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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Families blame Xarelto makers for causing deaths of relatives

BELLEVILLE – A group of 10 residents from different states is suing pharmaceutical companies, alleging dangerous side effects from family members taking the drug Xarelto. 

Robert Atkins, Charlene Bolen, individually and as special administrator for Barbara Bradley, deceased, Faye Bagley Cook, Sarah Lynn Croll, individually and as special administrator for Charloee Croll, deceased, Clifford Howard, Ronald Kendall, James Perkins, Teresa Pruitt, Mile Tuiolemotu, and Kathy Baker, individually and as special administrator for Martha Watson, deceased, filed a lawsuit Nov. 20 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, among other defendants.

According to the complaint, the defendants designed, researched, developed and distributed the drug Xarelto as a safe and effective treatment to reduce the risk of stroke and embolism in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery. In the course of marketing Xarelto to patients, the suit says the defendants oversold the efficacy of the drug. 

Indeed, on June 6, 2013, the defendants received a letter from the Food and Drug Administration alleging their claims were misleading, the suit states. Nonetheless, the defendants continued to market Xarelto to physicians who were not made aware of the risks, and who then prescribed the drug to the plaintiffs, the suit alleges.

The suit charges all nine defendants with strict product liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, express and implied warranty, survival action and wrongful death.

The plaintiffs seek at least $50,000 for each count from each defendant, court costs and attorney fees. They are represented by attorneys John J. Driscoll and Christopher J. Quinn of The Driscoll Firm in St. Louis.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-670

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