Texas Lawsuit Claims Antibiotic Levaquin Caused Tendon Damage
By Jim Greene
Published on May 05, 2010
A Texas woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging the company's Levaquin® antibiotic caused her to suffer permanent tendon damage.
Lisa Presley, 31, filed suit April 8 in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, in Beaumont, Texas. Defendants listed in the action are Johnson & Johnson, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, LLC.
Plaintiff Claims Permanent Achilles Tendon Damage
Presley's suit claims that taking Levaquin® caused severe and permanent injury to her Achilles tendon. By order of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Johnson & Johnson's packaging warns of the risk of tendonitis and torn tendons when taking Levaquin®, but Presley's suit says the risk is not accurately portrayed by product labeling and literature.
Levaquin® is one of a class of antibacterial drugs known as fluoroquinolones and is commonly prescribed to treat bronchitis and sinusitis. It is also used to treat other bacterial infections, including prostatitis and upper urinary tract infections. It has been on the market since 1997.
Johnson & Johnson Accused Of Negligence And Fraud
According to the suit, Johnson & Johnson is guilty of negligence, fraud, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranty, unjust enrichment, and violation of consumer protection laws for producing a product it knew was defective. The suit notes that fluoroquinolones, as a class, are known to cause side effects and that previous drugs in the class have been withdrawn from the market.
Presley's lawsuit asks reimbursement for medical expenses and loss of income, as well as compensation for permanent disability, disfigurement, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and physical impairment.
If you or someone you know has suffered tendonitis, ruptured tendons, or other damage after taking Levaquin®, contact an experienced personal injury/product liability attorney. You may be eligible for financial compensation to help you deal with the consequences of taking this potentially dangerous medication.
Keyword Tags: