Author: administrator

A new lawsuit claims Pfizer Inc. did not warn patients about the risk of brain tumors linked to its injectable contraceptive, Depo-Provera. The complaint alleges Pfizer failed to investigate and disclose the risk of developing intracranial meningiomas—a type of brain tumor—linked to Depo-Provera and similar progesterone-based drugs.

Plaintiff seek damages, claiming failure-to-warn, defective design, negligence, and misrepresentation.

Plaintiffs point out that, unlike the U.S., the EU and UK labels now warn of the increased risk of intracranial meningiomas. A 2024 study in the British Medical Journal links prolonged use of medroxyprogesterone acetate medications, like Depo-Provera, to a higher risk of developing this type of brain tumor.

McSweeney / Langevin is providing legal advice regarding these lawsuits.

Patients are filing lawsuits against the manufacturers of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro due to serious side effects, including gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), severe gastrointestinal issues, and other complications. One plaintiff, experienced extreme vomiting, significant weight loss, and a diagnosis of gastroparesis after taking Ozempic. Despite initial denials by doctors of a link to the medication, patients believe the drugs caused their health problems.

GLP-1 agonists, which include these drugs, are widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, yet side effects like nausea, vomiting, and digestive issues are common. Research suggests possible links between GLP-1 drugs and conditions such as gastroparesis, intestinal blockages, and even increased risk of thyroid tumors. Pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, makers of these drugs, argue the side effects are generally mild and temporary, though ongoing lawsuits claim patients were not adequately warned of risks. A Pennsylvania judge is overseeing the cases, and more studies are expected to further clarify the long-term safety of these medications.

A lawsuit accusing social media companies of harming the mental health of Native American youth is front and center in a courtroom on Monday.

The 164-page suit against Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and other platforms was filed earlier this year by several tribal nations, including Minnesota’s Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and two other tribes in the Dakotas.

The lawsuit claims parent companies to some of the most popular social media sites — including Alphabet, ByteDance, Meta and Snap — have violated Minnesota’s laws against public nuisance, negligence, deceptive trade practice and unfair or unconscionable acts.

The allegations include how the social media mammoths failed to disclose or warn users of the negative mental health consequences associated with social media use, especially for children and adolescents.

It also claims the companies knew the longer users are on the platform, the more likely they would be exposed to content that is violent, sexual or encourages self-harm based on the sites’ algorithms.

Recent studies and FDA reports have linked Pfizer’s Depo-Provera birth control shot, containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), to an increased risk of developing meningioma brain tumors. Despite Depo-Provera’s long-standing reputation as a safe contraceptive, a March 2024 BMJ study found women using the shot for one year or longer had a 5.5 times higher risk of meningioma.

Case reports submitted to the FDA since the 2000s have indicated serious outcomes for some Depo-Provera users, including hospitalizations and permanent disabilities. Plaintiffs claim Pfizer did not adequately warn about the risk. Lawyers are now investigating potential lawsuits on behalf of affected women, with free case evaluations available.

Depo-Provera lawsuits allege the contraceptive shot, which contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, may increase the risk of developing meningiomas, a type of brain tumor. Plaintiffs claim Pfizer, the manufacturer, failed to adequately warn users of this risk. Litigation is in its early stages, with no settlements or verdicts yet.
A March 2024 study published in The BMJ found a 5.6-fold increased risk of meningioma among women using Depo-Provera compared to other birth control methods, particularly with long-term use. To qualify for these lawsuits, claimants must have used Depo-Provera or its generic at least twice and have a meningioma diagnosis. Pfizer has acknowledged the potential risk and is updating its product labels accordingly.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing two new lawsuits alleging sexual assault against minors. The first lawsuit claims Combs assaulted a 10-year-old aspiring actor and rapper in 2005, allegedly drugging and assaulting him at a New York hotel. The second lawsuit involves a 17-year-old who claims Combs and a bodyguard assaulted him in 2008 during an audition for the reality show Making the Band.

Combs’ legal team has denied the allegations. Combs also faces separate criminal charges for sex trafficking, racketeering, and coercion, with federal prosecutors alleging he intimidated victims into silence. Combs, held in a Brooklyn jail, awaits his criminal trial scheduled for May 2025.

In an ongoing trial, testimony revealed Monsanto-produced PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls – a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in building materials until they were banned in 1979 due to their toxicity) were “pervasive” across Sky Valley Educational Center in Washington. The scientist presented evidence from multiple rounds of environmental testing, which showed PCBs were found in various areas, including light fixtures, air, and classroom caulking, at levels significantly higher than safety guidelines. The lawsuit involves a student and 14 others, claiming health issues from PCB exposure at the school.
Defense attorneys questioned the reliability of the samples. This case is the tenth in a series related to Sky Valley, and Washington’s Supreme Court recently agreed to review a previous $185 million ruling against Monsanto’s successor, Pharmacia LLC, which has faced over $1.1 billion in verdicts from similar cases. Monsanto was acquired by Bayer AG in 2018.

Two tech industry associations have filed a lawsuit against Florida’s House Bill 3 (H.B. 3), a law that restricts minors’ social media access. H.B. 3, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, bans children under 13 from creating social media accounts and requires parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds. Plaintiffs argue this law infringes on First Amendment rights by limiting access to lawful content and requiring social media platforms to collect sensitive user data, which they say increases data breach risks.

The tech groups claim parents already have sufficient tools to manage their children’s online access without government intervention. They emphasize that while protecting minors online is important, imposing access restrictions and data collection requirements endangers users’ privacy and security. This suit is one of several recent legal actions opposing similar laws across various states recently blocking similar restrictions on First Amendment grounds.

The FDA has issued a safety communication advising against the use of BioZorb Markers, manufactured by Hologic Inc., after the company recalled all unused lots of the device on October 25, 2024. The recall follows reports of serious complications in patients who had the devices implanted in breast tissue. BioZorb Markers are used to mark soft tissue sites for future procedures but are not FDA-approved for improving cosmetic outcomes or as markers for radiation therapy.

BioZorb Markers are implantable devices used in soft tissue sites, including breast tissue. BioZorb Markers have two parts: a plastic component that is intended to be dissolved completely in the patient’s body in one year or longer, and a titanium metal component that is permanent.

For patients with implanted BioZorb Markers, the FDA recommends consulting healthcare providers about any complications but states removal is not necessary unless advised by a physician. Health care providers are urged to avoid implanting BioZorb Markers, quarantine any unused devices, and monitor patients for potential complications such as pain, infection, device migration, and skin erosion.

Smiths Medical has recalled specific lots of its tracheostomy products—BLUselect Tracheostomy Tube Kits, BLUgriggs Percutaneous Dilation Tracheostomy Kits, and BLUperc Procedural Trays—due to a manufacturing defect causing the pilot balloon to disconnect from the tracheostomy inflation line. The recall is a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. The defect can result in loss of cuff pressure, leading to inadequate ventilation and an increased risk of aspiration, potentially causing serious health issues or death.

Smiths Medical issued an Urgent Medical Device Notification to customers, advising them to discontinue use, quarantine or dispose of affected products, and complete a customer response form. The affected devices are intended for adults needing an artificial airway due to trauma or other medical conditions.