The latest developments in the Ozempic litigation have been marked by a series of Case Management Orders (CMOs) overseen by Judge Karen Marston in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The case involves personal injury claims related to severe stomach issues, intraoperative aspiration, blindness, and other serious injuries. In the past month, eight new CMOs have been entered.
The breakdown of these orders is as follows:
- **CMO No. 10**: Known as the “Rule 502(d) Order,” this rule helps prevent accidental disclosure of privileged or protected documents.
- **CMO No. 11**: This order outlines a negotiated process to protect the defendants’ confidential trade secrets and similar information from competitors.
- **CMO No. 12**: Involves Plaintiff Fact Sheets (PFS), a common process in multi-district litigation (MDLs) that speeds up the collection of information and documents from plaintiffs.
- **CMO No. 13**: Narrows down the appropriate parties involved in the network of companies behind Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP1 medications.
- **CMO No. 14**: The “Direct Filing Order” allows plaintiffs nationwide to file their cases directly in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, saving time and money. Since mid-July, the number of filed cases has more than quadrupled.
- **CMO No. 15**: Establishes the “ESI Protocol,” which details how parties will handle electronically stored information.
- **CMO No. 16**: Appoints the Honorable Lawrence F. Stengel (Retired) as Special Discovery Master to oversee third-party discovery issues.
- **CMO No. 17**: Sets guidelines for tracking time and expenses for the Common Benefit Fund, which will be distributed at the end of the litigation based on work that benefits all plaintiffs.
These orders are expected to play a significant role in addressing key issues within the GLP-1/Ozempic MDL.
"Our lawyers continue to investigate cases of gastroparesis, intestinal obstruction, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism related to the use of diabetes and weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro," stated an attorney involved in the case.
Contact information for further inquiries was provided by legal representatives handling these investigations.