Articles Posted in Mass Torts

Depakote, a brand name of the anticonvulsant medication valproate, is commonly used to treat various medical conditions, including seizures, migraine headaches, and bipolar disorder. However, there is growing concern about the use of Depakote during pregnancy and the risk of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

Recent studies suggest associations between the anti-epileptic drug Depakote and adverse health effects. One study found that it increased the death risk in post-stroke epilepsy patients. Another found an association between Depakote use during pregnancy and the Autism and ADHD risk in children. In addition, individuals have filed lawsuits in France against Sanofi, the European manufacturer of Depakote.

About Depakote 

A new study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology has raised alarms about the safety of popular acne products, many of which have been found to contain high levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. The findings highlight a significant health risk associated with these products, particularly as they are frequently used by teenagers and young adults. This is the second major analysis to reveal the presence of benzene in acne creams and cleansers, and it confirms concerns initially brought up by researchers earlier this year.

The Study and its Findings

Researchers tested over 100 benzoyl peroxide (BPO) acne products sold in major retailers across six states, uncovering that about one-third of these products were contaminated with benzene. Notably, products like Proactiv and CVS-brand face wash were found to contain benzene levels that far exceed the safety limits set by the FDA. Proactiv was found to have 18 times—18 times!— the amount of benzene allowed in U.S. drugs, while a CVS-brand face wash had 13 times the acceptable level. Such findings have led to increased calls for regulatory action and lawsuits to address this potential public health hazard.

The Fosamax lawsuit suffered a long and slow death.  The plaintiffs did not deserve this long and awful ride.  But the litigation over a decade later appears to be (nearly) dead. This post was first written in 2013 and has been updated in 2023 and 2024.

September 2024 Foxamax Lawsuit Update

In a ruling that revives these lawsuits, the Third Circuit ruled that the FDA letter denying Merck’s proposed labeling changes for its osteoporosis drug, Fosamax, does not amount to a final agency action that preempts state law “failure to warn” claims. The decision centers on over 500 plaintiffs who allege that Merck failed to provide adequate warnings about the risk of atypical femoral fractures associated with the drug. The court concluded that the New Jersey federal judge wrongly prioritized FDA informal communications over the plaintiffs’ arguments against preemption.

Snapchat, the popular social media platform operated by Snap Inc., has faced a series of Snapchat lawsuits in recent years alleging that its design features and inadequate safety measures have made it a breeding ground for “sextortion” and other forms of extortion and exploitation, particularly targeting minors. These legal actions have highlighted significant concerns parents have about this app’s responsibility to protect its young users from predators who misuse its features. The consequences when this happens can be tragic.

Snapchat

Snapchat, launched in 2011, quickly gained popularity, especially among younger demographics, for its unique features, such as disappearing messages, which kids love for obvious reasons, and multimedia sharing.