As we have discussed in previous posts, studies have shown that the ingredients contained in YAZ®, Yasmin® and Ocella® have been linked to various forms of severe side-effects. Reportedly, these side-effects include: heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis (also known as DVT or blood clots), internal organ damage (including gallbladder damage), myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism. Recently, a large number of YAZ® lawsuits have been designated as Mass Tort or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) cases.
 

The parties involved in the Mass Tort litigation have agreed upon the wording of a form called the Plaintiff Fact Sheet.  In pharmaceutical cases with Mass Tort or MDL designations, plaintiffs are required to submit a detailed Plaintiff Fact Sheet.  The Plaintiff Fact Sheet requires the plaintiff to supply medical, liability and general background information within a specified time period, usually subject to periodic updating and revision.  While much of the information requested in the Plaintiff Fact Sheet may seem cumulative or irrelevant, that information is crucial to gauging the relative strengths and weaknesses of each plaintiff’s respective claim.  In this manner, the Plaintiff Fact Sheet is instrumental in permitting both parties, as well as the Court, to choose “bellwether cases” for case specific discovery and, possibly, trial.