Case Management Order Issued For Valsartan Recall Lawsuits

Case Management Order Issued For Valsartan Recall Lawsuits

Introduction

In a case management order issued on February 25, linked to valsartan recall lawsuits, U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler indicated that an initial status conference would be held on March 27, to appoint a liaison counsel after both the parties confer and take the court's approval.

A liaison counsel for each side will be performing administrative functions like receiving orders and notices from the court, maintaining complete files and additional duties decided during the conference. Both the parties are instructed to submit a proposal ahead of the conference based on their preliminary understanding of the case facts and legal issues. The discussion in the conference would also include the appointment of recall lawyers to serve in other leadership roles in the litigation; the status of any state proceedings; the chances of a consolidated Master Amended complaint and short form complaints; direct filing; tolling arguments, and the status of any motions and discovery already undertaken.

Valsartan drug manufacturers and distributors currently face 50 product liability lawsuits with claims that the distributed version of valsartan was contaminated with carcinogenic substances, including N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), which happens to be a by-product of the generic drug manufacturing process.