Millions of Americans are familiar with the drug Zantac, also known by its generic name “ranitidine.” Zantac works by reducing the production of stomach acid. For many years, Zantac was used to provide relief to people who suffered from heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and ulcers.
Zantac, typically obtained by a prescription from a doctor, was the 50th most prescribed medication in the United States. It was also available as an over-the-counter medication for many years.
However, recent testing has found that there is a potential link between the use of Zantac and the development of certain types of cancer. It is believed that ranitidine contained high levels of a carcinogen known as N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. At high-enough levels, NDMA can cause cancer in humans.
It was recently discovered that the NDMA can cause bladder cancer, stomach cancer, as well as tumors in the liver, kidneys, and lungs. In September 2019, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, otherwise known as the FDA, reported that it found levels of NDMA in Zantac that were between 3,000 to 26,000 times higher than FDA-approved standards.
As such, in April 2020, the FDA ordered that drug manufacturers withdraw Zantac and all ranitidine drugs from the market, whether it was prescribed or purchased over-the-counter.
If you or a family member were diagnosed with cancer after taking a course of Zantac, you should speak to an experienced Zantac litigation attorney as soon as possible to learn about your right to bring a lawsuit against the drug manufacturer. You may be entitled to money damages if it can be proven that Zantac was the cause behind your cancer diagnosis.
The attorneys at [law-firm] understand how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be for you and your family. We consider it a privilege to help our clients at a time in their life when they need it most.
Portner Bond, PLLC has over seven decades of combined experience representing people who were harmed due to no fault of their own. Our goal is to obtain the best possible result for every client. To that end, we have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.
Don’t let the drug companies get away with the harm they have caused by manufacturing and selling a defective drug. Call the attorneys at Portner Bond, PLLC to discuss the specifics of your Zantac lawsuit. We are here to answer any questions that you may have.
We can be reached at (409) 838-4444, by email, or by online chat. Our initial consultation is free.
Do I Need a Beaumont Zantac Litigation Lawyer?
Pursuing a case against a large drug manufacturer involves complicated legal and scientific theories. You will need the assistance of an experienced Zantac litigation attorney to prevail in your Zantac lawsuit.
Your attorney will proceed with your best interests in mind during the entirety of your lawsuit. They will diligently work to ensure a favorable end result while you focus on your health and recovering from your illness.
If you were diagnosed with cancer after taking a course of Zantac or ranitidine, you are probably wondering what type of recovery you are entitled to from the drug manufacturer. A person who was harmed by a defective drug may be entitled to the following money damages:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses paid to date;
- Payment for all future medical treatment, including surgery and hospital, stays;
- Payment for loss of earnings;
- Payment for all loss of all future earnings;
- Other economic damages and out-of-pocket expenses;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss and enjoyment of life;
- Mental anguish / emotional distress;
- Loss of companionship; and
- Punitive damages.
The attorneys at Portner Bond, PLLC will work with you to identify all of the categories of damages that you are entitled to recover, to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
Your attorney will also likely attempt to recover punitive damages from the drug company for the harm they cause you and others. In Texas, punitive damages are a form of economic punishment that is used to send a message to the drug company.
Punitive damages are awarded if it can be proven that the drug company acted with fraud, malice, or gross negligence. That is, it must be shown that the drug manufacturer knew about the harmful effects of taking Zantac, yet chose not to warn the consumer of the risks.
In Texas, punitive damages are capped at the greater of 1) $200,000; or 2) two-times the number of economic damages plus the amount of non-economic damages awarded up to $750,000.
In other words, if the jury awards you $1 million for your pain and suffering and $500,000 for your economic loss, you would be entitled to punitive damages in the amount of $1,750,00 (2 x $500,000 + $750,000).
Contact our skilled and professional Zantac attorneys to learn how you can recover the compensation you are entitled to for the harm you suffered from taking Zantac.
Why Choose Portner Bond,PLLC To Handle My Zantac Lawsuit
Due to their successes, the attorneys at Portner Bond, PLLC have earned a reputation as premier trial attorneys.
Chris Portner has been named as a Texas Super Lawyer. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Chris was raised in League City, Texas, and is a graduate of Clear Creek High School. He earned a scholarship to the University of Houston, where he graduated with honors. He also received an academic scholarship to Tulane Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Trent Bond has been named as a Texas Super Lawyer and, along with Chris, he is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Additionally, Trent is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction earned by only about ten percent of lawyers in Texas. Trent is also a member of the Texas Bar Foundation and the Jefferson County Bar Association.
Trent previously served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Midway. He also worked as a former prosecutor with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.
Trent was raised in Pasadena, Texas, and graduated from South Houston High School. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston, and his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. In law school, Trent was honored with membership in The Order of the Lytae in recognition of excellence in the study of the law.
Tom Kiehnhoff has dedicated his practice to representing both individuals and private businesses. Tom has been working as a private attorney since 2001 and has represented clients in civil cases in state and federal court. He currently focuses his practice on personal injury litigation and insurance litigation.
Tom previously worked as Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas. During that time, he served as a member of the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Policy Subcommittee and organized a statewide task force to prosecute environmental crimes in Texas.
Types of Zantac Lawsuits We Handle
Proceeding against the drug manufacturers of Zantac in court will involve making claims under Texas’s product liability laws. Two of the top manufacturers of Zantac are the drug companies Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Products liability law allows an injured plaintiff to sue a product manufacturer without having to prove that the company was negligent. That is, as long as you can show that Zantac was defective, you do not have to prove fault on the part of the drug manufacturer.
Drug companies have the duty to manufacture and sell drugs that are free from defects and safe for use by ordinary consumers. Also, under the law, drug manufacturers must ensure that the drugs it designs, manufactures, and sells comply with all FDA regulations.
However, drug companies don’t always comply with these regulations. Driven by profit, drug companies often rush to get their product to market and may make mistakes during the process of having their drug approved by the FDA. Often, as well, drug manufacturers will intentionally conceal the harmful effects of a drug in order to obtain approval from the FDA.
In either scenario, the consumer is the one that suffers.
In the case of Zantac, it is alleged that the drug companies knew about the risk associated with ingesting high levels of NDMA, yet failed to advise the FDA and also failed to warn the consumer of those risks. As a result, millions of people unintentionally exposed themselves to a known carcinogen, and unfortunately, were diagnosed with cancer that they would not have otherwise developed.
Suing these drug manufacturers is sometimes the only way to obtain justice.
Presently, Zantac lawsuits are being filed nationally in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The cases are a part of a “multidistrict litigation,” or MDL.
The MDL is a procedure where cases that involve complex issues against similar defendants are consolidated in one court and managed by one judge. The cases all follow the same court rules and track the same pretrial deadlines. Generally, cases filed in the MDL will move faster than cases filed in state court.
Every plaintiff that is a part of the Zantac MDL will have to participate in discovery. That is, each plaintiff will have to provide written responses to questions known as interrogatories that are submitted by the defendants. Each plaintiff will also have to undergo a deposition or answer questions under oath about their use of Zantac and the harm they suffered.
After discovery is completed, the MDL judge will typically help the parties resolve their case without going to trial. The amount of your settlement will depend on the severity of your illness.
Call Portner Bond, PLLC Now to Discuss Your Zantac Lawsuit
If you or a family member were diagnosed with cancer after taking the defective drug Zantac, call the Zantac litigation attorneys at Portner Bond, PLLC to learn about the compensation you may be entitled to.
Our attorneys and staff can be reached at (409) 838-4444. You can also contact us online through email or by our online chat feature. Our initial consultation is free.