Lopez McHugh LLP is pleased to announce that principal partner Ramon R. Lopez has been appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee (PEC) in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) regarding Lipitor, titled In re: Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (MDL – 2502). 270 claims were filed against Pfizer, maker of Lipitor, and have been consolidated into this MDL, which was centralized in the United States District Court District of South Carolina in Charleston under Judge Richard M Gergel. More “tag-along” cases may be added to the litigation as it proceeds.
Lipitor is a widely prescribed pharmaceutical that is meant to combat high cholesterol, in an effort to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiac-related issues. Plaintiffs claim the medication has caused women to develop Type 2 Diabetes.
Consolidation of the Cases
The United States Judicial Panel on MDL denied the first request for consolidation of the Lipitor lawsuits in 2013 when only a few plaintiffs had filed claims at that time. However, with the quickly increasing number of lawsuits filed, the panel ordered formation of an MDL in February of 2014. Once an MDL is ordered, a court selects individuals from the large pool of plaintiffs’ attorneys for appointment to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee (PSC) and the more exclusive Plaintiff’s Executive Committee (PEC). These attorneys will be in charge of working with the Lipitor defense attorneys in order to move the litigation forward in a streamlined and effective fashion. Mr. Lopez is one of only four appointed members of the PEC who will coordinate the activities of the PSC throughout the pretrial and discovery phases of the litigation.
Mr. Lopez’s appointment is no surprise due to his extensive experience in this type of mass torts litigation. Over his 34 years as an attorney, he has helped thousands of clients stand up for their rights and pursue the compensation they deserved from giant pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Merck, Bayer, and Abbott Labs, as well as many other large corporations who sold defective or dangerous products. He has previously assumed many leadership roles in complex MDL cases.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
If you or someone you know has developed a serious medical condition from using Lipitor, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Do not hesitate to contact the offices of Lopez McHugh at (877) 737-8525 for assistance today and to schedule your free consultation.
