Johnson & Johnson Faces 33 Tendon Rupture Lawsuits Involving Levaquin

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According to court documents filed in the Levaquin MDL, Johnson & Johnson currently faces at least 33 tendon rupture lawsuits involving their popular antibiotic. However, that number will likely grow substantially over the next few months, as Levaquin lawyers throughout the country continue to investigate hundreds of other cases.

A formal status conference was held on October 17, 2008, before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim who is coordinating the litigation that was recently centralized in a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) in the District of Minnesota four months ago.

There are 30 Levaquin tendon rupture lawsuits that have already been transferred to the MDL, and Johnson & Johnson also faces at least three more cases that have been filed in various state courts, according to minutes from the conference released by the Court yesterday.

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Levaquin is an antibiotic used for the treatment of upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, prostatis and other bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, and has been associated with tendon toxicity and an increased risk of tendon ruptures, most frequently involving the Achilles tendon.

At the status conference, the parties and the court discussed the anticipated scope of the MDL, pretrial orders on various case procedures, the discovery plan and the process for selecting bellwether cases, which will be the first Levaquin lawsuits prepared for trial.

In pharmaceutical lawsuits and other complex litigation, the first cases to go through discovery and trial are referred to as “bellwether” cases, since they are selected to be representative of the issues that will be presented throughout the litigation.

As we reported on Monday, lawyers for individuals who have suffered ruptured tendons have urged the court to front load the early discovery with eight cases that were filed directly in Minnesota, which would allow the cases to be tried before the court that is overseeing the MDL. However, Johnson & Johnson’s lawyers have sugested that insufficient information has been provided about those cases to judge whether the Minnesota Levaquin cases would be the most appropriate bellwether trials.

 
According to the Minutes from the conference, the Court directed the plaintiffs to provide fact sheets on all eight cases providing basic information to the defendants. Johnson & Johnson will then need to provide the Court with a counter proposal concerning bellwether trials and a plan for case-specific discovery.

At this early stage of the litigation, it is unclear how many lawsuits will ultimately be filed in the MDL, and it often takes several years for cases of this nature to resolve. Personal injury lawyers are actively advertising for individuals who have suffered Levaquin tendon ruptures.

Tags: Achilles Tendon, Johnson & Johnson, Levaquin, Tendon Rupture
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9 Comments

melanie
Also I still have my sinus infection.
melanie
I was prescribed Leviquin 750mg for a sinus infection on 12/24. 3 days later my right foot was in excruiating pain. I saw my doctor on the fifth day and she said to stop taking it but it was only for 5 days so I had finished the Leviquin. I went back to her 3 weeks later and could hardly walk – my foot, my joints my left calf and my left arm felt like it was coming out of my socket. I told her and she said that the antibotic should of left my system already and I needed to get exercise. I went to the phamacist and she said that the Leviquin should of left my body in 5 days. Who are these health care people. Why even tell them. I reread the warnings on the information about Leviquin and in the bottom area it said my cause tendon problems, thats when I looked up this website. I am still in pain but can walk now after amonth but only after doing liver cleanses, drinking lots of water, cranberry juice, clay water and soaking in tubs of epsom salt every day for 6 weeks.
David
I’ve taken Levaquin in Feb, April, Sept. of 2009. and several weeks later, I felt much stiffness and pain while raising my right arm above my head. I went to my orthopedic specialist in Nov. 2009 and he indicated that I have inflammation/tendonitis in in the rotor cuff area. The Xray confirmed the condition the specialist recommended medication and therapy which I followed up on this. Presently, I am still suffering from this condition.
judy
I have been taking simcor for approximately 1 year. I was found to have two ruptured tendons in my right foot. I required surgery, done on october 1, 2009, to repair this condition. I had no recent injury to cause this.
eddy
This has been happening for years. What are the statue of limitations. For those that have been using drugs like this for years, how far back can be compensated?
Brenda
Confirmed by my orthopedic surgeon this morning that I have tendonitis/tennis elbow.
Brenda
I know the pain you are going through. I took Levaquin from July 24 – July 28, 2009. Two hours after I took it, excruciating pain all through my body. I thought this was from having bronchitis, pneumonia, an ear and sinus infection. I am stiffl and can barely walk, my right knee hurt so bad last week, this week it is my right arm tendons. I see my ortho doc tomorrow. My GP prescribed it and is saying it is arthritis that is temporary.
Sarah
I am a 66 year old patient with COPD. Otherwise I was very healthy and strong. I was prescribed levequin twice for lung infection. I was taking the drug during a vacation to the Bahamas, when on Sept 26, 2008 my right heel begen to hurt. The pain became excruciating, the t 7, 2009foot, ankle and leg became swollen and inflamed. The next day the left ankle started the same pain and swelling. The ankles and foot where bruised under the swelling and it was too painful to walk. I came home in a wheel chair.. My Doctor misdiagnoised, saying it was nothing more than fluid retension. Gave me a persciption for a diuretic and sent me on my way. I bought a cane, still in excruciating pain, and went to Maine for a week. The pain was so bad, I returned home with no energy to walk from the couch to a chair. I went to my pulmonary Doctor who called an ambulance to take me to the Hospital accross the street. I had Neumonia. 11 days in the Hospital bed with attention to my lungs did not releave the leg and ankle pain. An exray was taken and a test for blood clots were done with good outcome. On the 10th day a neurologist was sent in to look at me. I went to his office after release from the Hospital. I was checked and found not to have a nuerological problem, but he and his partner suspected ruptured achilles tendons. I was sent for an MRI, diagnosed with boot achilles tendon ruptured. The surgery was done on the right leg December 2008, nursing home and rehab. The surgery on the left on Feb 13, 2009. I contracted a staff infection (mersa) and went thru the wound care process and a skin graff. I just began to walk in May 2009. After 7 months it is still very painful. Hopefully rehab will let me walk better, HOWEVER Nothing will be able to replace the lung capacity I lost during this terrible time. I intend to get an attorney. I think I deserve my bills to be paid, plastic surgery on my scared legs and all opportunities to participate in stem cell research as one of the subjects with COPD.
Pat
My husband has has 3 tendon issues since 2006.

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