Minnesota Yaz Blood Clots Lawsuit Joins Illinois MDL
The lawsuit filed by Minnesota resident Cathy Wagamon after allegedly suffering a Yaz pulmonary embolism, is now part of the Illinois multidistrict litigation (MDL). Yaz and Yasmin are popular oral contraceptives that have been linked to side effects such as blood clots, pulmonary embolism, stroke, heart attack, gallbladder disease, deep vein thrombosis (Yaz DVT), and breast cancer.
Wagamon filed her lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois on June 8, 2012. Chief Judge David R. Herndon is overseeing A.W. vs. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. MDLs may be created when several plaintiffs have similar complaints against a defendant.
Plaintiff: Bayer failed to warn about Yaz pulmonary embolism risk
Wagamon started taking Yaz on Oct. 1, 2009. Not long after, she developed deep vein thrombosis and Yaz pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when blood clots develop deep in the veins. Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the lung that causes shortness of breath and rapid heart beat.
In her Yaz lawsuit, Wagamon claims manufacturer Bayer failed to warn her about the risks associated with taking the medication. Wagamon says the company should have known about the risk of Yaz blood clots and pulmonary embolism before the product went on the market. She notes that after it went on the market, several individuals issued complaints about Yaz side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Wagamon alleges that despite evidence regarding incidences of Yaz blood clots and Yaz pulmonary embolism, Bayer continued marketing the oral contraceptive as a safe, superior birth control pill.
Yaz blood clots lawsuits reach settlements
The Illinois MDL was created in an effort to quickly and effectively reach a resolution in hundreds of Yaz lawsuits. Recent reports suggest Bayer has reached a settlement in at least 1,444 cases filed by those suffering from Yaz deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and other side effects resulting fro blood cots. Despite these settlements, an estimated 14,000 cases against Bayer are pending.
Good faith negotiations continue in the Illinois MDL. On April 19, 2012, Judge Herndon gave the parties another 90 days to work on negotiations regarding the possibility of settling more Yaz blood clots lawsuits.
