Mass tort lawsuits–where many individuals join forces to file a civil lawsuit against a party that has caused them injury––are a common strategy among victims who want to receive a fair and timely settlement. Mass torts are also imperative when it comes to holding companies accountable for their actions, as there is significant power in numbers when hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs show that they suffered similar injuries due to corporate negligence.
From Roundup settlements to multi-million dollar lawsuits brought against Johnson & Johnson’s by cancer patients, mass tort claims show no sign of slowing down as we move into 2023.
Below, I’ve summarized several that will be on the dockets in New York courts this year. If you believe you were harmed by any of the situations below, get in touch with a New York mass tort attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates right away. We would be happy to advise on your case during a free consultation.
Tylenol and Autism
In 2021, the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology published a statement from hundreds of medical experts warning that using Tylenol or its generic form acetaminophen during pregnancy could result in increased rates of autism among newborns. The article is packed with scientific research drawing connections between acetaminophen and a variety of neurological disorders including autism.
By 2022, hoards of parents began filing lawsuits against drug retailers like CVS, claiming that their children’s autism spectrum disorder was caused by the medication. The cases poured in so quickly that by October of last year, the cases had to be consolidated into an MDL (multidistrict litigation) in the Southern District of New York.
Buttafuoco & Associates has years of experience in mass tort law, and we are currently handling Tylenol and autism cases. If you are concerned that your child’s autism was caused by your use of Tylenol during pregnancy, get in touch with a mass tort attorney in New York today.
Roundup
Roundup–a weed killer containing the carcinogen known as glyphosate–has been a staple of mass tort news for years as victims continue to report that the product caused their lymphoma, a deadly form of cancer.
In recent developments, in 2021 a judge turned down Bayer’s attempt at a global settlement that would have halted Roundup lawsuits for thousands of victims. Bayer then attempted to settle a slew of Roundup lawsuits and finally announced–after years of refusal–that they would pull their deadly Roundup product off the shelves. The company managed to settle nearly 100,000 Roundup lawsuits by November, but approximately 20 percent of the cases are still on the table. Although Bayer has managed to clear up a large percentage of lawsuits, lymphoma often does not show up for decades after exposure.
So Roundup lawsuits will likely continue to pour in for the foreseeable future.
Our New York mass tort attorneys have been working on delivering justice to Roundup victims for several years. Please get in touch with us to discuss your options if you are concerned that you could have an illness caused by Roundup.
Talc Powder
For decades, cancer patients have been filing lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, claiming that the company’s talc products caused their cancer. Currently, approximately 35,000 cases are awaiting trial in the talcum powder MDL.
In recent news, throughout 2022, Johnson & Johnson attempted to ameliorate its liability by using a controversial strategy known as the “Texas Two-Step.” In this maneuver, a company opens a second, smaller company and transfers the cases there, effectively bankrupting the smaller company and alleviating their responsibility.
Although courts ruled in favor of J&J’s plan, it is currently being appealed and we are awaiting a decision. The result will have a huge impact on how current and future talc cases are settled. Similarly to Roundup, asbestos-related cancer often shows up decades after first contact, so we will continue to see talc cases for years.
The New York mass tort lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates continue to fight for the rights of people harmed by talcum powder. We are happy to consult at no charge to discuss whether you have a mass tort case.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
More than a million people have lived or worked on the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina, dating back to World War II. Alarming recent news disclosed that the base’s drinking water supply was filled with toxic chemicals proven to cause cancer between 1953 and 1987.
North Carolina’s strict 10-year statute of limitations originally left many former residents who have become ill from contaminants without recourse. But in recent months, the North Carolina House and Senate both passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act over the summer, allowing victims to file multiple civil cases in the federal court system.
Stay on the lookout for an influx of thousands of Camp Lejeune water lawsuits. Our team will continue to take on these federal civil cases for as long as victims need assistance.
Taking New Mass Tort Cases
If you have been harmed by a party that has also caused injury to others, it may be worth considering a mass tort lawsuit. Corporations must be held accountable for their actions, and unlike a class action lawsuit, mass torts result in higher payouts. They also tend to be resolved relatively quickly compared to individual cases.
To find out more about how a mass tort claim and pretrial proceedings works, get in touch with the New Jersey mass tort attorneys at our personal injury law firm, Buttafuoco & Associates.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT.
