Day on Torts

A settlement has been announced in the products liability cases involving the drug Zyprexia.

This drug is alleged to cause diabetes and other serious health conditions. About 7000 lawsuits concerning the drug are pending.

Plaintiffs have a right to opt out of the settlement, which was negotiated between a steering committee of lawyers representing the plaintiffs and the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer.

Allie - there are lots of law firms out there willing to handle these cases. And there are firms that are willing and able to handle these cases.

I don't know where you live, so I cannot recommend a lawyer for you. Look for a lawyer who is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy or who is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. The NBTA has a website - www.nbtanet.org - that allows you to look up members by state. Make sure that the lawyer has experience in drug litigation.

Good luck.

I WAS CONTACTED BY A LAWFIRM IN HOUSTON TEXAS TELLING ME MY 23 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAD FILED THIS SUIT IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. SHE HAD BEEN DIAGNOISED WITH TYPE 2 DIABEDIES. SHE WAS SINGLE WITH NO CHILDREN. MY DAUGHTER DIED THREE MONTHS LATER DUE TO COMPLICATIONS AND SLIPPED IN TO COMA. WHAT ARE MY LEGAL RIGHTS? MY X HUSBAND WANTS ME TO SIGN SOME KIND OF WAIVER TO PROBATE HER ESTATE OR TO ADMINISTRATE HER ESTATE. SHE DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SPEAK OF WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS LAW SUIT. NO ONE IS TELLING ME ANYTHING. SOMETHING DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. WHY COULDN'T I ADMINISTRATE HER ESTATE. I DON'T FEEL THAT HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING. WHAT SHOULD I DO. WHAT KIND OF LAWYER SHOULD I CONTACT. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND MY x HUSBAND AND DECEASED DAUGHTER ARE IN TEXAS. I NEED YOUR OPINION

Pamela: I can't serve as your lawyer - I don't practice law in Michigan or Texas and I don't know enough about your situation. However, I can tell you that you need to talk with a good lawyer who can help you with this. Most lawyers will not charge you for a first meeting. Look for a lawyer who does product liability work and who is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Their website is www.nbtanet.org.

My son has been on many medications for Bipolar- the most effective has been zyprexia. recently he went into the hospital with pneumonia and while there they decided to check his blood sugar. It was 488. At first they thought it was due to the medrol. However, after all of the medrol had ended, they check it again - it was still in the 400's they then did a hgbA1C it was 8.9 he is now on insulin injections and 2 pills to control his blood sugar level. His physician feels that zypresia has been the most successful medication so in controlling the psyche problem. Can we be placed on the list for the suit and still take the medication? We know that he must continue this medication we also know that he has a life time type II diabetes problem to deal with. What is your advice?

My advice is that you talk with a lawyer in your state. Most lawyers will have this type of conversation with no charge. Talk to a lawyer promptly, because each state has time deadlines for filing a lawsuit. Waiting too long will result in a loss of whatever rights your son has.

Jeanine - look for a lawyer certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Go to www.nbtanet.org. Ask if he or she has experience in products liability work.

Good luck to you and your sister.

Do you know of any agency or layer fir in Alabama that I can contact regarding this settlement

Contact Steve Henigner in Birmingham or John Haley in Birmingham.

I saw an advertisement on the air about Risperdol and Seriquil being part of that settlement. I have taken both of those drugs in the past and stopped about 2-3 years ago. At that same time or shortly thereafter I was diagnosed with Chrinic Pancreatitis and my GI Dr.does not have a reason why I would have this. It seemed to pop up all of a sudden.
I saw an ad and when I called the number It is a Law firm in Texas and they were not aware of the seriousness of Chronic Pancreatitis and the possiblilities of the silent death that it can cause. I have not hx of anything that could have caused this.
Do you know about this part of the settlement.