October 22, 2009 - Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, released its report regarding the increased risk of thromboembolism for Yaz and Yasmin users. Swissmedic's Human Medicines Expert Committee analyzed recent data and studies on these risk factors. The agency took particular notice of two epidemiological studies released in August 2009. These studies reported an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke and heart attack due to the progestin, drosperinone, in Yaz and Yasmin. The agency concluded that the risk of having a venous thromboembolism with a drosperinone-containing birth control pill is close to the risk with 3rd generation birth control pills. So called 2nd generation oral contraceptives remain the safest on the market.
Swissmedic will include the results and findings of their investigation in the patient information included with Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills. Doctors will be warned that they should be cautious when prescribing these pills to patients with any other risk factors for venous thromboembolism such as smoking, obesity and genetic predisposition.
Bayer has attempted to interpret Swissmedic's report in its favor. However, a careful reading of the report indicates that Yaz and Yasmin risks are more in line with those of 3rd generation oral contraceptives. It is well-documented that 3rd generation oral contraceptives carry a statistically significant increased risk of venous thromboembolism compared to other birth control pills.
Bayer now faces hundreds of lawsuits filed by women seriously injured by Yaz and Yasmin. Contact the attorneys at Jackson Allen Williams, LLP if you or a loved one was seriously injured by these birth control pills.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Jackson Allen Williams, LLP Announce Association With Lisa Blue Baron and Mike Kaeske
The drug injury lawyers at Jackson Allen Williams, LLP are proud to announce their association with nationally prominent trial lawyers Lisa Blue Baron and Mike Kaeske to represent victims of serious injuries caused by the side effects of Yaz/Yasmin. Lisa and Mike are nationally known for their representation of victims of serious injuries in high profile cases, having obtained numerous significant jury verdicts.
Lisa Blue Baron of Baron and Blue in Dallas, Texas is both an attorney and a PhD. in Counseling Psychology. Lisa was formerly a partner at Baron & Budd, the largest environmental and toxic tort law firm in the United States. Her accomplishments in trial courts nationwide have been widely recognized, including being named one of the Top 50 Women Litigators in the U.S. by the National Law Journal, Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as receiving the Honorary Barrister Award from the University of Texas Law School and the Distinguished Alumni Award from South Texas College of Law. Blue was named Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2006 by the Dallas Bar Association. In 2007, she received the Louise Raggio Women’s Legal Advocate Award from Legal Aid of Northwest Texas and was awarded the Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation in 2008. Ms. Blue was honored to accept the 2009 Rayburn Johnson Award posthumously on behalf of her husband, Fred Baron.
In addition to her legal practice, Lisa maintains a private consultancy as a forensic psychologist and is a nationally renowned expert in jury selection. With her unique background, she has been a commentator for several high-profile trials covered by Court TV and has co-authored numerous articles on jury selection. These include: “The Dos and Don’ts of Jury Questionnaires” (Texas Lawyer), “Make the Most of Your Jury Questionnaire” (Trial), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (Trial Talk), “How to Pick a Winning Jury” (Champion), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (Arizona Trial Lawyers Association Advocate), “Inside the Juror’s Mind” (Texas Bar Journal), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (Advocate Magazine - Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for So. California), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (South Texas Law Review), “In Defense of the Peremptory Challenge” (Voir Dire Magazine), and “Twelve Psychological Tips for Getting Re-elected Every Time” (In Chambers). Lisa has written two books: ATLA’s Blue’s Guide to Jury Selection, co-authored with Robert Hirschhorn in 2004 (published by West), and Dr. Blues’ Guide to Making Relationships Work: 50 Quick Tips that Will Save Your Relationship, co-authored with brother Rick Blue in 2006.
Mike Kaeske worked closely with Lisa Blue and Fred Baron at Baron & Budd where he trained as a courtroom trial lawyer. He picked juries as often as many lawyers attend hearings and his first verdict was an $8.5 million single-plaintiff victory. His last verdict for Baron & Budd was a radiation exposure case in Federal Court in Pittsburg, PA, and the jury returned a verdict of over $60 million for eight plaintiffs with leukemia and other cancers. That verdict led to Mike being nominated as Trial Lawyer of the Year from the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. Mike’s primary emphasis is trial work. Because of his aggressive and effective courtroom techniques, he is called upon by lawyers across the country to try significant cases. He has obtained more than $450 million in settlements and verdicts since opening his own practice in 1999. The Kaeske Law Firm has a national practice based in Austin, Texas. Mike has devoted his professional life to the representing seriously injured victims and their families.
Jackson, Allen, Williams, LLP is located in Dallas, Texas and provides legal representation to injury victims nation wide.
Lisa Blue Baron of Baron and Blue in Dallas, Texas is both an attorney and a PhD. in Counseling Psychology. Lisa was formerly a partner at Baron & Budd, the largest environmental and toxic tort law firm in the United States. Her accomplishments in trial courts nationwide have been widely recognized, including being named one of the Top 50 Women Litigators in the U.S. by the National Law Journal, Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as receiving the Honorary Barrister Award from the University of Texas Law School and the Distinguished Alumni Award from South Texas College of Law. Blue was named Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2006 by the Dallas Bar Association. In 2007, she received the Louise Raggio Women’s Legal Advocate Award from Legal Aid of Northwest Texas and was awarded the Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation in 2008. Ms. Blue was honored to accept the 2009 Rayburn Johnson Award posthumously on behalf of her husband, Fred Baron.
In addition to her legal practice, Lisa maintains a private consultancy as a forensic psychologist and is a nationally renowned expert in jury selection. With her unique background, she has been a commentator for several high-profile trials covered by Court TV and has co-authored numerous articles on jury selection. These include: “The Dos and Don’ts of Jury Questionnaires” (Texas Lawyer), “Make the Most of Your Jury Questionnaire” (Trial), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (Trial Talk), “How to Pick a Winning Jury” (Champion), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (Arizona Trial Lawyers Association Advocate), “Inside the Juror’s Mind” (Texas Bar Journal), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (Advocate Magazine - Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for So. California), “Profile of a Perfect Juror” (South Texas Law Review), “In Defense of the Peremptory Challenge” (Voir Dire Magazine), and “Twelve Psychological Tips for Getting Re-elected Every Time” (In Chambers). Lisa has written two books: ATLA’s Blue’s Guide to Jury Selection, co-authored with Robert Hirschhorn in 2004 (published by West), and Dr. Blues’ Guide to Making Relationships Work: 50 Quick Tips that Will Save Your Relationship, co-authored with brother Rick Blue in 2006.
Mike Kaeske worked closely with Lisa Blue and Fred Baron at Baron & Budd where he trained as a courtroom trial lawyer. He picked juries as often as many lawyers attend hearings and his first verdict was an $8.5 million single-plaintiff victory. His last verdict for Baron & Budd was a radiation exposure case in Federal Court in Pittsburg, PA, and the jury returned a verdict of over $60 million for eight plaintiffs with leukemia and other cancers. That verdict led to Mike being nominated as Trial Lawyer of the Year from the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. Mike’s primary emphasis is trial work. Because of his aggressive and effective courtroom techniques, he is called upon by lawyers across the country to try significant cases. He has obtained more than $450 million in settlements and verdicts since opening his own practice in 1999. The Kaeske Law Firm has a national practice based in Austin, Texas. Mike has devoted his professional life to the representing seriously injured victims and their families.
Jackson, Allen, Williams, LLP is located in Dallas, Texas and provides legal representation to injury victims nation wide.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Allen Law Firm is now Jackson Allen Williams, LLP
Allen Law Firm is now Jackson Allen Williams, LLP. The dangerous drug lawyers at Jackson Allen Williams, LLP will continue to provide legal representation to injury victims nationwide including women injured by Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella and their families.
Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices May Require Bayer to Add Stronger Warnings to Yaz Label
An article on Deutsche Welle, a German news web site, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices is looking into changing the product information for the Yasmin line of birth control pills. The changes may be made to reflect the new data coming from recent studies that show Yaz and Yasmin are twice as likely to cause blood clots - or thrombosis - than older pills. Ulrich Hagemann, head of the institute's department of drug safety said, "there is a need from my point of view to change the text" in the product information that accompanies the pills to reflect this increased risk.
A total of 130 cases of adverse drug reactions to the Yasmin line of contraceptives have been reported to Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. Felicitas Rohrer, a 25-year old German citizen, collapsed in July with three thromboses in her lung. "I got the first package in a nice little silver box with a mirror and make-up brush inside; it seemed very nice, so why shouldn't I take it? But I never heard that this pill has a much higher risk of pulmonary embolism than other pills," Felicitas Rohrer told Deutsche Welle.
The Allen Law Firm is representing women, like Felicitas, who have suffered strokes, pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, we'd love to hear from you.
A total of 130 cases of adverse drug reactions to the Yasmin line of contraceptives have been reported to Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. Felicitas Rohrer, a 25-year old German citizen, collapsed in July with three thromboses in her lung. "I got the first package in a nice little silver box with a mirror and make-up brush inside; it seemed very nice, so why shouldn't I take it? But I never heard that this pill has a much higher risk of pulmonary embolism than other pills," Felicitas Rohrer told Deutsche Welle.
The Allen Law Firm is representing women, like Felicitas, who have suffered strokes, pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, we'd love to hear from you.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Ten Lawsuits Filed Against Bayer Over Yaz and Yasmin in New Jersey
According to NorthJersey.com, ten women from various states have filed lawsuits against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceutical, Inc. of Wayne, New Jersey. The lawsuits allege that the women suffered deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism as a result of taking Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. Like the dozens of other lawsuits filed across the country, these cases allege that Bayer mislead consumers about the risks of these birth control pills.
Bayer has confirmed that they have lawsuits pending regarding Yaz and Yasmin. According to a written statement, Bayer admitted that as of September 24, 2009 the company had been served with 74 lawsuits involving and Yaz and Yasmin.
Bayer has confirmed that they have lawsuits pending regarding Yaz and Yasmin. According to a written statement, Bayer admitted that as of September 24, 2009 the company had been served with 74 lawsuits involving and Yaz and Yasmin.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
More Lawsuits Filed Against Bayer Over Yaz an Yasmin
Bayer has been sued by two Pennsylvania pension funds and accused of misrepresenting the safety and effectiveness of the Yaz contraceptive to boost sales, according to a Bloomberg report. The lawsuit claims that Bayer unlawfully promoted Yaz and Yasmin from March 2006 to March 2009 by hiding the risks of the birth control pills. The risks that were concealed include blood clots, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms and gallbladder disease. The complaint was filed by the Philadelphia Firefighters Union Local No. 22 Health and Welfare Fund and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, District 47 Health and Welfare Fund. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Yaz and Yasmin may be linked to Pancreatic Cancer
The birth control pills, Yaz and Yasmin, that have been linked with other digestive organ problems such as gallstones, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis and kidney failure may now be linked to pancreatic cancer.
As of the date of this post, not much is known about the potential link between Yaz, Yasmin and pancreatic cancer. We will post additional information on this blog as we learn more about this possible new risk related to Bayer's Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills.
As of the date of this post, not much is known about the potential link between Yaz, Yasmin and pancreatic cancer. We will post additional information on this blog as we learn more about this possible new risk related to Bayer's Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills.
Bayer faces more suits over its Yaz and Yasmin Birth Control
Following the consolidation of the Yaz and Yasmin federal court cases last week, at least 13 new cases have been filed in the Southern District of Illinois. The new cases, which will be transferred to the MDL for pretrial proceedings, allege injuries including strokes, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks and gallbladder removal.
Its obvious from the number of lawsuits currently on file, at least 90, that women across the country believe that Yaz and Yasmin caused them to suffer catastrophic injuries or even death.
This blog will keep you apprised of any developments in the Federal Court MDL and the state court consolidations around the country. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, talk to a lawyer about your legal rights.
Its obvious from the number of lawsuits currently on file, at least 90, that women across the country believe that Yaz and Yasmin caused them to suffer catastrophic injuries or even death.
This blog will keep you apprised of any developments in the Federal Court MDL and the state court consolidations around the country. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, talk to a lawyer about your legal rights.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Yaz | Yasmin | Ocella and Stroke
Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella have been linked to the risk of blood clots which can cause strokes. Experts believe Yaz and Yasmin have a prothombotic effect due to the progestin drospirenone or drsp. Drsp is a potassium-sparing diuretic which can cause an increase in potassium. Unsafe levels of potassium in the blood, also known as hyperkalemia, can disrupt heart rhythms and slow the flow of blood. This can lead to blood clotting.
A blood clot in a blood vessel are called thrombus. If the thrombus breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it is a thromboembolism. The clot may plug a vessel in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), brain (stroke), gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, or leg.
The following symptoms may indicate that you are suffering from a stroke caused by Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella:
If you suffer from these symptoms, you should report them to your doctor immediately. Tests to determine if you are having or previously suffered a stroke include:
Risk Factors for Stroke:
Birth control pills are known risk factor for blood clotting disorders including Stroke . However, the risk is increased with the use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella due to the progestin drosperinone (drsp). Drsp functions as a diuretic with thickens the blood possibly causing heart rhythm disturbances and blood clots.
Women who have taken these birth control pills and suffered strokes are filing lawsuits against Bayer and related entities for their injuries. Most of the lawsuits are being consolidated in the federal court in Southern Illinois or in Pennsylvania and California state courts. The attorneys at the Allen Law Firm are evaluating claims on behalf of individuals throughout the United States who were prescribed Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella and suffered serious side effects including strokes or death. If you would like to know if you qualify to file a lawsuit from your Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella injury, contact an attorney today for a free consultation.
A blood clot in a blood vessel are called thrombus. If the thrombus breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it is a thromboembolism. The clot may plug a vessel in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), brain (stroke), gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, or leg.
The following symptoms may indicate that you are suffering from a stroke caused by Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella:
- Trouble with walking - dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Trouble with speaking - slurring or trouble coming up with words (aphasia)
- Paralysis or numbness on one side of the body
- Trouble with seeing - blurred, blackened or double vision
- Sudden, severe headache
If you suffer from these symptoms, you should report them to your doctor immediately. Tests to determine if you are having or previously suffered a stroke include:
- Carotid ultrasound
- CT Scan
- Arteriography
- MRI
- Echocardiography
Treatment for Stroke:
Prompt treatment of a stroke is important. The type of treatment you will receive depends on the type of stroke you suffered. If you suffer an ischemic stroke, doctors need to immediately restore blood flow to your brain. They may accomplish this with medication or surgery. If you suffer a hemorrhagic stroke, treatment is designed to keep you from suffering additional strokes. Treatment would usually include surgery--either aneurysm clipping or arteriovenous malformation (AVM) removal.
Risk Factors for Stroke:
Birth control pills are known risk factor for blood clotting disorders including Stroke . However, the risk is increased with the use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella due to the progestin drosperinone (drsp). Drsp functions as a diuretic with thickens the blood possibly causing heart rhythm disturbances and blood clots.
Women who have taken these birth control pills and suffered strokes are filing lawsuits against Bayer and related entities for their injuries. Most of the lawsuits are being consolidated in the federal court in Southern Illinois or in Pennsylvania and California state courts. The attorneys at the Allen Law Firm are evaluating claims on behalf of individuals throughout the United States who were prescribed Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella and suffered serious side effects including strokes or death. If you would like to know if you qualify to file a lawsuit from your Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella injury, contact an attorney today for a free consultation.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Yaz and Yasmin Cases Consolidated in MDL in Southern District of Illinois
Today the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict litigation filed its order transferring all federal court Yaz/Yasmin lawsuits to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. MDL 2100 was assigned to Judge David R. Herndon. The pretrial proceedings for these cases will be handled under the title, IN RE: Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing and Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation. The order comes after a hearing in front of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation last week.
As we have discussed in this blog, the cases consolidated under the MDL involve allegations that Yaz, Yasmin and the generic, Ocella, are associated with increased risks of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, heart attack and serious gallbladder disease. The cases will be consolidated for the purposes of discovery and pretrial motions. The MDL consolidation is different than a class action lawsuit. We explain the difference between MDLs and class action lawsuits in more detail here.
As we have discussed in this blog, the cases consolidated under the MDL involve allegations that Yaz, Yasmin and the generic, Ocella, are associated with increased risks of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, heart attack and serious gallbladder disease. The cases will be consolidated for the purposes of discovery and pretrial motions. The MDL consolidation is different than a class action lawsuit. We explain the difference between MDLs and class action lawsuits in more detail here.
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