As a Dallas Zoloft Heart Defect and Spina Bifida Birth Defect attorney, I am providing this timely update for parents and children who have suffered severe or catastrophic birth defects from the use of Zoloft and other SSRI medications in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Zoloft cases filed in federal courts, have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A Pretrial Order has been issued which has outlined a process for selecting a group of Zoloft birth defect and injury cases that will undergo case-specific discovery. A group of 25 Zoloft birth defect lawsuits will be prepared for early trial dates in the federal MDL, with the first bellwether trial in late next 2014.
Zoloft Birth Defect Bellwether Case Selection
The plaintiffs will have to select 12 birth defect cases by February 15, that will be included in an “Initial Discovery Group.” Lawyers for Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zoloft, will then select an additional 13 cases by February 22, these 25 Zoloft birth defect cases will be set for early trial dates in September 2014.
Benefits of Zoloft Bellwether Case Selection
These bellwether cases help the litigants determine how juries respond to evidence and testimony presented in the filed lawsuits. Successful plaintiff trial outcome and discovery information can pave the way for a potential Zoloft settlement.
What is Zoloft and SSRI?
Zoloft (sertraline) is one of the most widely prescribed anti depressant and anti anxiety medications in the United States. According to medical experts, Zoloft use by pregnant women has been linked to an increased risk of serious and catastrophic birth defects and malformation for children.
Many product liability lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer, claiming that the drug maker failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about the risks associated with using Zoloft during pregnancy. Zoloft birth defects include persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN), spina bifida, neural tube defects, heart defects, abdominal defects, club foot and other malformations.
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) are a class of compounds typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and some personality disorders.
Shezad Malik is an Internal Medicine and Cardiology specialist, a Texas Medical Doctor (retired) and Defective Medical Device and Dangerous Drug Attorney. Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm has offices based in Fort Worth and Dallas and represents people who have suffered catastrophic and serious personal injuries including wrongful death, caused by the negligence or recklessness of others.
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