NuvaRing Settlements
What is the Status of Any Negotiations to Settle NuvaRing Injury Suits?
Although a growing number of women throughout the United States have filed a NuvaRing injury lawsuit after suffering a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or other blood clot injury, there have been no reported settlements paid by the birth control ring manufacturers.
As of early 2012, nearly 1,000 NuvaRing suits have been filed against Merck, Schering-Plough and Organon Pharmaceuticals. In addition, our NuvaRing lawyers are continuing to review potential claims and it is expected that the number of suits will continue to grow.
All of the complaints involve similar allegations that the drug makers failed to adequately research the NuvaRing side effects or warn about the increased risk of serious and potentially life-threatening injury from the birth control ring.
Merck has indicated that they currently have no intention to settle NuvaRing claims, but our attorneys remain confident in the cases and believe that the drug maker will ultimately negotiate a settlement.
It appears that the federal judge presiding over the litigation may soon begin pushing for a resolution or settlement of the NuvaRing injury suits. It is expected that the drug maker will be ordered to participate in settlement negotiations or alternative dispute resolution prior to moving forward with the first trials, which could occur in late 2012 or early 2013.
All lawsuits over NuvaRing filed in the federal court system have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which is centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. A number of complaints have also been filed in New Jersey state court, where they have been centralized before one judge in Bergen County for “mass tort treatment”.
As part of these coordinated proceedings, a small number of cases are being prepared for early trial dates, known as “bellwether” trials. The case-specific discovery in these NuvaRing suits are under way and the trials are designed to help the parties gauge how juries are likely to respond to issues that will be presented throughout the NuvaRing Litigation.
If the NuvaRing cases are not settled during the pre-trial proceedings or after a series of “bellwether” trials, then each of the lawsuits consolidated in the federal MDL may be remanded back to the U.S. District Court where they were originally filed for trial.
Any negotiations to settle NuvaRing injury claims will be based on what a jury is likely to award in each case. If a lawsuit proceeds to trial, a jury will take into account the nature of the claimed injury, the severity of the damage and the economic impact of the injury from NuvaRing. Some of the common factors that a jury may consider include:
- The extent and duration of the injury suffered from a NuvaRing blood clot;
- The effect that the NuvaRing birth control injury had on the overall physical and mental health or well-being of the plaintiff;
- The pain and mental anguish suffered in the past and which will likely be suffered in the future;
- The amount of any past or future medical expenses caused by the side effects of NuvaRing;
- Any lost wages or loss of earning capacity.
FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A NUVARING SETTLEMENT
To review a potential case for a heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or other blood clot injury from NuvaRing, request a free consultation and claim evaluation. Lawsuits are being reviewed for women throughout the United States to determine if they may be entitled to a compensation or a settlement for NuvaRing problems.
