Yaz Birth Control Suits Could be Filed by More Than 25,000 Women

Austin Kirk

By Austin Kirk
Posted January 19, 2010

ADD YOUR COMMENTS

The number of Yaz birth control suits and Yasmin birth control suits filed in federal court could eventually exceed 25,000, including claims by women who suffer serious and potentially life-threatening side effects, such as a stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and gallbladder disease.

The estimated number of Yasmin and Yaz cases that may be filed comes from a recent article with U.S. District Chief Judge David Herndon in the Belleville News-Democrat, which serves the East St. Louis, Ill.-area, where the federal Yaz litigation is consolidated.

Judge Herndon is presiding over pre-trial litigation and discovery in the federal Yasmin and Yaz suits filed on behalf of women throughout the United States, and will likely conduct the first trials. Known as “bellwether” cases, these early Yaz trials will help gauge how juries are going to respond to the evidence that will be presented throughout all of the cases and potentially lead to a settlement of the Yaz and Yasmin claims.

All of the suits involve nearly identical allegations that Bayer failed to adequately research their medications and warn women about the risk of potential problems from Yaz and Yasmin birth control.

Yaz and Yasmin (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) are once-a-day birth control pills approved by FDA to prevent unwanted pregnancy and for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); a more severe version of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Drospirenone, unique to Yaz, Yasmin, and the generic version, Ocella, is a new type of progestin that has been found to increase blood potassium levels. This can result in a condition known as hyperkalemia, which can cause Yaz heart problems and death.

When the Yaz and Yasmin suits were first consolidated under Judge Herndon on October 1, 2009, by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, there were only 32 complaints filed. However, there are now about 300 cases pending before Judge Herndon and with thousands of other cases still being investigated and reviewed throughout the United States. Therefore, it is very realistic to expect that 25,000 or more suits may eventually be filed.

According to the article in the Belleville News-Democrat, the Yaz and Yasmin birth control lawsuits will likely take more than two years to work through the court system, and it could be the largest MDL ever assigned to the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis.

YASMIN AND YAZ BIRTH CONTROL LAWYERS

The Yasmin and Yaz birth control lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential claims for women who believe that they may qualify for a potential Yaz suit or Yasmin suit. To review a potential claim and determine if compensation may be available, request a free consultation and case evaluation.

No Comments • Add Your Comments

Add Your Comments

  • Have Your Comments Reviewed by a Lawyer

    Provide contact information below and additional private comments if you want an attorney to contact you to review a potential case.

    The information below will not be published to this page.

  • NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.