Avandia Lawsuit Settlement of $60M Will Resolve 700 Cases: Report

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GlaxoSmithKline PLC has reportedly agreed to pay $60 million to settle about 700 Avandia lawsuits filed over side effects of their diabetes drug. However, the drug maker still faces thousands of other similar suits filed throughout the United States alleging that they failed to adequately warn about the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and other injuries. 

The Avandia settlements were reached to between Glaxo and two law firms representing hundreds of clients, sources told Bloomberg News. The agreement is believed to be the first settlement of Avandia injury claims brought by users, and Bloomberg reports that the drug maker is continuing negotiations to settle Avandia lawsuits with other lawyers.

Avandia (rosiglitazone) was approved in the United States in 1998 to treat type 2 diabetes by helping control blood sugar levels. The drug has been used by millions of diabetics, but sales have plummeted in recent years as concerns have mounted about the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening heart risks with Avandia. Some experts estimate that Avandia has caused between 60,000 and 200,000 heart attacks and deaths due to cardiovascular problems in the U.S. from 1999 to 2006.

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Concerns about the risk of heart problems with Avandia first gained widespread attention in May 2007, when a meta-analysis of 42 different clinical trials was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggesting that users of Avandia had a 43% increased risk of a heart attack.

In the United States, GlaxoSmithKline PLC currently faces thousands of lawsuits over Avandia filed by former users of the drug who allege that the drug company failed to adequately research their medication or warn users about the serious side effects. Federal Avandia litigation has been consolidated into an MDL, or Multidistrict Litigation, for pretrial litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where the first trial is expected to begin in July.

Details of the agreement are unknown, including the nature of the injuries involved in the cases. However, the Avandia settlement breaks down to an average of about $86,000 per plaintiff.

Pressure to resolve the Avandia cases has increased in recent months with the first trials approaching and a renewed push by critics for a recall of Avandia to be issued.

Earlier this year, a Senate report was released that criticized GlaxoSmithKline for intimidating doctors who spoke out about Avandia side effects and for failing to adequately warn users about the risk of a heart attack from side effects of Avandia.

Last week, at a House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee hearing, several lawmakers entered testimony criticizing the FDA for not issuing an Avandia recall and questioning how the drug was ever approved in the first place.

FDA is currently conducting an Avandia safety review and estimates that it will conclude its investigation some time in July. Some of the FDA’s own drug reviewers said as early as 2007 that Avandia poses too great of a health risk for too few benefits. The FDA is considering pulling the plug on an Avandia study, called TIDE, which is looking at the side effects of Avandia compared to those of Actos, a competing diabetes medication manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The FDA says that given the Avandia heart attack risks, it may be unethical to continue the trials.


600 Comments


Laura
Does anybody know if the 20% that they hold back is before the attourney get their cut or from the remainig number that we get?

laura
no name, all I got is the settlement offer that we had to sign. The attourney said that we should get our check around February. Is there another settlement offer we have to sign? I thought the attourney fees were covered in the 40% he gets. I wasn’t awhere that he get’s another 20%. We don’t have no liens or anything and we wasn’t on medicare or medicaid. We had United Health Care. Does any other Settlement offer come with the checks or paper work ?

Elizabeth
I have been approved but the lawyer says they have to wait till they get everyone settlement settled…Which I do not understand,if your approved why not get it ….Why should we wait for everyone else..If it is approved then send the money…..

Joan1956
I really am glad I found this site not happy about the reason I was looking. I am totally frustrated. Does anyone have lawyers from St. Louis MO area? I live in TN. I was sent two letters in January 2012 then another in late July 2012. When I contacted the firm I was assured that the settlement process was going smoothly but does anyone know how long that would take? I filed in 2008 i had my first heart attack a few months after Avandia was placed on the market. It wasn’t until my second one that my new doctor pointed out that the cause of heart problems was that medication.

joe
Laura, No I have not re’cd a settlement offer, but was told that a settlement has been reached. I sign papers saying who I am and that I have never gotten anything in an other name or alias. I have been waiting since Sept2011 for the final settlement figures.Has far has to when you get “your checks in the mail”, this can be 2 weeks to 2 years. I know some folks who are waiting for the check for2 years or more, and I know some folks who have gotten their checks. Things were moving then the private insurance now has it hands in the cookie jar. This has held up much of the progress that was made. When you do get your funds, 20% of the total will be held back in case of liens and adjustment of the settlement if needed. You should also note that the 1/3 that the lawyer charge cannot be use has a deduction on your tax, has also, your settlement funds is tax free also. But the expense that your lawyer hit you with is deductable. Another words, anything over the 1/3 the lawyer charge is your funds to claim. He/She must give you a break down of the expense and the charge for each item.

no name
Laura, you have Rielly Ponzer too…. have you received any additional paperwork to sign since the settlement packet? Did you ask how what order they send checks… ABC.. smallest to largest check…. order the packets came back…. no info on this end from anyone…. thanks

Laura
hey Joe, Did you get your settlement? I havent seen you in here for a while. Like to here from you caues you sound pretty knowledgeable about these things.

Laura
How do the know who well get their checks first? My lawyer told us that they well start sending out the checks in about 2 weeks. How do they decide in what order to start releasing them? He said they aught to be compeatly done in 30 or 60 days. How do they decide who is first?

Ann
Theresa, When did you recieve a partial check? And did they say how long you will have to wait for the rest? Just wondering

no name
Theresa, Reilly Ponzer gave you a partial payment?

Theresa
They have settled our law suit and gave us only partial payment saying they are waiting for stupid reason to give us the rest . If

no name
I have heard 20% but not from an attorney. Any idea when checks are coming? 60-90 would be next month, anything from Reilly Ponzer to confirm or deny checks next month?

Laura
We have Reilly and Poznefr out of Denver. Got the settlement offer and was told we could receive a check within 2 weeks to a month. We got the Settlement offer back in October and we were told we would get a check 60 to 90 days. Talked to them today and he said we might get 2 checks. He said a percentage would be held back just in case they need to pay off different people. Does anyone know what percent they keep back?

RC
Back in 07/2012 our lawyer’s said it would be 12/2012 because they found evidence they my father did qualified for a avandia settlement because they found in his medical records that he suffered heart failure from avandia When we will receive a settlement packet. Our lawyer’s are mulligan and mulligan law firm. We tried to borrow money from our settlement, then they told us a completely different story. They now claim they don’t have any medical records. This pissed me off very much we was lied to from the very beginning, they didn’t request any medical records. Why would these lawyers “LIE” saying they did have my father’s medical records when in fact they never had them at all.

no name
does anyone have Reilly Ponzer? any updates as to when checks might start coming?

Ann
I agree we need answer.My husband has Girardi & Keese they are in Los Angeles, California….My huband recieved a letter that read We hope to make a partial disbursement within Four months. Unfortunately, GSK has mde this very challenging task. Must show proof of use of Avandia they the information gets reviewed by Justices Panielli & Trotter who will certify the matter of qualified to participate in the seelement program. It apperars that the very earliest of the first disbursement will not take place before the end of this calendar year.We to recieve funds from GSK and be able to disburse the first half of the funds in the fisrt half of 2013…. So, it has went from the end of 2012 to know the middle of 2013 what next the end of 2014 ?!?! NO AMOUNT of MONEY is going to resovle the problmes that my husband has due to the medication if you ask me GSK should be CLOSED DOWN !!!

Elizabeth
We all need answers?

joe
What do you mean you took the medication a long time ago. When did you start taken avandia and when did you stop. When was you medical incident. These dates are important. Let me know

joana
we all have been lied to,regarding attorneys their so-called secretarys/reception/etc/.depending what attorneys tell them to say i assume.There is one thing for sure i am calling attorney generals office and take this to the bar association. I WANT O KNOW MORE THESE CRAZIES, THE WAY THIS IS HANDLED IS UNETHICAL/ UNPROFFESIONAL/ THERE IS ONE LESSON TO BE LEARNED, NEVER HIRE A FIRM THAT YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF AND ARE IN TEN-BUCK TWO. BUT THEY CAN BE FOUND, HEY I HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE, LETS SEE WHAT THEY HAVE.

Elizabeth
Well we”re in to another year?I wonder how long this one is going to be.You know some of us would like to see our settlements before we die…….They said the end of the year well its gone now what?Febuary?Lets see what next?

johnnie
i had a heart attack in 2010 i signed up with a law firm in ct ,they pushed me off on another firm in del. every time i spoke with someone it was were working on it. two years later now its i took the medication to long ago .bogus i was at work had a small stroke swoll up all over call my doctor when i got home he sent the ambulance to me.now i have a stint in my heart.can someone help me.

RC
I would like to point this out to everyone, lawyers cannot charge any interest to anyone’s settlement money. They are only suppose to take they’re 40%. If they take any interest from our settlement I’m suing them & reporting them to the bar in they’re state.

joe
Cary, Be glad that you got your settlement. At least now you know where you stand. The 20% that was held back, you will get if you have no liens. For some folks, they got 20% within 6-12 months, some folks have been waiting a few years. This varies from case to case and lawyer to lawyer. Like I said, you know what your getting, Some people have been waiting 4-5-6 years and still don’t know what the settlement offer is.

Cary
After receing my settlement check I was told 20% was being witheld for possible no-govermental claims and 10% for possible adjustments that might be made on other settlements. I was told 4 months ago this would be settled by the end of the year but the lastest is it may be months.

joe
It really varies. I know some folks who sign the settlement letter and got it within 6 months, I know some folks who sign over a year ago and are still waiting..

Laura
Yes Joe the settlement offer was o.k. No one died or anything just had a stint put in. But iur attouney said that the insurance and everything with the attourneys was included in the settlement. How long after you sign befor you get a check. He is saying February. Is that true?

Elizabeth
Lets all start an interest on the firms that is holding the money..I have Clark,Burnett,Love……I am going to call them next week and tell them I am going to take them to court for lieing to us all..You know they have made alot of interest on the money already and why should they get their money and we get nothing…………..and for sure they have been paid and here we all sit with nothing and have lost love ones over Avandia and we ourselves are suffering from the drug..So what is the hold up on it all……Lets fine some answers?

joyce
robert robert or bob i agree with you

joyce
got my letter yesterday,it should have said i am glad you die this way here we know the kids will take anything,this is my letter wehave worked diligently through the course of this year to provide glaxo smith kline(gsk) the medical records and other materials require to allow for the allocation of settlement,this process also requires gsk’s review and approval of the information submitted i say unfortunately because gsk has not worked as quickly in its reviews of the material we have submitted as we have ,worked to provide gsk those materials.if it had , i likely would have written this letter to inform you that we have met our internal projection to allocate settlement fundsby the end of this year.as things stand,i am writting this letter to give you disappointing news that our allocationsof settlement funds is not likely to happen before febuary i wish i had better news for you,particularly this time of the year.if wehad the ability toquicken the gsk review process,we would do it,what i cab promiseyou is that we will move with lightning speed to allocate settlements fund as soon as that process is complete until then we ask for your continued and patience and understanding now this letter means to me at least 2 more yrs or until death which isn’t that far away and mine started in the 90’s ,yes my friends i lost every thing and even my digneyty,i cry alot now for everthing i work so hard for is all gone ,paid for the plot,stone now creamation little by little and all the little shit and thats not even a service or may i will bill it gsk i wish yo all the best and it took a long time to type this going blind now i wasnt a good typest any way

Elizabeth
I still have not recieved anything since I had to have some papers notarized…Where is our money..We all need it now….Not after we die from Avandia..I have had blood clots in both lungs 2 heart attacks and my husband died 11/29/2007 from a massive heart attack from Avandia….I also have Copd too…….They are sitting there drawing interest on our money so why can”t we get interest on what they owe us…….We all need answers…………Merry Christmas

robertdrobert
my attnys are clark burnett love and lee–iam starting to think they change their names and chairs monthly i have never once been called by thease people or sent any kind of progress report unless i called first and then recieved what i consider a (canned) answer, however lately there has been a change up each one i talk to tells me something different now after years of thisundecifferable bullshit i have decided to fire thease people at the end of the month iam not getting paid why should they! iam at my witts end this has been a farce from start to finish the avandia corp should be dragged kicking and screaming into a court and forcrd to pay their damages and all their money and assets seized until all people are paid in full. and attorneys pay should be reduiced 1% every 90 days it takes to reach a settlement politicans got their pay off of 3 billion ill bet no hesitation there iam turning my unpaid award over to a collection agency and see where that takes me perhaps all of us should band togather and fire all our attorneys and reconsolidate under one banner to assert political voting pressure, one attorney to fast track all our settlements iam sure we are all sick to death of all the crap thats been going on—bob

Ann
Needless to say things are still be held up and we know it’s not the lawyers but it sure does feel that way when NO ONE Has any answer for us keep getting the run around and at one point was told that my husband would not recieve any money at all .. but then 3 months later he gets a letter for him to sign to get things in order for him to recieve his money… CONFUSSED !!! My husband recieved a letter in the mail to sign back in Aug. 2012 telling him that in 4 months he will recieve a settlement half in the 4 month period and the rest at a later time. Well, noq he recieved a letter telling him that he may recieve money by the end of this year or the middle of the year….

Cary
It takes about four years to settle. You get an offer that explains how the settlement was figured. Tey deduct Lawyers fees 33% up and insurance paybacks and 10% that might be refunded. You may get the check within a month of signing the settlement

joe
Laura, are you happy with the offer. What was your medical incident.

Laura
We got a settlement offer and the attourney doesnt get more than 40%. The attourney fees are included in that 40%. They don’t get anymore than that . So however long it takes to get a check they still get the same. The attourney want to get this done as mujch as we do. They are trying to get this done.

Charlotte
My husband passed away 4-8-08. He had been taking Avandia since 2000. He suffered numerous strokes and a fatal heart attack on 04.08.08. I was told by the attorneys office that he was accepted and I should get a letter in June 2012. I waited until August and called them again. They advised that I should get a letter in August. On 09.18.12 I called again and they gave me the number to call their litigation dept. I called them on that date and they advised me that they were waiting on the defense to review the case and did not know when the letter would go out. That is where it is for now.

Elizabeth
I was wondering if anyone has gotten anything from these law suits..I called mine the other day and she told me in February but the other told me by Christmas…Honestly I think there is nothing out there for us all…What a shame to lead people on and send them a letter at what they should recieve and then all the pay backs like Medicare which we paid for that…I think we all need to know what is going on …If we are approved then send us our money..God bless and Merry Christmas

richard
Has anyone got paid yet? Got a settlement offerthat we had to sign. How long afterwards does it take to get your check? How does it come? Mail or direct deposit?

joe
If you can, DO NOT TAKE THESE LOANS. they are just a legal loans sharking. What is good about it that they find out but will not tell you what your eyeball settlement will be. Base on what they say that they give you, the more you will get from your settlement. General rule of thumb, from 1/3 to 1/2 they give you of what you are entitled from your settlement. What happen from that moment on is that they compound the interest right away. If you don’t get paid for another 2-3 years, you might own them more then what you were loaned.

Laura
How does these settlement loans work? We was told to call back on Wednesday. What do they look for? Does anyone know?

Rick
I took Avandia for 2 yrs… then had a mini stroke.. then a major heart atack in 2007… I’m living with 22% of my heart. Had another stroke Dec 26, 2011. I lost use of my right hand and arm for 6months… Had my left illiac artery replaced last summer, as well as I am now living with a defib/pacemaker. Thanks alot Avandia…. for ruining my life. I just hope I live long enough to at least get the money to pay for my death expenses so my family doesn’t have to…. It’s Sad isn’t it,,, that I have to wait to get the money to bury me, from a lawsuit against the drug company that basiclly will be the cause of my death. I live from day to day just appreciating every day I’m allowed to wake up. I also was told in August, that settlements would be made within 4 months. Thats the last I’ve heard from anyone. None of us are getting compensated for what we’ve gone through…. except the laywers!! I wish Peace to all of You who have also suffered from this horrible drug we were tricked into buying with false claims. I hope we all make it to the new year and many years beyond. I am 55, and would sure love to see my grandchildren grow up.

Sheba
Many settlement letters were received on the 4th week of August 2012. The letter stated that a very small percentage of the settlements will be delivered and received in 4 months which will be the last week in December 2012. Additional settlement owed might take up to 1 or 2 years which is too long. Will this money be put in a non-barring interest account or an interest account?

sheba
I received information today that my state ( Tennessee) has been awarded a little over 3 million dollars from GSK. My dad passed away from Advandia and we are a part of the lawsuite. Are we also entitled to some of the money GSK has awarded the state? Remibusement for funeral expenses and hospital bills. Can someone advise?

phyllis
I’m very sorry for all of you that are suffering from taking this drug, but be thankful you are still here to Bitch about it. I see that so many people have died from it. That includes my 56yr old husband of 35yrs. , he didn’t survive his heart attack. My life + dreams are over. All because they keep releasing these DRUGS WAY TO SOON ! Look at all the recalls on TV. That alone tells you there is a BIG PROBLEM. The FDA is not doing there job obviously, and people are dying because of it. It’s all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Good luck everyone

Laura
has anyone heard anything yet?

Laura
Has anybody got paid yet? They keep saying by the end of the year. But aren’t you suppose to get a letter before you get a check. And we hnav.en’t got either. We have the attourney from Denver

Elizabeth
Has anyone heard anything from these people…I know they have drawed a lot of interest over these years and why can”t we get a response…I think they should settle..I got a thing they go by age…What difference does age have to do with you having health problems the rest of your life……T here is not many days till the end of the year?I wonder what their next answer will be……..When hell frezzes over…It is time for them to get off the pot and pay us guys?????

Richard
I got last offer 13,000 so we would end up with 8,000..No Dr. Bent Over not finsh he wants you to turn your head the other way and cough when it hurts less 4,000 after court fileing charges.For this I had 2 strokes,2 lesion on back my brain.then the lesion causes infartion Ihad 4 to 6 of these.You don’t what going on I gone to 1980s. my last one kathy my wife got scared when I seem to not know her full name Could not dress my self.so off to er when this infartion your brain has to reboot.back to live action father day they toss all rules out.Last thing I remember asking when last time I had pee so the tube up penis I filled one and half bags kidneys bladder were shut down I could not answer any question Next freeze frame nurse told me glad you are back what day is it.I told mon.wrong thur lost three days.Kathy was their worn out hair a mess look 10 years older She was happy I know who she tears were wielding up in her eyes as we talk.Here she endured another is going to make 6times since 2005 on top all this avanda causes b12 shortage i now have c.i.d.p.rare nerve disease like ms but to help slow down its effects 2 infusion a month 25,000 each month275,000 dollars so settlement is turn down it is ainsult to my loving family and to me 5 yrs disable now july 3 was out of hospital a month there 10 days just getting back remembering who Ricard was. lets take this to face book tweet it gsk can not have 10s of thousand victims times10 to get how many others are effected .The memoirs are dark ,cold empty because some resreach was not followed through or greed made some one to rush it market but lawyers other rodents eat it up leaves us the bones no meat.no mercy for consumers that pays their corp.millions every day.they can not help a women that lost their mate house cars savings and the kids don’t get me started I was in insurance and my wife is in subrogate for regional office 35 years.gsk is cover ed by insurance.lets get this out the internet get together demand meets power in numbers .I know times are hard but don’t sell your family short they are irrreplaceable gsk needs to understand for those who lost love ones.fare settlement for disablity my salary 45,000 times 13 years I loss working 2007 my age 52 thur 2020 age 65yrs. 45,000 times13 years will be 585,0000 3750 a week for 13 years pain or suffering included in this way seems fair but every case is another life number of dependents.let let the light of our laps expose gsk how it takes care of consumer now we are vicitms they don’t give s—t we are just numbers that effects the bottom line.A case like ours should be used as guide we just need to been seen as humans and lives that need to go on and try to heal the feelings of lost ones .

Elizabeth
I was told that the settlements would be paid by the end of the year….But the end of the year could be never…….My husband died from taking Avandia and myself have major problems from Avandia…I bet they take all the money and we will none of us will get nothing….You know they are drawing interest on the money they claim to pay the planitiffs but who knows ……I wish us all luck,,,,,and I hope it was not a waste of our time either..

Viola
I have read some posting concerning the Avandia Lawsuit. I got my letter in March 2012 from my attorney. Well what turn out to be several months b4 hearing from the Garretson Group has now bcome 10 months. I wonderful when I started having chest pain and pulmonary problems where the doctors covering up the fact about the whole Avandia medicine being harmful if you took this medicine. ( Who knows). Well all I know is this having breathing problems and having to carry around Nitro Glycerin is something I never expected to be in this lifetime of mine. For the people that have lost loved ones and for the people (including myself) that have medical conditions for the rest of their lives. TRUST IN THE LORD. ALSO MAY THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES REST IN PEACE. Money can’t replace your love ones but it sure does help when you r not being screwed. Thank you for letting me vent. Sincerely v.y.

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