Lawsuits Over Levaquin Tendon Problems Filed in Illinois

Two new Levaquin lawsuits have been filed in Illinois by four plaintiffs who say that the popular antibiotic caused them to experience tendon problems. 

The complaints were filed by Lovie Armstrong, Cecil Brown, Darrell Griggs and Bessie Smith on May 18 in Madison County Circuit Court in two different lawsuits over Levaquin tendon problems. The plaintiffs allege that they took Levaquin as an antibiotic and suffered severe tendon damage as a result of the manufacturer’s failure to warn about the potential side effects of Levaquin. Johnson and Johnson, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical and Walgreens have been named as defendants in the cases.

According to allegations raised in the lawsuits, Levaquin was marketed toward elderly patients, who are at the highest risk of developing tendon problems from Levaquin. The plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensation for damages and costs.

Levaquin (levofloxacin) is part of a class of medications known as fluoroquinolones, which was approved by the FDA in December 1996. It is prescribed to prevent infection by stopping the reproduction of bacteria. However, it has also been found to be toxic to the tendons, leading to an increased risk of tendon damage from Levaquin, including debilitating ruptures of the Achilles tendon.

There are hundreds of similar lawsuits over Levaquin tendon problems pending in state and federal courts throughout the country. The federal Levaquin litigation has been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which is centralized before Judge John R. Tunheim in Minnesota.

Earlier this year, six Levaquin lawsuits over tendon damage were designated for early trials in the MDL to help the parties gauge how juries will respond to evidence and testimony that is likely to be presented in hundreds of other similar Levaquin suits. Known as “bellwether” cases, these early trials may help the parties work towards a global Levaquin settlement or other resolution for the litigation.