Pharmaceutical Litigation

Orange County Pharmaceutical Attorneys

Hodes Milman is dedicated to fighting the powerful pharmaceutical companies behind unsafe drugs that harm trusting individuals every day.

Taking prescription medications is not uncommon. In fact, most individuals have used them at one time or another to improve or even save their lives. Every day, consumers place their trust in those who manufacture, market, prescribe and distribute drugs with the assumption that these companies want to help, not harm them. Unfortunately, drug companies are not always forthright, and have no problem putting potentially harmful drugs into the hands of vulnerable, trusting people.

A Dangerous Drug’s Journey: Manufacturer to Market

How do dangerous drugs make it to the market? Even though pharmaceutical companies are entrusted with designing, testing, manufacturing, packaging, and selling only safe products to consumers, this isn’t always what happens. Instead, many companies put big profits before consumer safety by rushing substandard products to the market or failing to warn patients of dangerous or fatal side effects.

Before a prescription medication makes it to the market, the manufacturer must test it and provide evidence of its safety to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) reviews and approves the drug and its labeling, the product can be marketed for consumer use.

Surprisingly, the FDA’s approval doesn’t always guarantee a drug’s safety or efficacy. Defective drugs are often marketed without full knowledge of risky side effects due to inadequate testing, or concealment of test results. Drug companies are also known to ignore drug-associated side effects that have been reported by consumers after the product’s release, but continue marketing it anyway. Sadly, when this happens, consumers who have used the products as intended suffer needless, sometimes fatal harm at the hands of negligent companies.

Hodes Milman Takes on Dangerous Drug Cases

Negligent pharmaceutical manufacturers and those who market or distribute harmful drugs should be held accountable for their actions. Creating and selling defective, faulty and misrepresented drugs is unacceptable, as seen in many current product liability cases.

Hodes Milman is dedicated to helping individuals who have suffered by the following dangerous drugs:

Taxotere

Taxotere which is manufactured by Sanofi, was marketed as an effective treatment for breast cancer; however, it came with devastating, undisclosed side effects – permanent alopecia and bald spots. After repeated warnings from the FDA to update the product’s labeling, Sanofi finally disclosed the heightened risks, but it was too late. Thousands of women who took this drug now suffer permanent baldness, including the loss of eyelashes and eyebrows. Hodes Milman now represents more than 50 women who have suffered greatly due to this “toxic” drug. There are currently 1,500 lawsuits nationwide pending due to Taxotere’s damaging effects.

Have You Been Injured by a Dangerous Drug?

If you or a family member has been hurt by a dangerous drug, you may be unsure about your legal rights. If so, please contact us at (949) 640-8222 to speak to one of our legal representatives about your potential case. All consultations are free and have no obligation. We understand the pain you may be going through and will make sure our experienced and trustworthy legal staff answers your questions and addresses concerns regarding your potential right to compensation.

Pharmaceutical Injuries Drastically Change Lives

Unexpected side effects and harmful consequences from risky drugs have caused widespread damage to individuals and their families. This is due to outright negligence, inaccurate testing, flaws in the product, misguided advertising about use and effectiveness, and erroneous use instructions. As a result, many individuals face physical impairment, severe pain, lost wages, mounting medical bills, and an uncertain future. It’s important that we take legal action against these companies to hold them liable.

Our aggressive product liability attorneys have experience taking on powerful drug companies to help ensure our clients receive just compensation for their injuries and damages.

Dangerous drugs can wreak havoc on a person’s health, and we have seen it firsthand. Many consumers face injuries, including:

• Heart damage and heart attacks
• Stroke
• Kidney damage
• Organ failure
• Pulmonary dysfunction
• Irreversible bleeding
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Aneurism
• Cancer
• Alopecia
• Neurological dysfunction
• Birth defects, such as cleft palate
• Blood clots
• Joint problems
• Depression
• Autoimmune disorders
• Death

What is a Drug-Related Product Liability Case?

When a dangerous drug harms individuals, even when it was used as indicated, individual claims against the negligent drug maker can be brought forward in a “mass tort.” This type of lawsuit is similar to a class action in that there are many affected individuals who have suffered as a result of the same product. However, in a pharmaceutical mass tort lawsuit, each claim is similar but with different injuries and circumstances. During the legal process, the claims are looked at separately and result in various outcomes.

There are three types of product liability claims based on drugs that are dangerously manufactured, marketing and distributed:

Manufacturing Defects

Manufacturing Defects refer to pharmaceutical drugs that are improperly made, bottled, shipped or labeled. The error, tainting or other occurrence that makes the drug unsafe can take place in the factory where it is manufactured, at the shipping company, in the pharmacy where it is bottled, or any other facility it crossed before it reaches consumers.

Defects in Drugs

Defects in the drugs themselves generally appear after they have been on the market for months or years – well before injuries and deaths are reported. Other times, manufacturers conceal evidence of the risks, or ignore injury reports in an effort to avoid being held accountable.

Marketing Defects

Marketing Defects include improper instructions, recommendations, and warnings on drugs regarding its use and risks. Failure to provide adequate warnings and instructions on how to safely use drugs can result in doctors, pharmacists, medical representatives, and other medical providers misinforming patients.

Pharmaceutical Liability Claims Hold Drug Companies Accountable

Even though manufacturers are often held liable for negligence or wrongdoing, there are others in the chain of distribution that can also be held responsible for their part in harming consumers.

Many times, there are multiple claims against the following for failing to properly ensure a drug is safe:

• Testing Labs can be negligent in the methods they use
• Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives may use sales tactics that misrepresent a drug, or indicate it for off-label use
• Doctors may wrongly prescribe a drug, or fail to inform a patient of the risks
• Hospitals and clinics can be negligent in prescribing a drug, or providing use instructions for patients
• Pharmacies may bottle a product or label it incorrectly

Attorneys with a Successful Litigation Record Against Dangerous Drugs

If you or a loved one has suffered harm caused by an unsafe prescription medication, please contact our Orange County dangerous drug attorneys today to discuss your potential case. We know that the details of your situation are unique and private, and we can assure you that all calls are confidential.

Over the past 30 years, we have helped thousands of families who have been tragically wronged or seriously hurt in situations similar to yours. Our award-winning attorneys have claimed more than $200 million in victories for our clients, and we are privileged to have helped hundreds of families with a fresh start.

State Statute of Limitations on Pharmaceutical Litigation Applies to Each Case

Call us day or night, any day of the week at (949) 640-8222 to take advantage of our no-cost, no-obligation, confidential consultation. While there are no federal product liability laws, each state has its own consumer protection laws about negligence and strict time limits apply. You can learn more today by calling for details.

Hodes Milman conveniently located in Southern California, serving clients in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino and Riverside counties (Inland Empire). We can also make arrangements to meet you at your home or other convenient location if you would like an in-person meeting but are unable to travel to one of our offices.