For those following the MDL in Illinois, the judge has issued a recent order that should quicken the process by which the first “bellwether” cases are to be heard. An order was issued by the court on May 29th, 2015 instructing both sides to put together the parameters for and processes for selecting plaintiffs in 2 tiers of cases. These cases involve only Abbvie-related drugs (Androgel in particular), which make up the majority of low-testosterone drug cases filed with the court so far. The two tiers involve victims who suffered clotting injuries, and victims who had cardiovascular injuries, such as a heart attack or stroke.
While these first sic bellwether cases will not be binding on the class as a whole, nor involve low-T drugs from other manufacturers, attorneys believe these first cases will establish how juries are likely to treat claims for compensation for low_T drug injuries, and could set important precedents for settlement amounts and compensation awards. The cae is In Re: Testosterone Replacement Therapy Product Liability Litigation – MDL No.254, and the presiding judge is U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly. The case is expected to have over 2,000 named plaintiffs by the time the bellwether trials begin.
