Weitz & Luxenberg Files Seroquel Diabetes Lawsuit Against Astrazeneca

Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., one of the leading plaintiffs’ litigation law firms in America, filed a lawsuit today against pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on behalf of a New York City Fire Department Emergency Medical Technician whose diabetes was allegedly caused by AstraZeneca's drug Seroquel.

The plaintiff, EMT Ernest Armstead, was one of the many brave responders on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was severely injured when the World Trade Center’s North Tower collapsed as he was helping victims at the foot of the buildings.

Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after recovery from his 9/11 physical injuries, Mr. Armstead was prescribed Seroquel, which Weitz & Luxenberg claims did not carry a warning that the powerful drug can cause diabetes. He thereafter developed the debilitating, life-long disease known as Type 2 diabetes. Mr. Armstead joins thousands of others across the country who have filed actions claiming that Seroquel caused them to develop diabetes and that AstraZeneca hid its knowledge of this risk from the FDA, doctors and patients.

In a letter dated November 16, 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services of the Food and Drug Administration cited violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in connection with AstraZeneca's use of promotional material deemed by the FDA to be "false or misleading because it minimizes the risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus" and which "raises significant public health and safety concerns through its minimization of the risks associated with Seroquel."

A deposition of AstraZeneca's Chief Executive Officer, David Brennan, about his company's alleged undisclosed knowledge regarding the dangerous side effect of diabetes, is being taken this Friday, June 20th in London, England at the law offices of Baker Botts, a U.S. firm defending the company. Lawyers from three of the lead plaintiffs’ counsel in the litigation (Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers; Weitz & Luxenberg; and Bailey, Perrin, Bailey) will be conducting the deposition.

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