$100 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR VICTIMS OF CONTAMINATED STEROID INJECTION

The Boston Herald reports that the New England Compounding Center, a nationwide distributor of steroids based in Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $100 million to victims who contracted fungal meningitis and families who lost loved ones due to contaminated steroid injections. The compounding facility prepared the injections and sent them to doctors and medical centers across the United States. The contaminated injections, which were primarily used to treat back pain, have been identified as the cause of 64 deaths. Countless others have been injured throughout at least 23 states. The compounding center voluntarily recalled 17,000 vials of the steroid, which is known as methylprednisolone acetate.

Deadly Meningitis Outbreak

In the majority of cases, the meningitis victims who received steroid shots sought relief for back pain. One-third of the victims were concentrated in Michigan. The victims also included a large number of Army combat veterans being treated for war-related injuries. Because the steroid injections were tainted with fungal meningitis, the individuals who received these shots became rapidly ill.

Shortly after the 2012 outbreak, the compounding center’s owners surrendered their licenses and sought bankruptcy protection. Although $100 million may sound like a significant sum to many people, representatives for one group of plaintiffs claim that, because there are so many injured plaintiffs, each victim may only receive about $30,000. Furthermore, the compounding facility is in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings, which means the court must approve the final settlement figure before authorizing the release of any funds to the plaintiffs. According to an NBC News report, no criminal charges have been filed against the owners of the New England Compounding Center, however, the FBI, led by U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, is currently conducting a criminal probe into the meningitis outbreak.

Defective Pharmaceutical Injury Lawyers

The Food and Drug Administration places strict regulations on the manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, drug companies do not always adhere to these standards. If you believe you or a member of your family has been the victim of pharmaceutical negligence or a formulation or compounding mistake, call the personal injury attorneys at Joel H. Schwartz. P.C. today at (617) 742-1170 to discuss your case.

This website has been prepared by Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. for informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.