Settlement of Avandia Lawsuits Reached in About 10,000 More Cases

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GlaxoSmithKline has reportedly agreed to pay $460 million to settle Avandia lawsuits filed by about 10,000 more people. The agreement comes as two FDA advisory committees have begun meeting to debate whether the controversial diabetes drug should be recalled from the market. 

The Avandia settlement was leaked to Bloomberg News the same day as the committees of independent advisors to the FDA were hearing evidence about the heart risks of Avandia that were the subject of the injury suits.

The settlement would resolve the majority of the outstanding Avandia lawsuits that have been filed against GlaxoSmithKline alleging that they failed to warn about the increased risk of heart attacks and other potentially life-threatening heart problems with Avandia.

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Sports-Betting-Addiction-Lawsuits

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.

Speculation regarding the likelihood of an Avandia recall has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks, as more and more information about the Avandia heart problems has been released in advance of the FDA advisory committee meetings. Last week, the FDA released data showing that agency drug reviewers were conflicted over the drug’s benefits and risks, with some of them indicating that data Glaxo has touted as establishing Avandia’s safety is unreliable.

The proposed settlement of Avandia lawsuits allegedly range between $46,000 to $70,000, depending on the particulars and severity of the claims.

GlaxoSmithKline PLC currently faces about 13,000 Avandia lawsuit claims 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. Therefore, the reported settlement would resolve the majority of cases currently pending. However, some Avandia lawyers are continuing to investigate and review new cases for individuals who continued to use the medication in reliance on GlaxoSmithKline’s misleading reassurances that the diabetes drug was safe.

In recent months, GlaxoSmithKline has reached Avandia settlements in about 5,700 other lawsuits, with reports suggesting that the value of some Avandia cases averaged about $86,000.


980 Comments


Josh
Thanks for the info Russell. Pretty sad that we all have to rely on a website/webpage to get updated info on this whole thing, when our lawyers should be the ones keeping us informed. First I’ve heard that there was a Dec 31st “deadline”. That tells me, we might not see anything for another 2 yrs…..Unbelieveable how bad these lawyers/firms have dropped the ball on this. I might have to call and threaten to walk away too.

Russell
Filed with a Texas Firm in 2008, Every call I receive or get answered is by interns who ask for the exact same info over and over, although it was send multiple times, it seems they are to lazy or incompetent to look it up in my file. Finally received conformation all was received and filed on the deadline of Dec. 31 2013.Calls now state waiting upon a decision by Arbritration judge. Was so flustered wanted out at one point, they quickly found what they wanted then and begged me to stay on board..

Pat
Another 4 years, and I am still waiting to hear the results of all this…..3/4/2014

no name
tried too call the call center in cal those p00r have no clue as toowhat is going on then I call the young laddie n newyork every day for three weeks now she will not answer her phone if any one has any idear as too what is going on

Josh
So, any updates, or has anyone received a check within the last 2-3 months? I bet the excuses are still flowing w/these attorneys. I can’t get a call back from mine. Maybe it’s time to call the bar assoc. and let them step in

jenna
the latest we heard from lawyers was that some judge in California (a bankrupt state) was handling the payouts. So if the lawsuit has been settled is California earning interest on the monies? We have been waiting for 4 years and our original attorney is not even involved anymore. Guess they got their share and have moved on to other lawsuits! The clerk that we call is of no help and I guess she gets her paycheck regardless of how fast she works. I, however, cannot work because of all the problems this “drug” caused me. The clerk did say that they had paid one case off, but only because that patient had died. I guess I will have to wait until I die before we get ours settled. I did not want to sound negative but the justice system is slow depending on how low on the ladder you are!

Glenn
Whats the point in posting something that happened a year ago? we all know that the lawers made out in this. But you can’t do anything without them. I have been in this for almost 7 years now and am about a week or two from my finial check. As far as im concerned it’s found money. If I didn’t pick up the phone and call a number on a TV add I never would have given this Avandia thing a thought Good luck to all and hope you get what you want out of this. I did

Scott
Reuters, June 30, 2013. Last week, the court-appointed mediator in the consolidated Avandia marketing and product liability litigation against GlaxoSmithKline informed U.S. District Judge Cynthia Ruff of Philadelphia that 58 plaintiffs’ firms in the case have agreed to an allocation plan for $143.75 million in common-fund fees. As mediator Bruce Merenstein of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis described the process, nine law firms objected to the initial allocation plan proposed by judge Rufe-appointed fee committee. After a dozen phone calls and 15 in-person sessions over the last few months, members of the fee committee adjusted their own take to bring the objectors on board. In the final allocation outlined in Merenstein’s report, the biggest share of the common fees, $22.6 million, will go to Reilly Pozner. Wagstaff & Cartmell is in line for $17.2 million; Andrus Hood & Wagstaff for $14.7 million; and Miller & Associates and Heard Robins Cloud & Black for more than $10 million. The Miller firm was an objector to the original allocation plan, but all of the other firms looking at eight-figure awards from the common fund were on the fee committee. Keep in mind that the common-fund fees are on top of whatever contingency fees the plaintiffs’ firms will receive as a share of their clients’ settlements with GSK over the diabetes drug. Rufe ordered last October that all of the plaintiffs in thousands of settled (and later-settled) cases must pay 6.25 percent of their settlements into a common fund to compensate the lawyers who worked on behalf of all Avandia plaintiffs in the consolidated litigation. If you do the math, that reflects a total of $2.3 billion in Avandia settlements by GSK (Judge Rufe doesn’t cite the total but based her order on an aggregated estimate calculated by a plaintiffs’ expert.)

LyndaLou
Its been years since I filed my claim. now its been sent to many different lawyers and . now they said they are waiting on all these firms to send them back a paper saying they did not pay me any money. Im now dieing from this Avandia med. I had diabetes and after taking this med I had 2 heart attacks and 13 stints, 5 bi passes.. one of the stints got into the heart and is blocking a valve. My kidneys is stopping , my pancreius is stopping. and my liver too. I wanted to see my money and pay off all my bills before I pass from this world. Im so disappointed by the way this is being handled. Can any one tell me what to do about this. I called then she says the same thing every time, Keep waiting. it could tack 3 to 5 yrs my email don’t work so .

Maxi
Hello everyone. We received a partial check in February 2013. on or about May 2013 we received a form to sign so they could evaluate us for insurance liens. We were persistent in making phone calls twice a month. During this time one attorney got hostile and stated that they had not been paid and they wanted their money too! Finally we were told in December 2013 that all paper work had to be turned into court by December 31 2013 which means they turn in paperwork at the very last minute! Spoke to someone on January 14, 2014 (week ago) and was told that every thing has been completed and now the are waiting on court to ok release. I feel it will be very soon.

tanner
We received a check last week for 33.33% of the original settlement offer. Glad the lawyers can retire early. Glad to finally have this past us and we can close probate.

Rashion
My dad died in 2008 from heart attack leaving 13 children behind. He. Was never married, we sent the. Award letter back last year, called today and they said r more. Months and call back then. We are upset to have to split 48000, 13 ways and even more upset. Because they will only speek to 1 or 2 siblings. My brother signed for us on. Our behalf in which they shouldn’t have accepted but they did, so now my other siblings and I can come forward to sue on our own, they have our names but just his signature. That’s illegal. We feel his death wasn’t worth 48000, its. Not about the money but when you look at the settlement and ask why they are taxing all 13 kids one at a time when you would think they would just tax it once is unnaceptable. Our hands are tied. Pissed.

mike
merry christmas and happy new year to yall, I guess we will see another year of BULL S**T form the company and these lawyers i’m 62 and I know I will never see a penny of this money, but I have another attorney that will take over after i’m gone. don’t give up make them pay my friends…..

Josh
MLou- Have you heard from anyone else who’s received a check yet? Has anyone out there received a check yet(besides Tammy and MLou)?

mlou
Josh ~ It was the partial check, they said about another year for the next one..but we were glad to finally get the first one. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Joe ~ We will have a nice Christmas, hope you do too, thanks! I hope yours comes real soon too…everyone has to hang in there, maybe this is just the start of the rest to come…good luck to everyone!!!

Josh
Congrats MLou! So G&K FINALLY came through for someone? very cool. Nothing from my end, like i said, I can;t even get them to return my calls anymore. Was it just the partial check, or was it for the full amount? Oh well, there’s always 2017

joe
Please, have a nice Christmas. Don’t forget to treat yourself.

mlou
got my check on Wed. registered mail finally!!!! ..good luck to everyone, I hope they’re all on their way!

Josh
Hi Tammy! So, any good news, did you finally get a check from them?(MLou, did you get something?) I hope we all do soon. Hi Sharon! I agree. But with these lawfirms, I don’t believe anything they say. They’ve lied to us for so long, and dropped the ball so bad on this, i don;t believe they’ll ever be able to fix it. I still have a letter from Sept 2012 claiming we’d “definitely be getting $$$ in Dec 2012”, only to hear in that month(when it didnlt happen)”Sorry, we’re looking toward the first part of 2013″…Guess what came and went and nothing? Then it was “We hope to begin paying out in the summer of 2013”, again guess what happened? You guessed it, NOTHING. I sure hope they send something to someone, and stop jerking everyone around because of their blatant screwups. I’ve decided to go forward with a potential lawsuit against these “lawyers”, for a number of things. lets see how these douchebags like that.

no name
congrats Tammy, who is your lawyer? and who was your health insurance with at the time of incident? As I understand once you are clear from medical you have to sign another settlement letter and then its 30 days after you sign that.. true?

Josh
Hi Lydia! I sure hope both you and MLou are right, and that this $$$ is “released” and that we’ll start seeing something very soon. Again, I’m not holding my breath, and won’t believe anything till I see the check in my hand. Also, who is your law firm? I hope we all have a good christmas with this latest news.

Tammy
Talked to my lawyer’s office Friday and they gave me a tracking number for the funds on my holdback pay. Tracked it and supposed to arrive tomorrow11/12/2013.

Lydia
My lawyers have also confirmed that the money has been released but now they tell me that the Garrison group will not release mine until the VA says it they have a claim. When I asked about the 90 days that insurance could stake a claim I was told that because the VA is government they do not have to follow the same rules. If they take part of it then after lawyers fees and expenses I will probably not get the second part of my settlement. Sad that we where victims of the drug in one way or another and now victims of all the people that jumped on for their share of the money. Feeling alittle bitter.

Josh
Mlou-Haven’t heard that, where did you if I may ask? whenever i call the douches never even return my calls, nothing. Like I’ve said many many times: I’ll believe it when I have it in my hands. Please let us know if you get yours. Scott, good for you, and I don’t blame you one bit. Im contemplating suing my firm as well. I certainly will never recommend them to anyone.

sharon
Josh, I really hope you are correct. Called my law firm on Monday, and I haven’t even gotten a call back. So If they went out on the 11/05/2013. maybe we will get some financial relief

Scott
I was one of the first to file (2005) My attorneys don’t call. I get letters maybe once a year. If I call them it’s like it’s a major inconveance to them. Many of us are going on the ten year mark, and I have heard every excess they can muster/make up. I signed my settlement papers for over $200K but it’s taking so long that I have about $50K in loans. Then Judge Rufe gives the attorneys $22.6 to $10 Million just for representing us. Then the attorneys are still taking 40% + court fees of 6.2%? WHY? When we hired them what was their job? I have found out that I can sue the law firm; for all these delay’s and plan on going for one hell of allot more then $200K

mlou102
just heard checks went out yesterday, 11/05/2013..heard this from the lawyers office…anyone else get this info yet? ( Josh?? )

Josh
Has anyone heard anything, or received anything lately? I have this strange feeling there’ll be MORE BS coming our way, via the lawyers, on when they’ll start paying out. These lawyers sure know how to shuck and jive their way through all this. I hope we hear something after the first of the year, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

don
When I was given the first payment for this Avandia settlement I was informed they had taken 10% off the top of the settlement to fund errors that may have been made. This 10% was to be distributed after all is settled and paid. Prior to the 10% I was to paid the insurance hold-back and the amount from my appeal. It has been one year and still no hold-back or appeal money but I was blown away by getting the 10% amount today. I am very grateful and hope this indicates that the hold-back and appeal money is near being released. Hope all is better for others who are waiting as well.

Sharon
Can anyone tell me when the insurance hold backs will be released. Received a letter May, 2013 stated the process, according to the letter it would be 90 days. well we are into September, call my law firm today and they still have no clue. have anyone had this problem on the insurance hold backs.

Nut
When a court orders payment that is when we might get it, after all appeals have been exhausted.

Randy
to those saying they got award letters … ? from who, for how much, and when are you supposed to get money .. been 4 yrs since I joined this process ..

Sallie
I got my award letter on Friday and sent it back, all signed, right away. I sent it certified so I know the lawyers got it back. My sister died after a stroke, Cardiac Arrest was on her death certificate. However, they (GSK) would not accept the heart attack. They only accepted the stoke, which is the lowest “points” you can get to receive any sort of damages. After everything is said and done, there is only enough to get a gravestone for her grave. Thank you, Galaxo-Smith Kline!

mlou
rkypta – thanks for setting me straight… but it still stinks LOL

rkypta
‘@ mlou. . . This isn’t a “Class Action” that is where everyone shares the money equally. I think it would be better for all of us if it was. No, this is a “”Torte” suit. . . Just thought I would clear that up for you.

Sharon
My husband got his award letter yesterday and we sent it back in today. Didn’t get what we hoped for but we are pleased with anything the Lord allows us to have. We are thankful for everything. Just don’t know when to expect any money to come thru. Hopefully not long. Keep you informed.

Randy
this is all a damn joke … 3 heart attacks later ,,, not a damn thing ,,, kill someone and get life … get killed and get not a damn thing … hey there GSK … you are a damn joke … make them take thier own medicine ,,, sounds fair to me … wonder why people go postal ???? you killed thier familys … hey GSK … what is your life worth … maybe all of us should make an offer … we’ll pay you someday …. worthless assholes

Rhonda
My husband had chef after taking Avandia.He also was diagnosed with a head tumor and is loosing his vision because of Avandia.He has been mislead flat out lied to by his so called Attorneys you know the ones on TV! First after 1 year he got a letter telling him he would get a $35,500 settlement of which they would take $25,000.Well he would get it soon they said.Then he got another letter saying it would be a little longer.This has gone on for 3 years!Finally I called them and the lady said Oh, we are just getting g ready to send him a check the 1st of June this year,OK No check and it is September we called them again and my husband told the lady if he did not get results by October1 that he was getting him a lawyer and sue them.Well he got a letter a few days later saying he was not getting his settlement,he did not get sick within 1 year of going off the drug,good God Avandia has nearly killed him made him disabled and we have lost everything what do we do now he will surely die from this and he has no insurance. God, please help us all.

Rhonda
My husband had chef and had to go on disability because of avandia,he got a letter from his fine California and NewYork Attorneys saying he was going to receive a settlement in 2011. so we waited and called and was told they were sending him a check June 2013! He called them a week ago and they lied again.Then this week he got a letter saying. He did not get sick within 30 days to 1 year so he wasn’t getting anything! How. Can these blood sucking con artist get away with this why didn’t they tell him he missed the deadline on getting sick instead of leading him on for nearly 3 years, we are devastated.

mlou
Talked to Lawyers office today, said it will be at least another 4 mos…that will take us into 2014… I think we ALL need to find ONE LAWYER out there willing to look into this and help us ALL!!! I wonder what would happen if I would just ask to pull us out of this Settlement completely! I am really thinking about it, then the Lawyer wouldn’t be making anything on it either, would they? Sure wish we had some attnys. out there willing to tell us if this is all on the up and up…is this really how it goes with Class Action Suits???? Anyone out there who can give us some honest answers about how this is being handled? thanks!

mike
my friends we need to all get together and demand to the courts that something be done and done NOW. I am writeing to you on my death bed I hope you all the best..

Sallie
I called my lawyer today and they told me that the my sister, whose death certificate says the cause of death is “Cardiac Arrest”, is too general and that GSK lawyers disqualified it as worthy of payment. However, her stroke 4 months earlier was accepted at a lower score. I have to prove that she had a heart attack before she died – EKG, lab tests, etc. to prove she had been “damaged” by Avandia. The hieracy of payment is: heart attack (most) to stroke (least). More hoops to go through for – what? I will have to hunt down old medical records and have them sent to the lawyers to prove damage. What a run around! Will there be money enough to buy a cup of coffee? I doubt it…

Maryann
How long before u get your check from this company my lawyer said they will sent a check.. Hope it isn’t another 5 years..There should b a time limit on these cases..

mike h
I HAVEN,T SEEN OR HEARD JACK SQUAT IN OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. i HAVE SENT LETTERS AND CALLED MY LAWYERS OFFICE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. NOW YOU CAN’T EVEN GET A KISS MY A** from them. i’m like you I think this is a SCAM!!!!!!!!!

son of deceased mother
my sister and I got first check last may(2012) lawyer said holdback would be coming before the end of 2012 still haven’t gotten anything lawyer said hold up is gsk lawyer their law firm is elias gamin that’s representing gsk they are the one dragging their feet our lawyers said that’s all they are waiting on so there’s still hope my mom only had medicare which have already cleared her liens to them

Ron
We have been getting the run-a-round for some time now. First it was that we’d receive the award letter last April. Then in Jan, 2013 we got the new letter stating that there had to be a check for liens, etc. I called them them and they said I should receive the Award letter in April 2013, no letter. . . Then they said June. . .No letter, now in August 2013, we are being told that the letters were to be mailed 5-6 weeks ago. . .I sure didn’t get it. How much money do you think is being collected in interest with their account? They keep stalling I feel, just so the interest will balance out what they pay out! I am fed up with promises they make and I am about to snd a letter to the Honorable Judge and ask her how long they are going to be able to keep stalling?

crackednut
Has anyone received anything, First check second check holdback ,anything from Avandia case?z

Josh
I’ll believe it when i see it Sharon, I don’t hold out any hope. I think the whole thing is a scam……..NO ONE can be this incompetent. I doubt these attny’s are working as hard as they claim they are. Good luck seeing anything before 2014(and watch the excuses follow when that doesn’t come to fruition either).

Sharon
Talked to my husband’s attorney’s office last Friday. Said “very soon”. Haven’t seen much on the blog since 08/15/13. We are trying not to get discouraged but just don’t know what to think. I have been calling them every 2 weeks for a couple of months now. Will share any info we get.

mlou
Yes Josh – Talked with them again, ” MAYBE….HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR!! ” That is what she said!!! Then they dropped his settlement in half b/c he had his heart attack shortly after the yr. he came off Avandia.(just told us that) So now he only qualifies for the 8 heart stents he’s had placed from the time he was on the drug, until he had his last heart attack. She also said GSK is very hard to deal with… ‘scuse us…..who did what to who???? I’m done….farce as far as I am concerned!! LAWYERS are the BIG winners here, not us!

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