Plaintiffs in Fluoroquinolone Nerve Damage Cases Ask JPML to Create MDL Docket in Illinois

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Plaintiffs accusing the makers of fluoroquinolone products of failing to adequately warn that the prescription antibiotics may cause permanent nerve damage have asked the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to create an MDL docket in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

According to the May 19 motion, there are at least 24 substantially similar federal actions pending in 16 federal courts against Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Company Inc., Schering Corp. and McKesson Corp. The lawsuits involve the prescription antibiotics Avelox, Cipro and Levaquin.

In 2004, …