Hiring a Yaz Lawyer

Women who are seeking compensation from Bayer for serious Yasmin & Yaz side effects have questions about how to hire the most qualified and effective product liability attorney. Big pharmaceutical companies like Bayer have deep pockets and an army of lawyers, but with the help of the right Yaz lawyer, injured plaintiffs can take full advantage of their legal rights and secure the maximum damages they deserve through a jury award or out-of-court settlement.

If you have suffered pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots, stroke, or other serious health problems as a result of taking birth control medications Yaz or Yasmin, you are not alone. Thousands of women have filed Yaz and/or Yasmin lawsuits against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the German-based manufacturer of the drug, claiming that the company failed to warn doctors and patients about potential side effects.

The FDA has censured the company for a fraudulent marketing campaign and required stronger warning labels for the oral contraceptive drugs.

Yaz and its side effects

Yaz and Yasmin, as well as a generic version of the medication called Ocella, are so-called “fourth generation” birth control pills that contain the synthetic hormone drospirenone. Side effects that have been associated with the drugs include blood clots, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), stroke, heart attack, and gallbladder issues.

Soon after Yaz’s FDA approval in 2006, the agency began receiving reports of serious side effects and even deaths associated with the drug. The FDA issued a warning letter to Bayer in 2009, in which they censured them for an advertising campaign downplaying Yaz’s risks and overstating its benefits. In 2012, furthermore, they required new black-box warning labels for Yaz that indicate a three-fold increase in blood clot risks in comparison to other birth control medications.

What should a Yaz lawyer do for you?

A Yaz birth control attorney will have to do the following in order to represent his or her client successfully:

• Prove that the company was aware of the problem.
• Prove that the company did not provide adequate warnings.
• Prove that the injuries suffered by his or her client were the direct result of Yaz or Yasmin.

Bayer Pharmaceuticals will use every available means to argue that their drug is safe, that any medical problems a patient suffered were unrelated to use of the drug, and that they were either unaware of the risks or presented them in good faith to potential patients. A Yaz lawyer will have to cut through the spin in order to show otherwise.

Women who have suffered from medical complications due to Yaz or Yasmin may find themselves burdened with medical bills, lost income, and lost earning potential. She needs financial compensation to offset the monetary challenges she is facing. And she needs competent counsel to see her through a potentially draining legal challenge at a time when she is physically and emotionally compromised.

A qualified Yaz or Yazmin attorney will represent their clients every step of the way until they reach a successful outcome. Consider the many things that an attorney will take care of in the course of litigation so that a client can focus on recovering her health and life:

A Yaz product liability attorney will:

• Marshall the necessary documents related to the company’s research, development, and marketing
• Procure all necessary documents related to the client’s medical matters
• Locate any expert witnesses
• Build a case using this evidence to show Bayer’s liability
• Negotiate a settlement favorable to the client
• If necessary, present this case in court as informed by a strong knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and dangerous drug litigation, in order to gain a maximum jury award
• Take care of all paperwork in a timely and efficient fashion
• Assist the client in procuring financial assistance for litigation until the jury award or settlement is obtained

Hiring an experienced Yaz or Yasmin attorney: dos and don’ts

Not every Yaz attorney is right for every client. Here are some “dos and don’ts” to consider when hiring a Yaz or Yasmin attorney:

• DO look for relevant experience. Does he or she have experience going up against companies like Bayer? Representing cases that have to do with dangerous drugs?
• DO consider his or her track record. What kind of settlements or jury awards has his or she managed to procure?
• DON’T hire someone with a bad reputation. Think twice about a lawyer if you have heard that he or she doesn’t communicate with or treat his or her clients well, or if he or she can’t work with other attorneys.
• DO hire an attorney with whom you feel comfortable. You’ll be discussing personal issues related to your medical history, so make sure you are able to talk to the lawyer in question.
• DO make sure that you know precisely which lawyer will handle your case. If you liked the lawyer with whom you consulted initially, make sure that person will be the one handling your case.
• DON’T hire a lawyer who asks for fees up front or who will charge whether you win or lose the case.
• DO hire a lawyer who works on a contingency basis, meaning he or she only charges if you get a jury verdict or settlement.
• DON’T wait too long to get started. The statute of limitations in many states prevents the filing of a personal injury lawsuit beyond certain deadlines.

Yaz/Yasmin litigation and settlements

So far, thousands of Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits have been filed. Bayer has agreed to settle over 8,000 cases involving blood clots, pulmonary embolism, or deep vein thrombosis for $1.69 billion, and close to 9,000 complaints related to allegations of Yaz or Yasmin gallbladder complications for $24 million. Bayer is expected to settle some of the remaining cases as well.

Well over 4,000 cases remain outstanding, including cases consolidated as part of a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Illinois, as well as cases that are part of mass tort litigations on the state level in California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

New Yaz and Yasmin cases are likewise anticipated. While the pre-trial discovery phases of litigation on the federal and state level has been streamlined in order to facilitate the completion of the trials, each case will receive its own consideration and outcome. Bayer is expected to settle at least some of these remaining cases as well.

Resources Resources