Chicago – A federal judge has appointed Simmons Hanly Conroy Shareholder Trent Miracle as co-lead counsel in the national multidistrict litigation pending against the manufacturers of testosterone therapy replacement treatments.
In an order entered July 31, the Honorable Matthew F. Kennelly, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, appointed Miracle and attorneys Ronald E. Johnson Jr. and Christopher A. Seeger as co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the testosterone replacement therapy products liability litigation. Miracle and his co-leads will manage the federal litigation and oversee 29 other attorneys representing men who were seriously injured while taking testosterone replacement therapies.
“This is an important litigation that could impact thousands of men throughout the country,” Miracle said. “Judge Kennelly’s appointments include some of the nation’s top trial attorneys, and I’m looking forward to working with them as we fight for the rights of those unnecessarily harmed while receiving testosterone replacement therapy.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a safety announcement about the increased risks associated with low testosterone treatment therapies. Based on new research which found men taking testosterone treatments had a greater chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, the FDA launched its own investigation of testosterone replacement therapy.
In February 2014, Simmons Hanly Conroy, led by Miracle, filed the first low testosterone lawsuits in the country following the FDA’s warning. He was subsequently appointed co-chair of the American Association for Justice’s Testosterone Therapy Litigation Group.
The testosterone replacement therapy MDL will help men injured by testosterone treatments receive justice in timely manner, Miracle said.
“Low testosterone treatments like AndroGel have been heavily marketed to consumers without regard for the possible risks they could cause,” Miracle said. “These men looked to testosterone treatments to help them maintain their quality of life and instead were seriously injured.”
Simmons Hanly Conroy and its attorneys have held multiple national positions of note in pharmaceutical mass torts litigations. Federal judges have appointed the firm’s attorneys to serve on multiple plaintiff steering committees in mass tort litigations including Yaz, DePuy hip implants, Propecia, Transvaginal Mesh Litigation, Lipitor, and more. Their work has resulted in millions of dollars secured on behalf of clients injured by dangerous drugs and defective medical devices.
“My clients can rest assured that they have a national team of skilled trial attorneys working on their behalf to ensure they receive justice,” Miracle said.
The case is In Re: Testosterone Replacement Therapy Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2545, Case No. 14 C 1748.
