Victims of Meningitis Outbreak Can Now Sue for Defective Products

Product Liability | August 14, 2013

When Chicago residents receive steroid shots or other injections from their medical providers, they don’t usually expect to get serious side effects. They may expect a little redness or swelling for a few days afterward, but not something life-threatening such as meningitis. Unfortunately, more than 700 people have been injured or killed across the country due to tainted injections. On the positive side, the victims and their families now have a new avenue in order to receive compensation for the pain and suffering they have had to endure.

New England Compounding Center (NECC) was the company that manufactured and shipped the steroid injections tainted with fungus to medical facilities. A U.S. bankruptcy judge recently declared NECC bankrupt, with the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2012. This means that victims can now file product liability claims against those who sold them the defective products, including healthcare clinics and providers. The lawsuits can be filed through the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

This is a major win for meningitis victims, who previously could only sue for medical or professional negligence. The case was filed by a man on behalf of his wife, who died from a steroid injection she received in Tennessee.

It is very unfortunate when injections given to help people feel better actually end up making them physically ill or even killing them. Situations like this make people frightened to give themselves or their children immunizations and flu shots. Although no amount of money can replace a loved one, it is hoped that family members of the victims will receive a reasonable amount of financial compensation to make up for what they had to endure.

If you or a family member were injured or killed by injections, there are legal options available. Contact a lawyer to see if you can benefit from a lawsuit.

Source: 
Insurance Journal, “Victims in Meningitis Outbreak Cleared to File Product Liability Suits” Tim McLaughlin, Jul. 29, 2013