Actos Lawyers Seeking Leadership Roles in Federal MDL

The judge presiding over all federal Actos bladder cancer lawsuits has invited any lawyers interested in serving on a committee or in a leadership role within the consolidated multidistrict litigation (MDL), to submit certain information on their qualifications before a hearing scheduled for next month.

According to an order issued February 13, an initial status conference has been scheduled in the Actos litigation for March 22, before Judge Rebecca F. Doherty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, where all claims involving bladder cancer from Actos are centralized for pretrial proceedings.

At the end of last year, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation assigned the Actos MDL to Judge Doherty, and this will be the first status conference for lawyers involved in the litigation to meet with the Court.

Consolidation of the Actos cases into an MDL is designed to prevent duplicate discovery, avoid contradictory rulings by different judges, and to serve the convenience of the witnesses, the parties and the courts.

In advance of the initial status conference, Judge Doherty has asked that any Actos lawyers interested in serving as lead counsel, liason counsel or as a member of the plaintiffs steering committee to submit a resume and other information outlining their experience in such roles, the number of clients they represent, the rates of pay they would seek for common benefit work and any other qualities the Court should consider.

Judge Doherty indicates that she will appoint attorneys to serve in the leadership roles following the initial status conference, after full consideration of all information received.

Such Actos attorneys will perform certain actions throughout the litigation that benefit all plaintiffs who have filed a lawsuit, such as compiling discovery on common issues and arguing motions before the court on matters that concern all cases.

Actos (pioglitazone) was approved by FDA to treat Type 2 Diabetes in July, 1999. It is a once-a-day pill that increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin. The medication has grown in popularity in recent years, generating $4.3 billion in sales last year.

The number of product liability lawsuits filed in courts throughout the United States has increased dramatically since FDA officials began reviewing the potential link between Actos and bladder cancer problems in September 2010.

Research has suggested that long-term users of the diabetes medication may face an increased risk, and many have suggested that an Actos recall should be issued or that the manufacturer should provide stronger warnings to consumers and the medical community.