Accutane Lawyers Prepare to Battle out Cases

Thousands of Accutane lawsuits have been filed nationwide after an unprecedented number of Accutane patients developed serious side effects as a result of the medication, including bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Now, three cases are set to go to trial in October of this year, a move that will mark the beginning of the bellwether trials, trials that will likely influence the future of Accutane lawsuits and the possibility of Accutane settlements.

There are more than 5,000 Accutane lawsuits currently being dealt with in various stages of the legal process, and all Accutane lawsuits deal with Accutane maker Hoffman-La Roche, the Swiss manufacturer of brand name Accutane. Accutane is a drug that was discontinued in 2009 and was used prior to that to treat severe cases of acne, especially cases that were not treated successfully with other methods like antibiotics and topical ointments. Most lawsuits allege that patients were not adequately warned of Accutane side effects, which usually include varieties of inflammatory bowel disease but also encompass suicide, birth defects, and other serious afflictions.

The three cases set for October deal with plaintiffs by the names of Graves, Menzies, and Tanna. There has been a court order to add three additional lawsuits to this pool. Jury selection for these trials will begin on October 11^th, and four more Accutane trials will begin in January of 2012. These are all Accutane bellwether cases, which set a precedent for how other similar Accutane lawsuits will be settled. If juries decide overwhelmingly that the defendant is at fault, Hoffman-La Roche may decide to settle out of court with plaintiffs whose lawsuits are pending.

Accutane lawsuits were consolidated earlier this year in the New Jersey State Court, which is now dealing with more than five thousand Accutane lawsuits. These cases are being overseen by New Jersey Superior Court Judge Carol E. Higbee.

Patients who took Accutane and are now faced with debilitating side effects may want to consider filing an Accutane lawsuit that could help get them a settlement. Settlements can take care of costs such as medical bills and lost wages. These patients should talk to legal experts, and an experienced Accutane lawyer, as soon as possible.