Latest News
Judge pushes to resolve nearly 20K Avandia lawsuits
A U.S. District Judge has assigned a mediator to resolve almost 20,000 Avandia lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer. Judge Cynthia Rufe has given the mediator 75 days to resolve at least 85% of the claims against GlaxoSmithKline before she begins fast-tracking cases to court. More »
Cain would push for ‘loser pays’ tort reform laws as president
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has said he would push for medical malpractice damage caps and “loser pays” legislation as president. Damage caps are enacted by the legislative branch and limit the amount of non-medical related damages a jury can award a plaintiff, such as compensation for pain and suffering. More »
FDA orders Stevens Johnson Syndrome warning for HIV drug
The Food and Drug Administration has updated a popular HIV drug’s label to include a warning about Stevens Johnson Syndrome. The FDA added the rare skin disorder to Merck’s drug Isentress after the company reported cases of SJS in patients using the medication. More »
Missouri appeal challenges legality of damage caps
The Missouri Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on whether medical malpractice damage caps set by the state’s legislature are unconstitutional. Lawyers for Ronald Sanders brought the issue to the state’s Supreme Court after a law reduced the damages awarded to Sanders in his medical malpractice lawsuit. More »
Drugmaker to pay $3 billion to settle Avandia, Paxil lawsuits
British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will pay more than $3 billion to settle a range of allegations related to its products. The company manufactures the popular antidepressant Paxil as well as the diabetes drug Avandia. More »
Shell faces $1B benzene lawsuit from Nigerian tribal monarch
A Nigerian tribal king has filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Royal Dutch Shell, alleging the company is responsible for exposing his people to benzene and polluting the tribe’s land. King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi filed the lawsuit on behalf of the tribe, who he says have been exposed to benzene as a result of the company’s oil extraction practices. More »
Pradaxa linked to 260 cases of fatal bleeding
The manufacturer of the anticoagulant drug Pradaxa has reported that at least 260 deaths have been linked to cases of excess bleeding caused by the drug. This new report on the number of Pradaxa deaths contained more than five times the previous number of fatalities that had been linked to the drug. More »
Pradaxa linked to 260 cases of fatal bleeding
The manufacturer of the anticoagulant drug Pradaxa has reported that at least 260 deaths have been linked to excess bleeding caused by the drug. This new report on the number of Pradaxa deaths was more than five times the previous number of fatalities that had been linked to the drug. More »
Other drugs linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome
Anti-seizure drugs, anti-fungal drugs and antibiotics have all been linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome, according to patients who developed the condition. Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) has previously been linked to painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen. More »
Missouri Supreme Court weighs medical malpractice damage caps law
The Missouri Supreme Court is set to decide whether a law that limits non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits violates the state’s constitution. The case involves a lawsuits brought by a Missouri man over the death of his wife in 2005. More »