NEW ORLEANS - A Louisiana woman has filed a lawsuit against the makers of Yaz and Yasmin claiming that that birth control medication caused her to suffer several miscarriages.
Debbie Caine Matthews filed suit against Bayer Corp., Bayer Healthcare, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp., Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Berlex Laboratories Inc., Berlex Inc., and Bayer Schering Pharma AG on Sept. 16 in federal court in New Orleans.
Matthews claims she suffered injuries as a result of ingestion of the pharmaceutical drugs Yaz and Yasmin, which included heavy bleeding and a spontaneous abortion. Matthews was prescribed the drug around 2007 and suffered a miscarriage in June 2008, February 2008, May 2011 and August 2011, the suit claims. She claims that the defendants fraudulently concealed and intentionally omitted that Yaz/Yasmin was not as safe as other available contraceptives, had higher risks, and was not adequately tested.
The defendants are accused of product liability, negligence, fraud, civil conspiracy, and commercial bribery.
The plaintiff is seeking an award of $10 million in damages for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, loss of employment, attorney’s fees, court costs, and interest.
Matthews is represented by Edwin M. Shorty, Jr. of Edwin M. Shorty, Jr. & Associates in New Orleans and Hope L. Harper of H.L. Harper & Associates in New Orleans. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:13-cv-05844