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Drugs

$3.75 Billion Settlement Reached in Fen-Phen Class Action Litigation

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As American Home Products' settlement of the Fen-Phen class action litigation is expected to be approved by the courts, attorneys are cautioning those who took the popular diet drug to protect their rights under the settlement agreement. The settlement, announced last week, will see American Home Products pay up to $3.75 billion in compensation to the victims of the once-popular diet drug, Fen-Phen. Fen-Phen, a combination of Pondimin and Redux, is believed to cause heart valve damage, leading to a weakening of the valves and increased susceptibility to bacterial attack.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed settlement offers various benefits, including medical screening or echocardiograms, refunds for prescription drugs, additional medical services or cash payments, and substantial compensation for users with serious heart valve damage.
  • Over 600 of the diet drug users are represented by the Pensacola firm of Levin, Middlebrooks, Thomas, Mitchell, Green, Echsner, Proctor & Papantonio, P.A.
  • The settlement is open to anyone in the United States who used the diet drug combination, regardless of whether they filed suit.
  • Individuals must affirmatively accept and register for the settlement or opt-out and pursue their individual rights in court.
  • Approximately 4,100 individuals have filed suit against American Home Products.
  • Fen-Phen was used by an estimated 6 million people in the United States before being pulled from the market in September 1997.

Statistics:

  • Up to $3.75 billion in compensation to be paid by American Home Products
  • Over 4,100 individuals have filed suit against American Home Products
  • Approximately 6 million people used Fen-Phen in the United States before it was removed from the market
  • 600 diet drug users represented by the Pensacola firm Levi, Middlebrooks, Thomas, Mitchell, Green, Echsner, Proctor & Papantonio, P.A.

Sources:

  • Business Wire
  • Levin, Middlebrooks, Thomas, Mitchell, Green, Echsner, Proctor & Papantonio, P.A.

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