California personal injury attorneys are still accepting clients who have been injured by using the drugs Yaz® and Yasmin®, both manufactured by Bayer. Settlements have already begun, with Bayer offering $110 million to settle outstanding claims related to the drugs.
The first 500 cases in the lawsuit are covered by the settlement, which is expected to pay about $220,000 per case. Each victim’s case will be evaluated individually to ensure that the proper amount is paid based on actual damage suffered, so some plaintiffs may receive more than others.
What Type of Lawsuit Is This?
Bayer, the largest drugmaker in Germany, has agreed to pay the damages as part of the first wave of Yaz® and Yasmin® lawsuits. Individual plaintiffs were consolidated into a class as part of a class-action or mass tort lawsuit to streamline the negotiation process. This settlement offer will not cover all members of the class; however, there will be a time limit in which plaintiffs can file a claim for damages by these drugs. Under class action law, all potential members of the class must be notified; however, there are often potential plaintiffs who do not receive these notifications.
Why Did the Plaintiffs Sue Bayer?
Yaz® and Yasmin® are oral contraceptives marketed by Bayer for use by women who do not want to become pregnant. They are what is known as a combined birth control bill, blending both a high dose of estrogen and a low dose of progestogen. The very high levels of hormones in Yaz® were designed to make it more effective by stopping ovulation to prevent pregnancy. However, unexpected side effects developed in women who took the drug.
Yaz® and Yasmin® have been linked with increased risk of heart attack, heart conditions, and blood clots. While Bayer did include package warnings about the use of oral contraceptives by women over 35 or those who smoke, the FDA decided that the warnings were not sufficient to give women enough information about the risks of taking these drugs.
Because Bayer failed to warn women of possible severe side effects, some users, including some very young women, experienced injuries as a result of using the drug. The side effects of Yaz® and Yasmin® include:
- Stroke. Due to the formation of large blood clots, women have suffered strokes when these clots broke free and traveled to the brain.
Heart Attack. Similarly, blood clots can travel to the heart and cause a serious condition known as myocardial infarction, commonly called a “heart attack.” - Death. Both strokes and heart attacks can lead to death, especially if not treated immediately.
- Thrombosis. Deep-vein thrombosis, or blood clot, can be a deadly condition. Blood clots that travel through the body can wind up in the brain, heart, or lungs, creating a life-threatening condition.
- Blood Clotting. Heavy blood clotting can cause damage to limbs and other parts of the body.
- Pulmonary Embolisms. A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that has traveled from another location into the lung. A pulmonary embolism blocks the main artery of the lung, leading to deadly complications.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for the Yaz®/Yasmin®?
If you took Yaz® or Yasmin® and suffered any adverse health problems, it is important for you to talk to a personal injury lawyer immediately. An attorney can review your medical records and let you know quickly if you are eligible to file a Yasmin lawsuit.
