Johnson & Johnson is currently facing a flurry of lawsuits on multiple drugs, devices and over the counter products, but the mounting Xarelto litigation could prove to top its current legal battles, with the first bellwether trial to be heard in March of this year. The Xarelto uncontrolled bleeding attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are watching this case very closely because it could set precedent in many of the cases to follow. If you have been injured by this medication, it is important to know your rights and whether you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and more.

Over 15,000 Lawsuits Filed to Date

After it was found that Xarelto was marketed under the false pretense that it was a safer and more effective alternative to Warfarin, thousands of victims began to file lawsuits on the grounds that Johnson & Johnson withheld critical information regarding risks to the public and did not take needed steps to provide an antidote in the event that the medication caused serious internal bleeding. Instead, patients were assured that they did not need any regular blood monitoring based on the lie that the drug was less likely to cause bleeding.

Over 14,000 of the cases are being held in an MDL out of Louisiana and the first of those cases will be heard in March. There are another 1,000 cases in Pennsylvania that are pending as well.

Dubious Claims and Failure to Warn the Prime Issues

In order to find and maintain the correct dosage of Warfarin, doctors must regularly monitor the blood of patients prescribed with the medication to limit the risk of bleeding. There is an antidote available to negate the effect of the medicine in the event that internal bleeding gets out of control. Xarelto was pushed as an alternative without the need for either, and both assertions were irresponsible and reckless.

The failure of Johnson & Johnson to warn of the dangers associated with its medication and the shortsighted decision not to develop an antidote are the two largest issues behind the 15,000 lawsuits that are pending. Based on the results of Louisiana’s MDL, Johnson & Johnson may be bracing for a very tough year in the wake of large judgments it has received last year for its defective hip replacement systems, talcum powder products and several medications.

In the first bellwether case, a jury will determine whether Joseph Boudreaux is liable to damages after he suffered massive bleeding within a month of being prescribed Xarelto for atrial fibrillation. It took numerous blood transfusions to save his life after the lack of an antidote made it near impossible for doctors to stop the bleeding.