Zoloft Birth Defect Cases Consolidated in Pennsylvania MDL

The entire legal community is keeping an eye on Pennsylvania these days, ever since the Zoloft multidistrict legislation (MDL) was formed there. On April 17, 2012, the U.S. Judicial Panel created the MDL in order to consolidate the many claims that, when taken by pregnant mothers, Zoloft has caused birth defects in newborns.

A MDL is sometimes formed when a great number of plaintiffs have filed suit against the same defendant for the same reasons. The idea is to consolidate multiple actions into one trial with one judge. Ideal benefits include:

• Avoiding inconsistent rulings in multiple trials.
• Increasing efficiency.
• Encouraging the parties to settle.

An organizational meeting was held in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on July 12. This marks the beginning of what promises to be a hallmark trial.

Although we know that many lawsuits have been filed nationwide against Pfizer, the drug company who manufactures Zoloft, there is little information about settlements. For this reason, the Pennsylvania MDL has brought the problem into the national spotlight.

The plaintiffs in the MDL are bringing several key allegations against Pfizer including charges that Zoloft use by pregnant women:

• Has caused permanent and even fatal injuries to newborns.
• Has caused birth defects including cardiac defects, malformed organs, deformed limbs, spina bifida, cleft palate and others.
• Was known by Pfizer to carry risks, but that the company continued to market the drug without warning pregnant women and their doctors adequately.

Zoloft was first introduced to the market in 1991 and has been a very popular medication used to treat depression and anxiety ever since.

The drug and medical device attorneys at Bailey & Greer know the pain and financial hardship that are caused by having a sick child. Call us toll free today at 901-680-9777 if you or someone you know suspects Zoloft as the cause of a birth defect. We can help.