Quoted from http://www.northjersey.com/news/63654137.html
Bayer unit sued over contraceptives' side effects
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
BY JOHN PETRICK
The Record
STAFF WRITER
Ten out-of-state women have filed lawsuits against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Wayne alleging that they suffered from deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms as a result of taking the prescription contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella.
The women, who hail from various cities in Tennessee and Texas, all claim that Bayer and others misled the consumer about the contraceptives' health risks.
The plaintiffs, who claim to have fallen ill on various dates in 2007 and 2008, are suing for monetary, including punitive, damages. The suits, filed in state Superior Court in Paterson, over the past week, allege negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs did not return repeated calls to elaborate on the extent of the women's injuries, their current conditions and other details.
In a written statement, Bayer said Tuesday: "We can confirm that Bayer does have lawsuits pending regarding Yaz and Yasmin, and that as of Thursday, Sept. 24, we have been served with 74 cases. We are still in the process of gathering information on these cases, but the complaints we have reviewed so far pertain to side effects that are warned about in our approved labeling and the labeling for other oral contraceptives. Bayer will defend itself vigorously against these lawsuits."
