Pharmaceutical Product Liability Cases
Bartlit Beck represents pharmaceutical companies in those matters that require our strategic direction, trial skills, and reputation. We have served as lead counsel and trial counsel in a wide range of matters, including:
- Personal injury litigation involving tens of thousands of plaintiffs after the withdrawals of blockbuster medicines;
- Multidistrict litigation (MDL) including solely class actions based on alleged consumer fraud; and
- Commercial disputes over co-marketing agreements and allegations of antitrust violations relating to monopolization of active ingredients.
As lead counsel, our firm has directed mass tort litigation, ranging from planning the defense, to MDL strategy, to design of resolution programs in a variety of matters. As trial counsel, our firm has tried a number of the most significant pharmaceutical products liability cases in the past decade.
Below are summaries of some of the representative matters we have handled.
Baycol® Litigation
National, MDL, and lead trial counsel for Bayer in litigation following the withdrawal of Baycol®. Tried and won the first trial in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Vioxx® Litigation
Lead trial counsel for Merck & Co. in all MDL trials and one state court trial involving claims of heart attacks due to use of Vioxx®. Jury verdicts for Merck in 5 out of 6 matters. Participated in the design and negotiation of the Vioxx® personal injury settlement.
Hemophilia HIV Litigation
Lead trial counsel for Alpha Therapeutics in litigation brought by hemophiliacs who contracted HIV through the use of clotting medicines. Jury verdicts for Alpha in Houston, Texas (two plaintiffs) and St. Louis Missouri (three plaintiffs). Verdict for defense after jury verdict for plaintiff in New Orleans, Louisiana. Complete defense verdict in statute of limitations trial in New Orleans, Louisiana (8 plaintiffs).
PPA Litigation
National and lead trial counsel for Bayer in PPA litigation. Jury verdicts for Bayer in two state court cases tried.
YAZ®/Yasmin® Litigation
Lead counsel for Bayer in litigation alleging personal injuries caused by YAZ® and Yasmin® oral contraceptives. Cases pending in several states.
Trasylol® Litigation
National and lead trial counsel in personal injury litigation relating to Trasylol®. MDL in Florida.
Seroquel® Litigation
Trial counsel for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in personal injury litigation relating to Seroquel®.
Aspirin Combination Products Litigation
Lead counsel for Bayer in an MDL comprised of 11 alleged class actions relating to Bayer aspirin combination products. MDL in Eastern District of New York.
Confidential Litigation Counseling
Advised multinational pharmaceutical company on a potential dispute concerning development and marketing rights with respect to a potential blockbuster drug. Dispute avoided.
Coumadin® Litigation
National counsel for DuPont in several antitrust and unfair trade practices class actions concerning DuPont’s marketing of the medicine Coumadin®. MDL in Delaware.