Propulsid Update
(Updated April 27, 2005)
MDL Clients: Applies to ALL MDL Plaintiffs and ALL Tolling Agreement Clients
The MDL Settlement Program has finally reached the minimum number of claimants for the program to actually begin. Therefore, all claim forms are due by August 10, 2005. We are currently in the process of preparing nearly 700 claim forms for our clients. When a claim form is complete, we will mail it to the specific client for verification and signing. We will then submit the claim form as required for review by the MDL Medical Panel. Once you receive your claim form, it is very important that you review your form, sign it and return it to us immediately.
The Medical Panel will review the claim to determine whether the claim is compensable. The Medical Panel will have at least 45 days to review claims. Compensable claims require a specific cardiac event (as defined in the Term Sheet we have previously provided to each MDL client) within 72 hours of the last dose of Propulsid. If the Medical Panel rejects a claim, there will be no compensation and the claim is dismissed with prejudice. If the Medical Panel accepts the claim, the Special Master, a lawyer appointed by the Court, will determine the amount of compensation. The decisions of the Medical Panel and Special Master are not appealable.
State Court Clients: Applies to all Rankin Plaintiffs
The Mississippi Supreme Court reversed the verdict on the trial of the first 10 plaintiffs and remanded the case for severance, transfer to appropriate venues, and for separate trials for all 154 plaintiffs. In addition, the Mississippi Supreme Court held thatJefferson and Claiborne Counties are improper venues for these trials. We are still in the process of working with the trial court to determine the procedure in which the cases will be severed, transferred (if applicable) and location of trial. Since this involves all 154 cases, we expect this process to take quite some time and new information will be posted when it is available and mailed to each client affected.
There has been some informal discussion between the Defendants and the attorneys representing state court cases about a nationwide settlement for cases in state court. We have no details at this time concerning this possibility but will keep you informed if and when new information is available.
ALL CLIENTS: It is imperative that we have current address and telephone information on each client. Clients are asked to notify us of any address or telephone changes immediately.
Clients with specific questions should put them in writing and e-mail them to sbarlow@shannonlawfirm.com or mail them in regular mail to the Propulsid Litigation Dept. at our address listed on this web site.
