Levaquin Lawsuits Move Forward, As Federal Court Grants Peripheral Neuropathy Plaintiffs Leave to Amend Master Complaint, Bernstein Liebhard LLP Report

July 11, 2016 - Hundreds of Levaquin lawsuits (http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/levaquin/lawsuit/) and other product liability claims involving Cipro and Avelox continue to move forward in a multidistrict litigation now underway in the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. According to Minutes from the proceeding's June 21st Status Conference, the Court has granted a Plaintiffs' Motion that sought to amend the Master Complaint to reflect the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) May 2016 safety announcement for fluoroquinolone antibiotics, finding that doing so would not greatly expand the scope of the proceedings. (In Re: Fluoroquinolone Products Liability Litigation – MDL No. 2642)

"Our Firm is representing a number of clients who were allegedly injured by Levaquin and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The FDA label change and safety announcement addressed by the Plaintiffs' Motion to Amend are directly relevant to their claims," says Sandy A. Liebhard LLP, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is offering free, no-obligation legal reviews to patients who were diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy that could be associated with the use of Levaquin, Cipro or Avelox.

Fluoroquinolone Litigation
Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox all belong to a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones. These drugs are indicated to treat serious bacterial infections, including pneumonia, staph, and sexually transmitted diseases. In May 2016, the FDA ordered all fluoroquinolone manufacturers to update the antibiotics' boxed warning to state that the risks posed by the drugs outweigh their benefits for patients with certain uncomplicated infections when other treatment options are available. The agency acted after a review confirmed that fluoroquinolone antibiotics are associated with a number of serious side effects, including those involving the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves and central nervous system. These complications are potentially permanent and can occur together, the FDA said.

According to the Minutes from the June 21st Status Conference, there are at least 484 peripheral neuropathy lawsuits involving Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox pending in the District of Minnesota. Another 40 cases have been filed in various state courts around the country. Peripheral neuropathy is a serious nerve disorder that can lead to permanent disability. Mention of this side effect was first noted on the labels for fluoroquinolone antibiotics in 2004. But in 2013, the FDA ordered the drugs' manufacturers to strengthen the labels in order to better reflect the rapid onset of symptoms, as well as the potential for permanent nerve damage. Plaintiffs who have filed cases in the federal multidistrict litigation claim that the manufacturers of Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox failed to provide doctors and patients with adequate warnings about their potential to cause the disorder.

Patients who were diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy or permanent nerve damage following treatment with Levaquin, Cipro or Avelox may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other injury-related damages. To learn more about filing a Levaquin lawsuit, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website. Free, no-obligation legal consultations can also be obtained by calling 800-511-5092.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list.

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Contact Information:
Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
info (at)consumerinjurylawyers(dot)com
http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/
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