NEW YORK, May 18, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Ashcraft & Gerel LLP and Seeger Weiss LLP announce that they have filed suit against Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., a division of Johnson and Johnson Inc. on behalf of the family of a 17-year-old Ortho Evra user who suffered a stroke resulting in her death in August 2004. She had been using Ortho Evra for approximately four months prior to her stroke. The suit was filed on May 18, 2006 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County.
Michelle Parfitt of Ashcraft & Gerel LLP states, "Laurie Swanson, diagnosed with autism, was a sensitive and outgoing young teenager who embraced life. Her life ended prematurely after using the Ortho Evra birth control patch. Despite this tragedy, as an organ donor, Laurie's special gifts continue on." Christopher Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP states, "This is one of the saddest cases I've been involved with. This was a sweet 17 year old girl. This shouldn't have happened and Johnson & Johnson and Ortho McNeil must be held accountable."
Ortho Evra is a patch placed on the skin that releases the same two hormones employed by regular birth control pills. However, the patch varies from the pill in that the hormones in the patch are released slowly over time, unlike the hormones in the pill that are released upon digestion. Women who use the Ortho Evra patch may be exposed to approximately 60% more of the hormone estrogen than women who use traditional birth control pills. High levels of the estrogen hormone in the bloodstream have been linked to the formation of blood clots in the legs and the lungs, which can lead to more serious problems including heart attacks and strokes. For further information, please visit http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Pharmaceutical-Injury-C1/Ortho-Evra-Patch-P48/.
About Ashcraft & Gerel LLP
Ashcraft & Gerel LLP was founded in 1953 and has grown to employ over three dozen attorneys devoted to the representation of plaintiffs in all areas of personal injury and consumer actions. The firm specializes in Product and Pharmaceutical Liability, Medical Malpractice, Toxic Torts, Qui Tam, FELA, Employment Discrimination, Worker's Compensation, Defense Base Act Litigation and Work Place Injury. Over the fifty-three years that Ashcraft & Gerel has been in existence, the firm has distinguished itself as a victim's rights law firm, including appearances on behalf of plaintiffs' before State and Federal Courts of Appeal and multiple appearances before the Supreme Court of the United States. Most recently, the firm has been appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committees in litigations involving the following drugs: Vioxx; Ortho Evra; PPA; Accutane; Rezulin and Zyprexa. Our attorneys have also served on the Science and Discovery Committees in the following litigations: Vioxx; Ortho Evra; PPA; Accutane; Rezulin; Zyprexa; Propulsid; Fen Phen.
About Seeger Weiss LLP
Seeger Weiss is a New York based law firm that is active in major complex litigations, including pharmaceutical mass tort and product defect cases pending in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Seeger Weiss has taken a leading role in many important actions on behalf of injured consumers and has successfully recovered millions of dollars for individual clients and class members. For example, Seeger Weiss currently serves as Court Appointed Co-Lead Counsel in the federal Vioxx Litigation and was one of the lead firms that negotiated the recently announced $700 million settlement of claims on behalf of individuals who were injured as a result of their use of the prescription drug Zyprexa.
To submit a claim for review please visit: http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Pharmaceutical-Injury-C1/Ortho-Evra-Patch-P48/.
If you or a family member is using or has used Ortho Evra and would like to discuss your rights, or if you have information concerning the potential adverse consequences associated with the use of Ortho Evra that you would like to share with us, please contact:
Ashcraft & Gerel LLP Michelle A. Parfitt, Esq. http://www.ashcraftandgerel.com/lawyers.html#Parfitt (202) 783-6400 mparf@aol.com http://www.ashcraftandgerel.com/ Seeger Weiss LLP Christopher A. Seeger, Esq.
http://www.lawyerseek.com/Attorneys/Christopher-A-Seeger-Partners-E3.html
http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Pharmaceutical-Injury-C1/Ortho-Evra-Patch-P48/
(877) 541-3273 (212) 584-0700 cseeger@seegerweiss.com http://www.seegerweiss.com/, http://www.lawyerseek.com/