Court Selects Three Elmiron Cases for Bellwether Jury Trials

The judge presiding over the Elmiron eye damage litigation has selected three cases to serve as bellwether trials. Bellwether trials are exemplar cases that provide both sides with useful information about how the jury perceives the arguments. They are often cases that represent the most common injuries and fact patterns found among all cases. The three trials are scheduled to begin in January, March, and May of 2023.

Since the Elmiron lawsuits allege similar claims, they have been grouped together and centralized in one court, before one judge. All the cases will proceed together as far as discovery and pre-trial proceedings go, but each lawsuit will still remain its own stand-alone case. This mechanism, known as a multi-district litigation, or MDL, aims to streamline the litigation process. The purpose of the bellwether trials is to help gauge how juries may react to evidence and testimony presented in these cases. Through this process, plaintiffs and their lawyers may able be to also gauge what potential settlements or other resolutions of the case might be reached.

What is Elmiron and Why are People Suing?

Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) is a medication designed to treat bladder pain due to interstitial cystitis (IC). IC may also cause a frequent urge to urinate, and it tends to be more prevalent in women than in men.

The drug is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals—a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Elmiron was first approved by the FDA in 1996, however, long term use of the drug has been linked to eye damage and vision problems, including retinal damage and even vision loss. A common injury claimed in Elmiron lawsuits is a degenerative eye disorder called pigmentary maculopathy. This condition affects the macula (the central portion of the retina), which senses light.  Lawsuits claim injury and vision damage from Elmiron use, and many plaintiffs contend that Janssen knew about the risks but failed to warn consumers.

Want to Know if You’re Eligible to File an Elmiron Claim?

You may be legally entitled to compensation if you:

• Took Elmiron for a prolonged period of time, and;
• Were diagnosed with a vision disorder or experienced vision loss symptoms.

Our attorneys are investigating vision loss claims due to Elmiron. Contact us today. You can reach us by submitting our contact form or by calling us at (866) 575-7435 for a confidential evaluation of your potential claim. It’s not too late to see if you have a claim.