A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturers of the pain medication Darvocet after a Louisiana woman suffered a fatal heart attack after allegedly ingesting the drug.
Peggy Oniate, individually and as representative of the estate of her mother Elizabeth Houlihan, Elizabeth Frederick and Andrew Houlihan Jr. filed suit against Eli Lilly and Co., Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc., Vintage Pharmaceuticals Inc., Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. on May 24 in federal court in New Orleans.
The decedent began taking Darvocet or its generic version from sometime in 2009 and continued to take the drug until her fatal heart attack in May 2010, the lawsuit states. It claims the decedent was unaware of the drug's side effects or dangerous properties. The family states that if their mother had known of the drug's risks, she would not have ingested the medicine.
On behalf of the decedent's estate, Oniate is seeking damages for medical and funeral expenses, physical and mental pain and suffering, loss of love, affection, society and services and interest.
The plaintiffs are represented by Frank A. Silvestri, John Paul Massicot and Damien Savoie of Silvestri & Massicot in New Orleans. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:11-cv-01225
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Eli Lilly over Darvocet
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