A Louisiana resident has filed a lawsuit against multiple pharmaceutical companies, alleging severe personal injuries from contaminated eye drops. Harry Anderson lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on July 19, 2024, targeting Cardinal Health, Inc., The Harvard Drug Group, LLC d/b/a Rugby Laboratories and Major Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Kilitch Healthcare India Limited, and Velocity Pharma, LLC.
The lawsuit revolves around Anderson's use of Rugby-branded Polyvinyl Alcohol 1.4% lubricating eye drops, which he believed to be safe and sterile. According to the complaint, Anderson began using the product on August 9, 2023. Shortly after starting its use, he experienced a loss of vision in his right eye. Medical consultations revealed a detached retina necessitating emergency surgery on September 29, 2023. Despite multiple surgeries and treatments since then, Anderson has lost vision in both eyes.
The complaint outlines that on October 27, 2023, the FDA issued a warning against purchasing the product due to risks of eye infections and potential blindness. This was followed by a recall initiated by the defendants on October 31, 2023. The recall came after FDA investigators discovered unsanitary manufacturing conditions and positive bacterial test results linked to adverse events including vision loss.
Anderson accuses the defendants of negligence under several points: failing to prevent contamination during manufacturing; inadequate sampling procedures; poor quality control; misleading labeling; and not following proper cleaning protocols. He also invokes the Louisiana Products Liability Act (La. R.S. 9:2800.53(1)), claiming that his injuries were caused by an unreasonably dangerous defect present when the product left the defendants' control.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Anderson demands compensatory damages for pain and suffering (both past and future), medical expenses (past and future), mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, physical injuries resulting in disability and disfigurement. Additionally, he seeks economic damages for out-of-pocket expenses related to his treatment along with pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, attorney’s fees, costs of proceedings and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Harry Anderson are attorneys Brian M. Caubarreaux, Eugene A. Ledet Jr, and Jacob R. Caubarreaux from Brian Caubarreaux & Associates based in Lafayette, Louisiana.