Yaz Litigation Heats Up in Pennsylvania, New Jersey

Litigation surrounding popular birth control pills containing the synthetic hormone drospirenone and sold under the brand names Yaz and Yasmin has been consolidated in some states, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now New Jersey. One of the Yaz lawsuits filed by plaintiff Jean Cummins regarding the death of her daughter Michelle Pfleger was introduced in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and was subsequently combined with other cases filed in the same state over drospirenone-based birth control pills.

Pfleger’s case was extraordinary but unfortunately not unheard-of. The 18-year-old college freshman was walking to class when she collapsed and died of a pulmonary thromboembolism that has been linked to Yaz, which she was taking to treat acne. The pulmonary thromboembolism was caused when a blood clot lodged in her lungs and created a blockage, leading to fatal cardiac arrest. Although death related to Yaz and similar products is not common, it is significant to note the very real risk of fatal complications with Yaz blood clots.

Although there is a chance of experiencing blood clots when taking any oral contraceptive or other form of hormonal birth control, a patient’s risk of developing a blood clot when taking Yaz is about six times more than if the patient is taking birth control with another hormone as the active ingredient. For this reason, many plaintiffs are saying that Yaz should be pulled from the market entirely – women have many other oral contraceptive options that simply do not come with the same kinds of risk associated with Yaz.

The seriousness of many Yaz side effects has led to a multitude of cases filed against Bayer Pharmaceuticals and other drospirenone birth control manufacturers. In some states, these cases have been consolidated in mass tort litigation. This will help to organize and expedite the legal process. Pennsylvania’s cases, including the wrongful death lawsuit related to Michelle Pfleger, are being handled by the Complex Litigation Center, part of the Court of Common Pleas. Judge Sandra M. Moss will oversee these lawsuits. A similar consolidation is taking place in New Jersey under Judge Brian R. Martinotti.