New Lawsuit - Lipitor

[Dee]

Lipitor News
Lipitor wrongful death lawsuit

November 30, 2005

Pfizer, the maker of best-selling cholesterol drug Lipitor, is facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Illinois this week. Eddie Settles, the plaintiff, argues his wife’s death was caused by fatal Lipitor side effects. According to the lawsuit, Pfizer’s actions and negligence in marketing Lipitor are responsible for the untimely death of Mrs. Delores Settles. This wrongful death Lipitor lawsuit will be heard in Madison County, Illinois.

Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a statin drug which blocks the production of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol while promoting levels of “good” (HDL) cholesterol. It is estimated that Pfizer has sold over 69.7 million prescriptions of Lipitor since this drug was first approved by the FDA in 1997. These astronomical sales make Lipitor one of the highest-selling drugs in the world. All statins have been associated with significant side effects including rhabdomyolysis (a life-threatening muscle condition), kidney failure, and death.

The statin Baycol, belonging to the same drug family as Lipitor, was pulled off the market a few years ago due to serious and life-threatening risks associated with use of this medication. Baycol was linked to at least 52 deaths caused by rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, and other serious statin side effects. Another statin drug, Crestor, has been linked with dozens of deaths and hundreds of serious adverse drug events.

Through the Illinois Lipitor lawsuit, the plaintiff is seeking compensation for his late wife’s medical expenses, physical pain, physical impairment, and damages related to mental pain and anguish. According to the claim, Pfizer failed to:
- adequately warn the decedent’s doctors that using Lipitor posed a reasonable danger of suffering serious injury or death,
- use reasonable care in testing and inspecting Lipitor to ensure the product was safe and effective,
- And use reasonable care in the manner and method of warning Delores and her doctors about the dangers of using Lipitor in higher doses.

The plaintiff made a number of additional allegations against Pfizer in this product liability complaint, including claims of marketing fraud, material misrepresentations, and more. The Lipitor lawsuit also names the hospital (Saint Anthony’s Health Center) and Delores’ doctor (Mary Mason, M.D.) as respondents in the discovery.

ww.adrugrecall.com/news/lipitor-wrongful-death.html

[prof]

Does anyone know what the specific cause(s) of death were in this case? That is, what physiological injury?

prof

[Dee]

Not specifically, but from how it reads I would guess complications from Rhabdomyolosis. I also think the recent filing of a class action suit againt Lipitor for marketing to women and the elderly figures into this suit. In other words she died from taking a medication she should not have been on in the first place.

[sos_group_owner]

Another article from a local paper with some additional info.
The same atty's, Dickey & Rowland of Edwardsville, IL, handled another case in July, 2005: "Vioxx suit blames Merck and pharmacy"
ww.stclairrecord.com/news/newsview.asp?c=162783

Fran
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Pfizer hit with Lipitor suit

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

By Steve Gonzalez - Edwardsville Bureau

One day after successfully arguing a case out of Madison County, prescription drug maker Pfizer was hit with a wrongful death suit over its popular cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor.

In a suit filed Nov. 28 in Madison County, Eddie Settles claims his wife's death was due to the drug's defectiveness.

Delores Settles died Nov. 28, 2003. But, the complaint does not indicate the cause of her death, or the plaintiff's residence.

Circuit Judge George Moran transferred a product liability case against Pfizer to Cook County on Nov. 28, citing that Madison County was not the appropriate venue--even though some of the plaintiffs were from the Metro-East.

“The described acts of Pfizer were a direct and proximate cause of the severe, permanent and disabling injuries and resulting damages to Delores leading to her death,â€

[prof]

Thanks, Fran. If this can be proven:

"He claims Pfizer concealed information about the frequency of Lipitor-related "adverse event reports," including the number of deaths associated with its use."

It would be a huge deal.

prof

[Dee]

Fran,
Thanks for posting that article.

Prof,
I agree...it could be a huge deal. I applaud this lawfirm for taking this case. I pray they win, and all heck breaks loose in the entire statin industry. It is long overdue.