Chantix Multidistrict Litigation Inching Forward

Although Chantix litigation has been consolidated in multidistrict litigation, as presided over by District Judge Inge P. Johnson, since October of 2009, many plaintiffs and other interested parties are unaware of the progress it has been making since it was consolidated. At the time of the consolidation, which was requested in July of 2009, there were only 34 Chantix lawsuits involved. Now, there are more than 1,200 that have been filed in courts across the country and are being consolidated in multidistrict litigation, which will combine pretrial processes in similar cases in order to expedite the legal process.

            Most Chantix cases involved in multidistrict litigation are related to Chantix suicide and suicide attempts, which is one of the more common psychological side effects of the popular smoking cessation aid. However, there are a multitude of other Chantix side effects listed as

complaints in various lawsuits – aggression and rage, mood swings, depression, and suicidal thoughts and suicide ideation have all been cited as reasons for filing lawsuits. There have been hundreds of suicides associated with the use of Chantix, and many of the Chantix cases centralized in the Northern District Court of Alabama are wrongful death lawsuits filed by family members of the deceased.

            Bellwether trials are the next thing on the minds of those associated with the multidistrict litigation, with the first eight bellwether candidates set to be chosen on March 15^th of next year. Four of these eight plaintiffs will be suicide and suicide attempt cases, and the remaining four will have been affected by other psychological Chantix side effects. Out of these eight, two will be chosen to be the first bellwether cases – and trials will begin on the 22^nd of October, 2012.

            Chantix litigation is already in the process of selecting these first plaintiffs, whose trials will give an idea of what is to come in Chantix litigation to other plaintiffs and legal experts.

            These multidistrict litigation cases are only dealing with the psychological sideeffects of Chantix. However, there are some physical side effects as well – some patients have experienced heart attacks and strokes after beginning to take the medication. These potentially deadly conditions do warrant a lawsuit of their own, but it remains to be seen what will become of these Chantix heart lawsuits.