Plaintiff Claims Multiple Complications From Yaz

In a new lawsuit filed against Bayer, plaintiff Yvette Reyes claims that she suffered numerous complications including pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and stroke resulting from Yaz. Reyes filed her lawsuit in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California on July 20, 2012. Her lawsuit is one of a series of coordinated proceedings currently being handled by that court.

Lawsuit alleges negligence and fraud

According to her lawsuit, Reyes suffered a stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism in August 2010, and she alleges that these complications were caused by the contraceptive Yaz. Reyes brings claims of negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, strict liability, breach of implied and express warranties, deceit by concealment, and various civil code violations. She is seeking compensation for lost earnings, economic damages, punitive damages, exemplary damages, injunctive relief, restitution, interest, fees and costs associated with the suit.

More than 12,000 Yaz lawsuits filed

More than 12,000 Yaz lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. by women who allege complications from the contraceptives Yaz or Yasmin. These contraceptives contain drospirenone, a synthetic progestin that has been found to cause blood clots. A blood clot in the brain can cause a stroke; a blood clot deep in a vein causes deep vein thrombosis; and a blood clot in the lung can cause pulmonary embolism. Most of the Yaz lawsuits allege blood clots, stroke, pulmonary embolism, or deep vein thrombosis, but some claim other complications such as gallbladder disease.

To date, Bayer has paid out more than $400 million to settle more than 1,800 Yaz lawsuits. The company also announced that it has put aside an additional $610 million for future Yaz lawsuit settlements. This would bring the total to more than $1 billion. However, some industry experts have expressed the opinion that Bayer may end up paying as much as $2.5 billion by the time all the lawsuits are settled.

A Yaz multidistrict litigation, or MDL, was established in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois under Chief Judge David R. Herndon to consolidate thousands of these lawsuits. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices recently reported that the Yaz MDL is the largest MDL in the U.S.

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