Mass tort cases are nothing new. While they may not get the attention of a class action, they still can lead to significant results.
Many of the most famous mass tort cases led to valuable verdicts that helped many people. Alert Communications explains there are a few medical-related mass torts that have helped to make the treatment of patients better.
Vioxx
A large settlement and the potential to save thousands of lives came from the Vioxx mass tort. Vioxx is a pain drug. It caused strokes and heart attacks in users with an estimated result of about 38,000 deaths. Due to the severity of the damage due to Vioxx, users who had suffered and surviving family members brought their cases to court and held the manufacturer Merck responsible.
Silicone breast implants
Starting in 1984, silicone breast implant mass torts hit the courts. The claims were the implants led to serious health issues, including autoimmune diseases and cancer. There was not a lot of medical evidence, but the suffering of victims was enough for the courts to rule against manufacturers. These claims essentially put the silicone breast implant industry out of business and protected countless future patients from needless pain and suffering.
Transvaginal mesh
Transvaginal mesh was a product used in surgeries to repair pelvic organ prolapse. While the TVM did an effective job, it also caused severe internal injuries. These lawsuits began in 2012, and the result is over 60,000 claims with damages adding up to billions of dollars. It is one of the largest mass torts in history.
These three examples show how mass torts can bring about change and help prevent others from suffering injuries due to bad medical products and devices.