Two more lawsuits filed over reflux medicine

New Orleans attorney Allan Berger has filed two more federal lawsuits against the manufacturers of a reflux medicine that allegedly causes tardive dyskinesia, a nervous system disorder that causes abnormal movements.

Berger filed suit on July 12 on behalf of Ellen Austin against Actavis, Actavis Elizabeth and Watson Pharmaceuticals. Berger also represents Leslie Keeper, in a suit filed July 13 against Qualitest Pharmaceuticals.

Both cases were filed in federal court in New Orleans.

Both petitioners claim the drug Reglan, or its generic version metoclopramide, caused them to suffer from tardive dyskinesia.

Reglan is indicated for short-term therapy for nausea symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux and acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis. According to the lawsuits, the drug causes serious, permanent and disabling problems including injuries to the central nervous and extrapyramidal motor systems.

Further, the lawsuits state that the defendants disseminated inaccurate, misleading, incomplete, false and otherwise inadequate information concerning the side-effects of Reglan.

Keeper and Austin are seeking damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical disfigurement, physical impairment, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, court costs and interest.

New Orleans attorneys Allan Berger and Andrew J. Geiger of Allan Berger & Associates are representing the plaintiffs. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan is assigned to the cases.

Case Nos. 2:10cv01949 and 2:10cv01955