QUESTION

What is the Status of the Naturalyte and Granuflo Litigation Over Fresenius Dialysis Treatments?

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ANSWER

Several thousand lawsuits have been filed in courts throughout the country following 2012 warnings about the risk of cardiac arrest and heart problems from Granuflo and Naturalyte dialysis treatments.

As of late 2014, a small group of cases are being prepared for early trial dates in the Fresenius dialysis litigation. However, the first cases are not expected to go before a jury until early 2016.

Fresenius Dialysis Treatment Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)

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In the federal court system, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has consolidated the Naturalyte and Granuflo litigation as part an MDL, or multidistrict litigation.

Lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts throughout the country have been centralized before U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock in the District of Massachusetts for coordinated handling during pretrial litigation and early bellwether trials.

As of September 2014, more than 2,000 cases are now included in the Fresenius MDL, but it is expected that the number of cases will continue to increase as lawyers review and file additional claims on behalf of individuals who suffered a severe heart injury after hemodialysis treatment where Granuflo or Naturalyte were used, including Fresenius wrongful death lawsuits brought on behalf of patients who died from side effects of the dialysis injections.

While many people mistake the MDL process as a Fresenius dialysis treatment class action, each lawsuit in the litigation remains an individual claim, where the plaintiff’s lawyer must establish that the claimed injury was caused by side effects of Granuflo or Naturalyte.

According to allegations raised in litigation, Granuflo and Naturalyte convert to bicarbonate at higher levels than other similar dialysis solutions. As a result of improper warnings and instructions provided by Fresenius, thousands of individuals likely suffered a heart attack, cardiac arrest or sudden death when their bicarbonate levels were increased beyond what was intended or prescribed by the doctor.

Because the impact of each dialysis injury from Granuflo or Naturalyte that is part of the Fresenius litigation will be different, it is not possible for a large number of cases to be litigated through one class representative, as would be the case in a class action lawsuit for Granuflo or Naturalyte.

As part of the Fresenius dialysis MDL, the court has been coordinating discovery and scheduled a series of early trial dates, known as “bellwether” cases, which are designed to help the parties gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be offered throughout the litigation. The first trials in the federal MDL are not expected to begin until early 2016.

Following the bellwether trials, if a Fresenius settlement for Granuflo and Naturalyte injuries is not reached following pretrial proceedings, each case may be remanded back to the court where it was originally filed for a separate trial date.

Find Out If You or a Loved One Qualify for the Naturalyte and Granuflo Dialysis Treatment Litigation

Many individuals are unaware whether an injury suffered by themselves or a family member may have been caused by Granuflo or Naturalyte

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are providing free consultations and claim evaluations to help individuals determine if financial compensation may be available. If it is determined that you or a family member may have suffered an injury from Granuflo or Naturalyte, it is your decision whether to join the Fresenius litigation.

CONTACT OUR LAWYERS ABOUT A FRESENIUS CASE

Austin Kirk

Last Updated September 18, 2014
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1 Comment • Add Your Comments

  • Jan says:

    I have a complaint about Fresenius Clinic in El Cajon, CA. I do not know if they are still using the granuflow or naturalyte but I believe they were. My husband has had heart stents put in since he has been dialyzing at Fresenius. My recent specific complaint is that on more than one occasion, he has gone in for a 4 hour treatment, and the techs or RN has not set the machine up properly. A few days ago, he was to have a goal of 4 kilos of fluid removed. After being at the clinic for 5 hours, they removed 1.4 kilos. I asked for the printout of the treatment and it shows he was “monitored” 10 times – but no one caught the error. The computer was set for 4 kilos but the dialysis machine was never reset properly. I don’t know what it was set at. These less than 4 hour treatments cause complications to dieing patients. Pressure on heart and lungs from too much fluid retention, etc. What can be done about lack of quality care as advertised on their stakeholders website?

    Posted on October 28, 2014 at 6:39 pm

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