March 6, 2014 — Over 600 Zoloft birth defect lawsuits have been filed throughout the United States, according to a Joint Status Report issued by Judge Cynthia M. Rufe and lawyers involved in the federal litigation.
Approximately 589 cases are pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2342) was established to centralize the sprawling litigation.
Dozens of Zoloft lawsuits are also pending in state courts around the nation, including:
- Alabama: One lawsuit, Corley, pending before Judge Elisabeth A. French with an August 2015 jury trial date.
- California: Six lawsuits pending in Orange County Superior Court; two remanded.
- Illinois: Nearly 60 plaintiffs’ families have filed lawsuits.
- Missouri: Foster, et al. v. Pfizer involves multiple families; preemptory trial set for September 2015.
- New York: Six cases pending in three counties before three different judges.
Plaintiffs allege that Pfizer failed to adequately inform women about the risk of birth defects from using Zoloft during pregnancy. Numerous studies have linked Zoloft and birth defects, including Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), omphalocele, craniosynostosis, limb reduction defects, anal atresia, septal heart defects, premature birth, intellectual disabilities, and more.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
