En Español
The last thing that you would expect in a class-action lawsuit involving the safety of medication is for it to become political. One would think that attorneys would present facts, rather than opinions, when presenting evidence. That is not, however, what appears to be happening in the bellwether trial for Xarelto, a popular blood thinner facing class-action litigation. The Legal Intelligencer reports on how attorneys involved in the case became political.
On Friday, December 1st, the first bellwether trials over Xarelto, being held in Philadelphia entered the closing arguments phase. Things took a turn for the political in these arguments, with attorneys making references to “fake news,” quoting Michelle Obama, and making statements that incited rising xenophobia.
The attorney for the plaintiffs referenced Xarelto’s label, which said that it might cause bleeding, despite the defending attorney’s arguments that the medication alone could not do so.
Part of his argument asked the jury to “swing the mighty sword of justice to let those folks know, in Berlin, Germany, when they sell their drugs to us Americans to make their billions” they need to include more information in the label.
The attorney for the defense called the argument, which she said was specifically designed to appeal to the jury’s baser instincts and reference World War II. She also pointed to the patient’s doctor, who said that she would continue prescribing Xarelto.
The case centers around whether the makers of Xarelto, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer, failed to warn patients about the amount of bleeding that the medication can cause, especially in patients also taking aspirin.
Jury deliberations were expected to begin n Monday, December 4th.
Have you been injured by taking the prescription drug Xarelto? You might have a case. Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call today for a consultation.
