Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson faces yet another lawsuit for allegedly concealing harmful and potentially deadly side effects caused by its antibiotic Levaquin.
The latest Levaquin lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court on Jan. 18, 2016, and accuses the company of violating the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) act.
The RICO act is designed to combat organized crime within U.S. corporations.
Under the act, no company shall engage in illegal, deceptive or harmful behavior, especially as it pertains to racketeering, which is the act of intentionally downplaying a problem or fraudulently offering a solution to a problem.
The six plaintiffs named in the lawsuit allege that Johnson & Johnson, its affiliate company Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and former FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg, conspired to conceal Levaquin’s side effects in an attempt to continue gaining financially from sales of the popular antibiotic.
The plaintiffs state that Levoquin bottles and packaging were intentionally mislabeled in order to downplay the harmful and potentially deadly neurological, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal side effects the drug was known to cause.
According to the lawsuit, such “concerted efforts” to hide the drug’s negative side effects “resulted in significant harm and/or death to consumers of Levaquin,” including the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit is seeking more than $120 million in compensation for victims, as well as an additional $1 billion in punitive damages (money a company or individual is required to pay purely as a form of punishment for their actions.)
To date, thousands of Levaquin lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, all of which claim the company did not adequately warn patients about the dangers associated with taking the antibiotic.
In 2012, the company settled over 845 lawsuits for an undisclosed amount of money. That same year, the company announced it was negotiating settlements for an additional 190 claims.
If you or someone you love took the antibiotic Levaquin and developed nerve damage, tendon tears or heart problems, an injury attorney in Phoenix at Phillips Law Group can help you recover financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Call 602-222-222 or fill out our FREE Case Evaluation Formtoday.
