Zoloft MDL presiding Judge Cynthia M. Rufe, E.D. Pa., granted the plaintiffs motion to present a new pharmaceutical expert witness. Hundreds of Zoloft birth defect lawsuits have been filed. The antidepressant manufactured by Pfizer is tied to an increased risk of defects like persistent pulmonary hypertension in infants. Other serious side effects include seizures, heart defects, autism, and malformations of the skull or brain.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania website: About MDL 2342.
This Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”) was created by Order of the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL Panel”) on April 17, 2012. The typical case involves claims by a plaintiff from anywhere in the United States against defendant Pfizer, Inc., and may name other defendants as well.
In its April 17, 2012 Order, the MDL Panel found that the actions in this MDL “involve common questions of fact, and that centralization in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation.”
The MDL Panel noted that the actions “involve allegations that Zoloft, a prescription medication approved for the treatment of depression and other ailments, causes birth defects in children when their mothers ingest the drug while pregnant.” Pfizer and the other defendants deny these allegations. The Panel further found that “[c]entralization will eliminate duplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings; and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel and the judiciary.”
Official contacts are as follows:
Presiding Judge: The Honorable Cynthia M. Rufe Secretary/Civil Deputy: Velma T. White Courtroom Deputy: Erica Pratt United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania Courtroom 12A James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse 601 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 Telephone: (267) 299-7490 Fax: (267) 299-5077
Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel: Stephen A. Corr, Esq.
Stark & Stark, P.C.
777 Township Line Road Suite 120 Yardley, PA 19067-5559 Telephone: (267) 759-9684 Fax: (267) 907-9659 E-mail: SCorr@Stark-Stark.com
Defendants’ Lead and Liaison Counsel: Mark S. Cheffo, Esq.
Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP 51 Madison Ave.
22nd Floor New York, NY 10010 Telephone: (212) 849-7000
Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee Co-Lead Counsel:
Dianne M. Nast, Esq.
NastLaw LLC 1101 Market Street Suite 2801 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Telephone: (215) 923-9300 Fax: (215) 923-9302
Mark P. Robinson, Jr., Esq.
Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis, Inc.
19 Corporate Plaza Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Telephone: (949) 720-1288 Fax: (949) 720-1292