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Fen-Phen Attorneys
Columbus, Ohio
Fen-Phen refers to the combination of fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine with
phentermine. Fen-Phen was marketed in the 1990's as a weight loss solution.
In the summer of 1999, the Mayo Clinic announced that 24 patients had developed
heart valve disease after taking Fen-Phen. Under pressure from the FDA and the
public, the manufacturer of the drugs (Pondimin and Redux), American Home Products
Corporation, withdrew them from the market. Thousands of individual lawsuits
and multiple class-actions were filed in federal and state courts across the
country. In late 1997, all federal Fen-Phen cases were transferred to Pennsylvania
to better coordinate pre-trial proceedings through a multi-district litigation.
Under federal law, most people are automatically included in the nation-wide
class action settlement that resulted, unless they chose to "opt out". This
means that individuals with valid claims could only seek pre-defined compensation
unless they filled out a form and submitted it to the court-specified address.
The initial "opt out" deadline has passed. However, the settlement agreement
contains an intermediate "opt out" deadline and a "back-end opt out" period
for individuals meeting certain requirements. As a result, you may still have
the right to pursue an individual lawsuit for the full amount of compensatory
damages as well as punitive damages against American Home Products Corporation.
If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, contact an Ohio dangerous drug attorney at Robert W. Kerpsack
Co., L.P.A. at (614) 766-2000 in Columbus, Ohio or toll free (800) 944-0755
or submit an online questionnaire. The initial
consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will
work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only
if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed
before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please
call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
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