Xarelto Lawsuit
Xarelto Cases Consolidated
Thousands of lawsuits based on the side effects of Xarelto are being consolidated for pretrial motions. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) ordered the consolidation of more than 3,000 similar cases against Xarelto and its manufacturers late in 2015. The common allegation by plaintiffs is that taking the anticoagulant placed them at a substantially increased risk of catastrophic bleeding events. The JPML also said that all subsequent lawsuits brought before federal courts should be merged with the multidistrict litigation [1].
What is Xarelto?
Xarelto is a blood-thinning medication commonly prescribed to patients of knee and hip surgery. It can also be used as a blood-thinner for irregular heart rhythm, hypertension, or other valve-related heart conditions. The two companies named in the lawsuit are Janssen Pharmaceuticals—a branch of the Johnson & Johnson Corporation—and Bayer. Xarelto is used to prevent or treat a type of blood clot called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, which can lead to blood clots in the lungs, called a pulmonary embolism. A DVT can occur after certain types of surgeries, which is why it is commonly prescribed to knee and hip surgery patients [2].
So what's the problem?
As with any blood-thinners, or more accurately anticoagulants, there is an increased risk of serious internal bleeding. Because the medication thins your blood, it has been associated with not only internal bleeding, but also scary symptoms like bleeding from the eye socket [3].
According to the medical journal, BMJ, the chances of gastrointestinal bleeding doubles with rivaroxaban (the generic name for Xarelto) over warfarin (the common anticoagulant prescribed before Xarelto).
In Louisiana, a man has filed suit against Xarelto on behalf of Opal Perkins, claiming that it killed her. The plaintiff claims that Ms. Perkins was prescribed Xarelto from September 2013 to April 2014 to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolisms (a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked by a blood clot) due to atrial fibrillation. He then says that she developed internal bleeding. This required her to have a blood transfusion from which she sustained serious injuries resulting in her death [4].
The plaintiff alleges that Janssen and Bayer negligently and/or fraudulently represented Xarelto to the medical and healthcare community causing them to misrepresent it to Opal Perkins.
Why file a lawsuit against Xarelto?
People file lawsuits for many reasons, the most common of which is to recover financial compensation for their or a loved one's injuries. Xarelto injuries can require lengthy periods of hospitalization, significant long-term health care costs, and substantial time away from work. All of which cost the victim, not the perpetrator. Product liability lawsuits exist in large part to shift the burden of these great expenses to the entity at fault. Filing a lawsuit against Xarelto for compensation can be the difference between filing for medical bankruptcy and making financial ends meet.
Another common litigation against Big Pharma corporations comes in the form of wrongful death litigation. Unfortunately, hundreds of Xarelto patients have died. When someone dies through the fault of another, their surviving family members have this option. A wrongful death lawsuit can recover financial compensation for expensive medical costs, funeral expenses, lost income, lost relationships, lost income support, and other financial and personal damages. No lawsuit can replace your loved one, but they can help surviving family members avoid financial difficulties because of the actions of a negligent other.
What to do now?
If you or a loved one have taken Xarelto—or any other medication that you believe has caused unwarranted damages—and suspect that a catastrophic bleeding event is linked to its usage, it is essential that you obtain an experienced defective medication attorney who understands lawsuits against major pharmaceutical companies. Aside from the compensation for actual damages that you could receive, you may also be awarded a generous amount for punitive damages from Janssen and Bayer to help them learn their lesson. If you'd like to figure out whether or not you're eligible to recover for your physical, mental, emotional, or financial losses related to Xarelto and internal bleeding, feel free to call the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA. We have knowledgeable product liability, defective medication, and wrongful death attorneys ready to help. Contact us today for a free consultation and case evaluation by calling (833) 606-DRUG [3784].
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
(833) 606-DRUG [3784]
https://www.dolmanlaw.com/defective-medication-attorneys/
References:
[2] https://www.drugs.com/xarelto.html
[3] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2341258
[4] https://louisianarecord.com/stories/510717726-man-alleges-companies-misrepresent-xarelto#