Parker Waichman, a national law firm that is actively involved in the Actos (pioglitazone) litigation, which has long been dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective drugs and medical devices, is commenting on recent updates involving the Actos litigation. On September 11th, 2015, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company indicated that over 96 percent of eligible Actos claimants agreed to the proposed $2.4 billion settlement to resolve bladder cancer claims. In April, Takeda indicated that it would pay $2.37 billion if 95 percent of eligible Actos claimants opted in and up to $2.4 billion if 97 percent or more claimants agreed. The federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) is In re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, case number 6:11-md-02299 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
Plaintiffs in the Actos litigation allege that manufacturers failed to warn about the risk of bladder cancer associated with the diabetes medication. Court dockets indicate that there are over 3,500 Actos lawsuits consolidated before U.S. District Judge Rebecca Doherty in Lafayette, Louisiana. An additional 4,500 cases have been filed in state courts in Illinois, West Virginia, California, and Pennsylvania.
The compensation from this settlement will help many Actos victims cover medical bills and other expenses related to their injuries," said Matthew J. McCauley, Senior Litigation Counsel at Parker Waichman. Drug manufacturers should be held responsible for failing to warn about the risks associated with their medicines."
Parker Waichman remains actively involved in the multidistrict litigation (MDL). In fact, Jerrold S. Parker, founding partner of the firm, has maintained a leadership role throughout the litigation by serving on the Plaintiff's Steering Committee. Parker Waichman has also filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of individuals who developed bladder cancer, allegedly due to their use of the Type 2 diabetes drug, Actos.
In July 2015, a California appeals court reinstated a $6.5 million Actos verdict. The lawsuit alleged that Actos was to blame for the male plaintiff's terminal bladder cancer. The case is Nancy Cooper et al. v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc. et al., case number B250163, in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appellate District, Division Three. The original case, Cooper v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc., Case Number CGC-12-518535, was in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.
Parker Waichman continues to offer free legal consultations to victims who suffered bladder cancer after using the diabetes medication, Actos. If you or someone you know was diagnosed with [bladder cancer](http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/actos) following Actos treatment, please visit the Firm's Actos Injury page or, for a free case evaluation, call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).
