Levaquin Lawsuit Settlements Award Damages

Ortho-McNeil, manufacturer of Levaquin, has lost one major legal battle and may lose more. Levaquin, a synthetic chemotherapeutic antibiotic prescribed to treat life-threatening or drug-resistant bacteria, is also known to cause serious side effects. The most common, Levaquin tendon rupture prompted courts to hold them responsible.

John Schedin vs. Levaquin

John Schedin was the first plaintiff to win a Levaquin lawsuit – this one to the tune of $1.8 million in damages. In February 2008, Schedin took Levaquin to treat an upper respiratory infection. After just eight days of treatment, the plaintiff experienced bilateral Achilles tendon ruptures. Schedin filed suit against Ortho-McNeil on the grounds of insufficient product warning regarding tendon rupture, especially the case of elderly patients.

Lawyers for Ortho-McNeil argued that the label for Levaquin had contained warnings regarding tendon rupture since 1997, and that the company had updated the label in 2001 to reflect an increased risk of tendon rupture in seniors. Schedin's lawyers countered that updated fine print did not constitute adequate warning. Schedin's doctor was unaware of the updated label, and would not have prescribed the medication had he been aware. Furthermore, Schedin's physician explained that he no longer prescribed Levaquin, unless a patient demanded the drug. The jury agreed with Schedin's case and awarded the plaintiff $700,000 in compensatory damages and $1,115,000 in punitive damages.

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