Mounjaro Lawsuit Updates [2024]

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Hailey Friedman
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Mounjaro and similar drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic have become widely prescribed for weight management and weight loss in obese patients, although originally manufactured as glycemic control for patients with Type II diabetes. Recently, lawsuits have been filed against Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, with claims that Mounjaro usage in higher doses for weight management has caused various undisclosed health problems involving the gastrointestinal system and gallbladder. 

In August 2023, CNN reported a lawsuit filed by Morgan & Morgan on behalf of client Jaclyn Bjorklund alleging that the defendants–Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Company–were aware of risks associated with Mounjaro usage for weight loss but failed to warn prescribing physicians and patients properly. 

Individuals who used Mounjaro and suffered side effects like stomach paralysis, gallstones, and other stomach conditions are now filing lawsuits against the defendants, and attorneys expect the litigation to grow to include hundreds if not thousands of plaintiffs. 

If you or a family member are one of the patients suffering side effects from using Mounjaro, you’re liable to file a lawsuit subject to certain conditions. This article contains up-to-date information on the Mounjaro lawsuit and how you can file a lawsuit with the help of expert personal injury lawyers. 

What is the Mounjaro lawsuit about?

mounjaro injection

The Mounjaro lawsuit is a federal multidistrict litigation amongst 55 lawsuits targeted against its drug class. Plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit are alleging that they suffered serious health conditions after using the drug, with the first plaintiff, Jaclyn Bjorklund, claiming she has suffered from “severe vomiting, gastrointestinal burning, stomach pain, teeth falling out due to excessive vomiting, and being hospitalized on several occasions due to stomach issues, including visits to the ER.”

Plaintiffs are filing against Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk seeking financial compensation for health damages caused by the drug, including incurred medical expenses and emotional distress. The lawsuit has continued for almost eight months, and attorneys at Morgan & Morgan are currently investigating several thousand claims. 

Mounjaro Lawsuit vs Ozempic Lawsuit

The Ozempic lawsuit is a multidistrict class action litigation with at least 55 lawsuits. Plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit are alleged to suffer from similar side effects of Mounjaro usage, especially gastroparesis— a stomach condition that makes it difficult for food to reach the small intestine due to weak stomach muscles and nerves. 

Other side effects reported for Ozempic usage are cholecystitis, gastroparesis, and cholecystectomy.  As of February 2024, the Ozempic lawsuit settlement amount is estimated at $400,000 to $700,000 to cover plaintiffs’ medical costs, emotional distress, and punitive damages. 

Although the Mounjaro lawsuit was filed under similar circumstances, it has a lower anticipated settlement amount. The estimated settlement is $150,000 to $300,000, and the reason for the lower valuation is that Mounjaro has been on the market for a shorter time than Ozempic. 

Mounjaro Lawsuit vs Mounjaro Class Action Lawsuit

The Mounjaro lawsuit was filed on behalf of a single plaintiff, Jaclyn Bjorklund, by law firm Morgan & Morgan. The plaintiff first filed against Ozempic, but after Novo Nordisk’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit was rejected, and the judge cleared it to proceed, Bjorklund named Mounjaro and Eli Lilly in her lawsuit. 

Mounjaro class action lawsuit consolidates all Mounjaro product liability lawsuits in a multi-district litigation. It includes lawsuits involving gastroparesis and gastrointestinal issues caused by Mounjaro and its sister drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic. 

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro (brand name for Tirzepatide) is a US-manufactured drug approved by the FDA to treat type II diabetes mellitus. It is also prescribed off-label by doctors as a weight loss medication.

Mounjaro belongs to the GLP-1RA drug class that acts as a ‘dual agonist’ by mimicking glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which are natural hormones produced in the small intestine to catalyze sugar metabolism and production of insulin. It is prescribed as weekly injectable 5mg, 10mg, and 15mg dosages to regulate blood sugar levels. 

Side Effects of Mounjaro

The alleged side effects of Mounjaro usage range from mild to extreme symptoms. Mild side effects may last for a few days to weeks. 

They include:

  • Indigestion
  • Vomiting 
  • Abdominal pain
  • Mild increase in heart rate, etc.
  • Risk of thyroid cancer

Serious side effects that have been reported in Mounjaro clinical trials include:

  • Hypoglycemia 
  • Sudden gallbladder disease
  • Inflammation of the pancreas
  • Serious digestive problems 
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Acute kidney injury 

What is Gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis_and_Natural_Food

According to the NIH, Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying) is a stomach disorder that disrupts food movement to the small intestine. Typically, after eating, the stomach muscles work to grind the food into smaller pieces and push them into the small intestine for digestion, but with gastroparesis, the stomach muscles are too weak to do this, causing delayed digestion, which can lead to other symptoms and complications. 

Diabetic and cancer patients are more likely to get gastroparesis and suffer from symptoms like severe weight loss, fluctuating blood sugar levels, etc. 

Mounjaro Stomach Paralysis Symptoms

Mounjaro stomach paralysis symptoms include nausea, abdominal bloating, vomiting, change in blood sugar levels, and severe abdominal pain. 

Mounjaro Lawsuit: What You Need to Know

Here’s up-to-date information you need on the Mounjaro lawsuit:

Mounjaro Lawsuit 2024 Updates

By February 2024, plaintiffs and legal experts anticipated the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation’s (JPML) decision to establish a multidistrict litigation to consolidate Mounjaro lawsuits. 

On February 3, the JPML consolidated Mounjaro lawsuits filed through US Federal Courts into one jurisdiction. The Mounjaro lawsuit, with Eli Lilly named the defendant, was combined with the Ozempic lawsuits and consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to be handled by Judge Gene Pratter. 

As of this time, there were thirteen Mounjaro lawsuits in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and transfer orders were to be issued for lawsuits filed in other areas of the country. In total, lawyers expected as many as 10,000 lawsuits.

The first status hearing was scheduled for March 14, 2023, where Judge Pratter assigned roles to attorneys, established a discovery timeline, and determined the admissibility of evidence and what cases qualified for inclusion. 

In April 2024, the lawsuit appeared to be a fast-moving tort, with lawyers estimating the number of claimants in the MDL to increase to 25,000 over the next eighteen months. 

Mounjaro Lawsuit 2023 Updates

On October 21, 2023, a study was published by JAMA establishing a causal relationship between Mounjaro usage for weight management and increased risk of severe gastrointestinal problems. Following this, Eli Lilly filed lawsuits against compounding medspas, wellness centers, and pharmacies for fraudulent distribution of fake products labeled as Mounjaro.

In December 2023, a lawsuit was filed against the defendants by a patient from Louisiana, claiming Mounjaro was responsible for causing them severe health issues, including vomiting and tooth loss. 

This happened after Novo Nordisk filed to dismiss Jaclyn Bjorklund’s Ozempic lawsuit, and Jaclyn named Mounjaro in her lawsuit after the judge cleared it to proceed. Eli Lilly and Company, however, contested the court’s jurisdiction, claiming the plaintiff’s legal team did not have enough evidence to support the lawsuit.

Mounjaro Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

The Mounjaro lawsuit settlement amount comprises compensation for legal damages such as medical costs, lost wages, disability, emotional distress, therapy, and other related complications. 

Although currently estimated at $150,000 to $300,000, the settlement amount also depends on the plaintiff’s time, length of exposure to the drug, extent of injuries, and circumstances unique to the plaintiff’s case. 

You can use the pain and suffering calculator on Injury Lawyer Connect to estimate your settlement payout.

Pain and suffering calculator
Estimate settlement amounts with the Injury Lawyers Connect pain and 1suffering calculator.

Who Can File a Mounjaro Stomach Paralysis Claim?

Anyone who can prove that they used Mounjaro and are now dealing with severe side effects like stomach paralysis is eligible to file a lawsuit against Eli Lilly and Company. To establish a strong claim standing, you should have medical records, diagnosis of medical conditions, prescription information, consultations with a doctor, and associated medical costs. 

Plaintiffs should also show additional evidence of the following:

  • Proof of use: You should have medical prescriptions and records showing Mounjaro usage.
  • Adverse health effects: You must be able to prove that side effects you’re suffering, like ileus, gastroparesis, and prolonged vomiting, are from Mounjaro usage. Symptoms should have occurred within 60 days of using the drug.

The best way to accurately establish eligibility for joining the ongoing stomach paralysis lawsuit is to consult an experienced injury lawyer who will help review and present your case. 

Should I Seek a Mounjaro Stomach Paralysis Lawyer for My Claim? 

If you’ve decided to file a lawsuit against Eli Lilly and Company seeking compensation for personal injuries sustained, you should consult a knowledgeable Mounjaro stomach paralysis lawyer for your claim. A legal professional understands the complexities of the case and can guide you through the process of filing the lawsuit. 

A good lawyer will help you gather medical records and investigate evidence to establish a connection between Mounjaro’s drug use and your current medical condition. They will also estimate the value of damages and help you get the highest possible compensation if you’re eligible to file. 

Eli Lilly & Co. Responses to Mounjaro Lawsuits

First, Eli Lilly & Co. contested Louisiana’s court jurisdiction, claiming that the lawsuit did not adequately establish a connection between their companies and Louisiana. The defendants also argued that the plaintiff’s legal teams failed to present adequate evidence linking Louisiana to the Mounjaro lawsuit context. 

A spokesperson for Eli Lilly asserted that patient safety is the company’s top priority, and they would actively evaluate, monitor, and report safety medicine for all medicines. CNN also reached out to the defendants for a statement, but it has not yet been received.

More about the Mounjaro Manufacturer Lawsuits 

Learn more about the Mounjaro lawsuit. 

What is the Morgan and Morgan Mounjaro Lawsuit? 

The Morgan and Morgan Mounjaro lawsuit involves the manufacturers of Mounjaro and the law firm Morgan & Morgan who filed the first lawsuit against Eli Lilly on behalf of Jaclyn Bjorklund. According to CBS News, the claims are that diabetes drugs (also popular for weight management) cause gastroparesis. 

How Much is a Mounjaro Lawsuit Worth?

As of February 2024, the anticipated Mounjaro lawsuit settlement is valued at $150,000 to $300,000 to cover medical expenses, punitive damages, emotional distress, or pain. It is significantly lower than that of Ozempic because plaintiffs may have less exposure to the drug due to it being on the market for a shorter period. 

Is Mounjaro and Zepbound the same?

mounjaro and zepbound

Mounjaro and Zepbound are both brand names for Tirzepatide, but they are not the same. The FDA approves Mounjaro for treating type II diabetes, while Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss.

Find the Best Lawyer For Your Mounjaro Lawsuit

If you’ve suffered or are suffering any side effects from Mounjaro usage, it is advisable first to seek medical care. This puts your health first but also proves that you attempted to minimize damages, increasing your eligibility for compensation. Make sure to consolidate all medical documents, including the Mounjaro prescription and use given to you by your doctor, plus records that show a timeline correlation between Mounjaro usage and your medical injuries. 

After this, you should go to the best injury lawyer with experience in pharmaceutical litigations, mass tort, and bad drug lawsuits. At Injury Lawyers Connect, you’ll find the best injury lawyer in your area with years of experience who has won cases similar to yours.

Injury Lawyers Connect will connect you with lawyers dedicated to helping those who have suffered from serious injury and health conditions caused by the negligence of defective products and are qualified to take on even the most complex personal injury cases. They have an outstanding record of success at the trial and appellate level, fueled by specialized expertise, aggressive advocacy, and extensive case preparation. 

Ready to find the right lawyer for your Mounjaro Lawsuit?

Contact Injury Lawyers Connect today!