Effexor Lawsuit Information
Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride) is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI. The FDA approved the drug in 1993 to treat depression. A growing number of Effexor lawsuits now allege the medication fails to adequately warn patients about a risk of serious birth defects. Lawsuits against Effexor are based on allegations that the manufacturer hid the true dangers the drug poses to a developing fetus from doctors, patients, and the FDA.
In February 2012, the first reported Effexor lawsuit sought to recover damages for birth defects that caused the death of the plaintiffs’ infant daughter. The child’s mother alleged that she used Effexor during pregnancy as prescribed by her doctor, and that her daughter suffered fatal congenital heart defects as a result. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged the child suffered hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) including a malformed aorta, no aortic valve, and a malformed mitral valve. The case is entitled Boyer v. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., Case No. 120200832, in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia.
More generally, Effexor lawsuits allege that women of childbearing potential would not have used Effexor during pregnancy had they been accurately informed about the risk of cardiac anomalies and other significant birth defects. A lawsuit against Effexor typically sets forth claims against the manufacturers and distributors for defective design, failure to warn, negligence, fraud, and breach of warranties.
About the Effexor Class Action Lawsuit
Although the drug is widely used, cases involving birth defects are not part of an Effexor class action lawsuit. Rather, each claim is filed as an individual lawsuit. This means that each case is litigated and ultimately resolved by settlement or other means according to the unique facts of each case.
While an Effexor class action lawsuit has not been formed, cases may still be coordinated with one another for certain pretrial purposes. In August 2013, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized all Effexor lawsuits pending in federal courts before Judge Cynthia M. Rufe in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (MDL No. 2458). The Panel assigned the Effexor litigation to Judge Rufe given her experience in complex pharmaceutical mass torts and because defendant Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Philadelphia.
In addition to the coordinated federal action, individual Effexor lawsuits are also pending in various state courts around the country.
Your attorney can advise you on the appropriate jurisdiction and legal strategy after a detailed case evaluation.
Get Your Effexor Lawsuit Case Review
If your family has been affected by birth defects, our experienced Effexor attorneys can evaluate your potential case at no cost. Call (866) 808-2424 or send a message using our online form at any time for a free and confidential review of your case.