LAKE CHARLES – A Louisiana woman has filed a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company claiming she suffered severe stomach injuries from using the company's medication for diabetes.
Robin Smith filed a lawsuit in federal court against Eli Lilly and Company, citing allegations of negligence, failure to provide inadequate warning, and breach of express warranty.
According to court documents, Eli Lilly manufactured, marketed and distributed Mounjaro, an injectable prescription medication designed to regulate blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Smith claims to have suffered severe injuries, including gastroparesis and Wernicke's encephalopathy, from using Mounjaro.
Smith accuses Eli Lilly of inadequately conveying the seriousness of gastrointestinal issues linked to Mounjaro, particularly the potential risk of gastroparesis, a condition characterized by abnormal stomach muscle movement, leading to complications such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
According to the complaint, Eli Lilly was aware or should have been aware of the risks associated with the drug class to which Mounjaro belongs. Smith says the company's failure to appropriately disclose information regarding the risk of gastroparesis renders the medication warnings inadequate.
Smith says she has sustained severe and permanent injuries from using the drug, necessitating ongoing care in a nursing facility. She is seeking damages for pain, suffering and medical costs plus interest, court costs and other relief.
She is being represented by David H. Hanchey, Todd A. Townsley and Hannah E. Mayeaux of the Townsley Law Firm in Lake Charles.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Lake Charles Division case number 2:23-cv-01610