A Madison County man's product liability lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Walgreens and Eli Lilly involving the Type 2 diabetes drug Actos has been transferred to Cook County.
According to an order entered by Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder on June 29, the suit brought by Matthew Gasparovic and his wife Sumico Yamana has been transferred and consolidated with other Actos litigation for pretrial discovery purposes only, pursuant to an order from the Illinois Supreme Court.
The Madison County case is stayed pending an order from Cook County remanding it for purposes of trial.
The suit filed in March claims that Gasparovic's use of Actos has caused him to develop bladder cancer which has resulted in medical expenses, bodily damage, pain and suffering, anxiety and mental anguish, disability and the loss of a normal life.
Gasparovic, represented by Edward Szewczyk and Philip Rarick of Callis Papa Hale & Szewczyk in Granite City, had fought transfer to Cook County, saying among other things that travel costs would be substantial.
Takeda and Eli Lilly, represented by attorneys from Fox Galvin in St. Louis and Tucker Ellis in Chicago, have denied that Actos causes bladder cancer.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-300