Class action lawsuits are generally known as vernacular litigation. Class action lawsuits are usually filed by people claiming an injury as a result of a defective product. Such lawsuits claim a defective drug caused harm to a consumer or patients seeking compensation. A class-action lawsuit is a legal suit in which a group of individuals affected by a similar product comes together to form a lawsuit against the manufacturers.
Pharmaceutical companies have come under fire recently from several large class-action lawsuit verdicts. The verdicts are typically not in favor of the pharmaceutical industry but are often not against it either. One case involves the recall of the painkiller OxyContin. The drug was associated with many deaths. After the recall, the company agreed to pay a $456 million settlement out of court. Another recent high-profile case involves the settlement of lawsuits brought against GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of antidepressants.
Pharmaceutical Class Action Lawsuit
Class action lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical companies are usually supported by consumers and they aim to seek compensation for a wide array of injuries caused by drugs. People filing such lawsuits often suffer from such ailments as cancer, birth defects, organ damage, paralysis, nerve damage, hearing loss, depression, anxiety, and stress. These drugs may also have negative effects on a person’s quality of sleep, appetite, and other aspects of his or her life.
Class action lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical companies in the United States are governed by several federal laws.
Those laws generally favor a settlement over a trial, unless both sides agree to go to trial. If a settlement is reached, both the plaintiff and defendant will need to hire their injury lawyers to pursue the case through the courts.
Most plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies are seeking financial compensation to cover medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The cases are usually challenging since the plaintiffs are asking for millions of dollars in damages, with only a small percentage going to the defendant. Pharmaceutical companies have strong attorneys working on their side, though. It is not uncommon for them to hire top lawyers who have many years of experience in both drug trials and class action lawsuits. Attorneys usually work on a contingency basis, which means that they only receive a percentage of the settlement if their client wins the case.
There are also several class-action lawsuits filed against drug manufacturers and drug distributors.
These suits deal with injuries that stem from the handling of dangerous drugs. Many of these lawsuits also seek compensation for emotional distress and loss of enjoyment. In addition, there are other pharmaceutical company risks to consider, including harmful side effects from drugs that may cause depression, organ damage, and birth defects. If you or someone you know has been affected by prescription drug negligence, contact us today. There is help available for you.
A class-action lawsuit happens when a plaintiff files a lawsuit in a federal or state court against a pharmaceutical company.
The suit is a complaint that names the manufacturer, and all of its agents, under the appropriate statutes. Class action lawsuits usually involve claims that the defendant failed to warn the plaintiff of the dangers of taking a certain medication, or was aware of the risk but did not take reasonable steps to warn the plaintiff of the danger. Another way to describe a class-action lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies is a “wrongful death” lawsuit. Sometimes, after a person dies because of the negligence of a pharmaceutical company, the families of that person can hold the pharmaceutical company responsible.
To win your case against pharmaceutical companies, you must prove three things: that there was negligence, that it resulted in damage or loss, and that it was done in a fashion intended to harm the plaintiff. The defense can argue all of these things, but to do so would require a highly-skilled attorney with experience in this area. There is no guarantee that the defense will be able to overcome the evidence. We recommend that you retain an attorney who is well experienced in the area of pharmaceutical class action lawsuits. We are pleased to provide you with the contact information for an attorney who specializes in this area of the law.
