Hundreds of lawsuits are currently pending against Fresenius Medical Care in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts. Fresenius manufactured Granuflo and NatraLyte dialysis products that have been linked to heart attacks, cardiac arrest and strokes. Granuflo and NatraLyte were recalled by the FDA in June 2012.
Lawsuits against Fresenius were consolidated in a multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) in April 2013. The Granuflo MDL consists of more than 1,500 cases.
Judge Douglas P. Woodlock, U.S. District Judge presiding over the Granuflo MDL, has issued a Case Management Order setting forth the process by which bellwether cases will be selected. “Bellwether” cases are cases that are selected and prepared for early trials with the goal of helping both plaintiffs and defendants determine how the evidence is perceived by a jury. The first bellwether trial is not expected to take place until late in 2015 or early 2016.
Judge Woodlock has directed that each side of the litigation choose ten cases no later than September 15, 2014. From the initial 20 cases, ten cases will be selected for trial – five cases selected by the plaintiffs and five selected by the defense. Judge Woodlock has determined that at least one of the final ten cases will involve an injury occurring before November 4, 2001, one will involve an injury occurring between November 4, 2011 and March 29, 2012, one will involve dialysis provided by Fresenius and another will involve dialysis provided by a clinic using Fresenius products.
The Ohio Granuflo lawyers at Clark, Perdue & List have represented hundreds of individuals who have been injured by dangerous drugs and medical devices. If you or a loved one suffered a heart attack, cardiac arrest or stroke following dialysis, call the pharmaceutical injury attorneys at Clark, Perdue & List.