Important progress was made in the Suboxone tooth decay multidistrict litigation (MDL) when the leadership was confirmed following the initial status conference in early March 2024. All of us at Childers, Schlueter & Smith (CSS) would like to congratulate Andy Childers, a founding partner, who was appointed to the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee.
This is far from the first time Andy has served an important role in a high-profile dangerous drugs MDL. He’s served as counsel and on executive committees several times. Most recently, he was appointed co-lead counsel for the baby formula necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) MDL in 2022, which involved plaintiffs whose babies developed the serious, and sometimes deadly, disease after being fed cow’s milk-based formula.
Andy is well-known for his experience representing victims harmed by negligent pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. He’s obtained several multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for these types of cases. Andy’s expertise will be integral as justice and compensation are sought through the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits, and he’ll work closely with lead counsel throughout the MDL.
The role and tasks of a Plaintiff’s Executive Committee during multidistrict litigation vary depending on the type of lawsuit and complexity of cases. But in general, they help move the case forward by alleviating the sheer amount of work required. For example, coordinating the activities of plaintiffs, conducting discovery, communicating with plaintiffs’ counsel, and even negotiating with defendants’ counsel are some of the tasks that members of a Plaintiff’s Steering Committee may be assigned.
A total of 20 attorneys have been appointed leadership roles for the Suboxone tooth decay MDL. Plaintiffs who suffered tooth decay, erosion and loss, cavities, gum disease, infections, and other oral and dental problems after taking Suboxone sublingual film continue to come forward as they become aware of the risks and possibility that the drug caused them harm. The number of plaintiffs in the Suboxone dental decay MDL is expected to grow significantly; there may be hundreds, thousands, or even more victims who file product liability lawsuits.
Suboxone Tooth Decay MDL Update
On February 2, 2024, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) issued a transfer order of 15 Suboxone dental decay lawsuits to be consolidated into MDL. Over the next several weeks, the Suboxone MDL expanded to include more than 50 plaintiffs who allege the drug caused serious dental issues. Plaintiffs claim the manufacturer, Indivior, and its former parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, failed to warn patients and medical professionals of the risks to dental health due to the acidity of the medication.
With the Suboxone tooth decay MDL leadership appointed, attorneys have begun gathering evidence and building cases to prove the defendants were negligent, and that they knew or should have known of the risks to patients’ oral health. Unfortunately, plaintiffs who were allegedly harmed by Suboxone film have required treatments and procedures for injuries they weren’t aware were possible, and many have suffered permanent damage. Lawsuits are seeking compensation for a range of damages, including pain and suffering, medical costs, and more.
Shortly after the leadership announcement, further progress was made in the form of another case management order (CMO) issued by the judge. The CMO allows attorneys to directly file Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits into the MDL if the case qualifies to become part of it. Before this, they had to be filed in the plaintiff’s local court and wait for it to be transferred. The direct filing of Suboxone dental decay lawsuits will further make the legal process more efficient, and an influx of cases is expected in the coming months.
Our Dangerous Drugs Lawyers Can Help
Given the known acidity of buprenorphine, one of the main ingredients in Suboxone sublingual film, and the dental and oral damage acid can cause, our team is confident in the strength of the tooth decay MDL against Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser. The defendants failed to warn patients and doctors of the health risks the drug may cause, and they should be held accountable.
With Andy Childers’ leadership role for the Suboxone tooth decay MDL, along with the help of others on our legal team, our firm is already and will continue to be directly involved in getting justice and compensation for victims. The negligence of the defendants has caused harm to people who greatly benefit from medications like Suboxone to treat opioid use disorder.
If you’ve suffered dental problems after taking Suboxone sublingual film, contact our firm online or call 1-800-641-0098 for a free case consultation. We’ll determine whether you have a case, walk you through your legal rights, and if your case should be filed directly into the Suboxone tooth decay MDL.
