered. However, some plaintiffs are unaware that when filing a Levaquin lawsuit, many claims involve another kind of compensation, called punitive damages.

            Punitive damages are costs charged to

First Settlements of Levaquin Trials Find Fault With Warnings

An antibiotic sold since 1997 is the subject of a proposed class action that argues the drug causes a higher incidence of tendon injuries. Levaquin, a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is marketed as a first-line therapy for common bronchitis and sinusitis infections. It is also approved for the use in treatment of various upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, prostatitis and other bacterial infections. Many injured parties continue to seek legal council in order to file a Levaquin lawsuit throughout the United States against Johnson & Johnson and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals over problems with Levaquin tendon ruptures. According to court documents, there are currently over 1500 Levaquin injury lawsuits pending in federal court, with hundreds more expected to be filed in the coming months.

New Jersey to See Levaquin Trials Go Forward

Sometime this month or early next month, the first of the New Jersey Levaquin lawsuit trials will begin with a combination of claims brought by Bob Beare and Paul Gaffney. Many plaintiffs, like Beare and Gaffney allege that they were inadequately warned about known risks associated with taking Levaquin. Levaquin tendon side effects, including increased risk of tendon damage and tendon ruptures, particularly involving the Achilles tendon. Levaquin is part of a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones.  Although many of the reported cases of tendon ruptures have been associated with the use of Levaquin, the side effects have also been seen with the use of other antibiotics which are part of this class.

Levaquin Lawsuits Hit or Miss

Plaintiffs in Levaquin-related cases were hopeful after a Levaquin lawyer netted his 82-year-old client a settlement of more than a million dollars - $1.8 million, to be precise – in a Levaquin-related lawsuit against drugmaker Johnson & Johnson. The man had ruptured both of his Achilles tendons after taking the antibiotic, and this success encouraged many of the more than 2,500 Levaquin plaintiffs, reassuring them that their cases could be successful.

Patients Question Levaquin Lawsuit Eligibility

With more than 2,500 Levaquin lawsuits in various stages of the litigation process in courts across the country, and around 1,000 of those lawsuits centralized in multidistrict litigation in Minnesota, the media attention suddenly surrounding the antibiotic has led many patients to question whether or not they could potentially have a Levaquin case.

Bellwether Trails Set Precedent in Levquin Side Effect Cases

Since Levaquin was introduced in 1997, Johnson & Johnson has failed, according to the Levaquin lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson, to adequately warn about the risk of tendon ruptures side effects associated with the antibiotic, particularly involving the Achilles tendon. Although a “black box” warning was announced in July 2008 for all antibiotics in the same class, Johnson & Johnson still does not indicate that Levaquin is more tendon toxic than the other drugs in the class. A handful of cases, known as bellwether lawsuits, were selected for early trials in the Multidistrict Litigation to help the parties gauge the relative strengths and weaknesses of their cases, by determining how juries respond to evidence that is likely to be similar throughout many cases in the litigation. The results of the bellwether trials may h

Levaquin Lawsuit Eligibility Considered

More than 2,500 Levaquin lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs who have experienced tendon rupture and rotator cuff tearing associated with the broad-spectrum antibiotic Levaquin, but only one has seen trial. John Schedin suffered Achilles tendon ruptures after only eight days on Levaquin. His lawsuit was chosen as the first bellwether trial in Levaquin consolidated federal litigation – a bellwether trial is a preliminary trial that will help Levaquin lawyers and plaintiffs gauge the possible outcome for their own trial.

Lawsuit Win Sets Way for Further Compensations from Levaquin

Levaquin is a 3rd-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic, manufactured by Ortho-McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Doctors prescribe Levaquin as an antibiotic to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It does not work for viral infections (for example, the common cold). While patients taking Levaquin have reported a variety of minor side-effects, common with any medication, the most serious Levaquin side effect reported has been an increased risk of Achilles tendonitis among current and former patients. Several studies published in accredited medical journals have cited case studies in which individuals who have taken Levaquin have been adversely affected by levofloxacin-induced tendonopathy and tendon rupture.

Levaquin Puts Innocent Users at Huge Risk

The Minnesota federal judge overseeing the Levaquin multidistrict litigation allowed punitive damages in the first trial after finding that plaintiff John Schedin presented reasonable evidence that defendant Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. knew or disregarded research that the antibiotic could cause tendon injuries, tried to prevent European regulatory action that would affect the drug's reputation and "manipulated" a study "to produce a commercially favorable result," according to an order that was unsealed May 12. Potential plaintiffs who have any questions in regards to Levaquin litigation and filing a lawsuit of their own should first speak to an experienced Levaquin lawyer.
Levaquin is a potent anti-bacterial medication for which the generic name is levofloxacin. It is manufactured and marketed by Ortho McNeil; however the patent on the product has expired and several generic versions are in circulation. In the United States, approved usage of the drug includes sinusitis, exacerbated chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and prostatitis. The serious side effects of Levaquin, which include: tendon rupture and rotator cuff tear are affecting thousands of individuals.
Levaquin has been associated with increased risk for tendonitis and ruptured tendons. The entire class of drugs (fluoroquinolones) into which Levaquin falls is not approved for use with children except under special circumstances, due to the potential for damage to the musculoskeletal system, as well as the danger for fatalities. The new black box warning was enforced because the FDA says this class of drug worsens a condition known as myasthenia gravis. The black box warning is the strongest warning the FDA can impose on a drug that is already approved for public use. Fluoroquinolones like Levaquin already had a black box warning against them because they have been found to cause Levaquin tendon rupture and damage to patients, as well as other tendon problems.

Levaquin Trials Move Forward

Levaquin Found to Cause Tendonitis

Texas resident, Kenneth Adams, has filed a Levaquin lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc. claiming that he suffered permanent tendon injury in his elbow as a result of taking the company’s prescription antibiotic. Levaquin has been linked to serious tendon injuries including tendinitis and tendon rupture. The lawsuit claims that the Johnson & Johnson misrepresented, concealed, and failed to disclose important safety information related to the use of Levaquin.

Levaquin Cited as Cause for Tendon Rupture

In 1996 the FDA issued its first Report of Adverse Effects on the fluoroquinolones. Since then, however, it has been recorded that at least 200 reports of tendon rupture occurred through the class of drugs within a 10-year period and no recall or major investigation has occurred to increase warning labels on the drugs, especially Levaquin. Additionally, a report from the United Kingdom found that levofloxacin-induced tendonitis potentially affects approximately 3.2 out of every 1,000 patients who have taken Levaquin.

Levaquin Settlements and Jury Verdicts

Only one Levaquin lawsuit has reached court so far, but the jury verdict resulted in a massive win for the plaintiff – 82-year-old John Schedin walked away with over a million dollars in damages, which will help to cover medical costs and loss of quality of life associated with the side effects of the popular antibiotic. Schedin began taking Levaquin in 2005 while trying to treat an upper respiratory infection, and shortly thereafter the once-active senior ruptured both of his Achilles tendons. Schedin, who formerly plated golf several times a month and kept active, experienced impairment of his mobility so severe he was left unable to climb stairs.

Levaquin Tendon Rupture Lawsuits May See Court Soon

Patients who have suffered tendon ruptures as a result of the antibiotic Levaquin may soon see their day in court, although a trial scheduled for the 11th of April has been postponed. The trial was delayed in part due to the presiding judge, the Honorable Carol E. Higbee, also working on Accutane trials. The Accutane lawsuits are similar to Levaquin ones in that they involve serious side effects associated with a popular medication.

Levaquin Tendon Rupture Lawsuits Lead to Jury Verdict of Millions

Levaquin is an antibiotic in the class fluroquinolone, which has been linked to side effects such as tendon injuries and rotator cuff tearing. Over 60 percent of fluroquinolone-related tendon injuries can be linked to Levaquin specifically, leading thousands of plaintiffs to file against drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in state and federal courts across the country. In July of 2008, the Food and Drug Administration ordered manufacturers of the medication to place black box warnings on the packaging to outline the risks associated with the medication.