Multidistrict litigation is a possibility in the case of many plaintiffs who have filed Darvocet lawsuits. In multidistrict litigation, similar lawsuits are consolidated in a district court and the pretrial processes are completed, speeding the litigation process. Unlike class action, lawsuits in multidistrict litigation are decided individually and may be remanded, or sent back to the courts from which they originated, for the legal processes following the pretrial proceedings. This process would be beneficial to plaintiffs because it would help expedite the legal actions, leading to a speedier resolution to the trial.
Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Darvon and Darvocet – leading propoxyphene painkillers that were recently banned in the United States – has been the target of many lawsuits filed by former patients of the medication who have experienced some of the serious side effects of Darvocet. Darvocet and other propoxyphene products have been linked to heart problems such as arrhythmia, heart attack, and other severe complications.
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is currently considering a multidistrict lawsuit surrounding the medication, and a plaintiff in Louisiana has filed a lawsuit in a New Orleans federal court regarding the drug. The plaintiff, Deborah M. Rogers, is seeking to establish a class action lawsuit against Xanodyne, which would be separate from the multidistrict litigation case. Most plaintiffs are complaining that Xanodyne and other manufacturers of propoxyphene medications failed to adequately warn of side effects of the drugs such as heart problems and even accidental death or accidental overdose. Class action lawsuits related to the case would all stand trial simultaneously – settlements and jury verdicts would be awarded to plaintiffs on a pro rata basis.
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation could decide to consolidate the lawsuit filed by Ms. Rogers in the Darvocet multidistrict litigation case, or could decide to initiate a class action lawsuit. Either way, the number of Darvocet cases continues to grow and will likely do so for a while yet – the recall and ban of propoxyphene products in November of last year has had an impact on the number of patients seeking legal action to compensate for costs related to medical treatment of Darvocet side effects. Victims suffering from the side effects of Darvocet are highly advised to contact an experienced Darvocet lawyer as soon as possible.
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