Yasmin, Yaz Litigation Has Become Largest Pending MDL in United States

The number of lawsuits filed on behalf of women who suffered serious and sometimes fatal injuries due to the side effects of Yaz and Yasmin, continues to grow nationwide, as the consolidated federal court multidistrict litigation (MDL) for the cases has recently surpassed asbestos litigation, to become the largest pending MDL in the United States. 

In October 2009, the federal Yaz and Yasmin litigation was consolidated for pretrial proceedings before U.S. District Judge David R. Herndon in the Southern District of Illinois. At that time, there were 32 complaints pending in different U.S. District Courts, which were transferred into the MDL.

All of the complaints involve similar allegations that Bayer, the maker of the birth control pills, failed to adequately research the medication or provide adequate warnings to consumers and the medical community about the risk of health problems from Yaz and Yasmin.

According to a July 2012 MDL Statistics Report (PDF) released by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, the Yaz MDL has grown to include 8,825 pending actions

With the increased filings over the past 90 day, the Yasmin and Yaz litigation has now surpassed the multidistrict litigation (MDL) established in 1991 for all asbestos lawsuits filed in the federal court system, which is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Out of 308 active MDL dockets pending in the federal court system, the Yaz and Yasmin MDL now has the largest active case load.

Despite Increasing Size, Yaz and Yasmin Settlements Continuing

Although the number Yaz lawsuits and Yasmin lawsuits pending in the MDL is increasing, many cases have been resolved and settlement negotiations are continuing between Bayer and lawyers handling cases across the country.

At a status conference held before Judge Herndon on June 22, it was reported that Yaz and Yasmin settlement agreements had been reached in at least 1,444 lawsuits, and the parties indicated that good faith negotiations are continuing during meetings scheduled throughout the summer and fall.

Small groups of cases are being negotiated on a firm-by-firm basis, after a case-specific analysis of medical records. However, at the same time, lawyers are continuing to review lawsuits for women who have experienced problems with Yaz or Yasmin. Therefore, the number of pending cases in the MDL continues to increase, even as other claims are being resolved.