Zantac Lawsuit Attorneys

Did you develop cancer after taking Zantac? You might be entitled to financial compensation. Contact Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP today to find out how you can pursue a lawsuit. We currently represent victims of negligence and believe in holding others responsible for their actions.

Zantac was available by prescription and over the counter. It belongs to a class of drugs called H2 blockers. People typically use OTC Zantac to relieve and prevent the symptoms of heartburn. The prescription-strength version proved to be useful in treating and preventing ulcers in the stomach and intestines.

Scientists and the FDA found levels of a human carcinogen, NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine), in Zantac. Testing shows that one tablet of the drug contains the same amount of NDMA as 30 packs of cigarettes. NDMA can be found in the production of antioxidants, liquid rocket fuel, and other industrial uses.

In these tests, Zantac produced excessive levels of NDMA when exposed to heat or nitrites contained in the stomach. Many more studies support the findings, including one where a 400% increase of NDMA in the urine occurred when individuals took only one Zantac pill. After discovering the potential for developing cancer, the makers of the drug issued a recall in 2019.

How to Qualify for a Zantac Lawsuit

• You took Zantac regularly for more than one year before receiving a diagnosis of cancer (regularly means routine use; not just once a week or when eating spicy food)
• You only took the brand name Zantac as opposed to the generic form ranitidine
• You got diagnosed with one of the following:
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Intestinal cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Prostate cancer (under the age of 65 when diagnosed)
• If you stopped taking Zantac prior to your cancer diagnosis, it must have been within one year

If you believe you might qualify for a Zantac lawsuit, don’t hesitate to contact the experienced mass tort lawyer at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP. We’ll review your options and provide you with an honest assessment of your case.

What is Product Liability?

When you purchase a product, including medication, you expect it to alleviate your medical condition without severe side effects. Health and safety standards exist for all products and manufacturers to prevent harm to consumers. However, a surprising number of drugs make it to distributors and retailers despite potential dangers.

When a company knowingly sells a hazardous product, it could be liable for the resulting injury. An individual can file a product liability lawsuit when they sustain an injury or illness because of the flawed item. There are specific defects that could cause physical harm. Those defects fall under three categories: design, manufacturing, and warning.

Design Defect: A design defect exists when the drug is less safe than it should be but still serves its purpose. Despite proper manufacturing, there’s the potential for someone to suffer harm from taking the medication.

Manufacturing Defect: Drugs with a manufacturing defect don’t meet the required specifications. If the company doesn’t source, form, or assemble it correctly, it could create dangers for those who use it. The defect could affect a small amount or massive quantities that lead to a recall.

Warning Defect: Medications are dangerous even after executing safe design and manufacturing processes. If that situation arises, it’s the responsibility of the manufacturer to warn its consumers about possible adverse reactions. If the warning label isn’t complete and accurate or marketing efforts don’t notify the user of hazards, a warning defect occurs.

Is there a Deadline to Sue the Maker of Zantac?

If you decide you want to file a lawsuit, it’s essential to understand the various statutes and laws. A statute of limitations is the timeframe for when you’re allowed to bring legal action against another party.

Alabama law issued a two-year statute of limitations for product liability cases. That means you have two years from the date of your cancer diagnosis to sue the Zantac manufacturer. After two years, you may lose your right to seek financial compensation.

Damages and Pure Contributory Negligence

A strict standard exists in Alabama that determines your eligibility to get reimbursed for your expenses. Pure contributory negligence exists when an individual behaves in such a way that creates an unreasonable risk to one’s self. If a jury finds that you share some fault for your physical harm, you can’t claim damages.

Damages are losses resulting from an injury or accident. The damages you’re allowed to pursue in a product liability case include:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages and loss of future earnings
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Physical impairment or disfigurement
• Loss of qualify of life

Punitive damages are also an option for compensation in a Zantac lawsuit. This type of damage punishes the defendant for their atrocious behavior or disregard of another party’s well-being. To receive an award for punitive damages, you must provide clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was negligent or intentionally malicious or fraudulent, and those actions caused your illness.

Unlike with compensatory damages, which are the expenses and emotional pain suffered, a limit exists for punitive damages. You can win a financial award for your punitive damages up to three times the total amount of your compensatory damages, without exceeding $1.5 million.

To qualify for punitive damages, you must prove the accused party deliberately participated in oppression, wantonness, fraud, or malice.

Oppression: Disregarding someone’s rights by subjecting them to cruel and/or unjust hardship.

Fraud: Causing injury or depriving a person of their legal rights by intentionally misrepresenting or withholding facts.

Wantonness: Behaving in a way that is reckless and failing to ensure the safety of others.

Malice: Doing something wrong intentionally to cause harm to a person or behavior that implies malicious intent.

Legal Fees and Costs

We understand the overwhelming feeling of a cancer diagnosis and all the bills that come with it. We offer a free consultation to all prospective clients. You can meet with us at no risk, and receive the legal advice you need.

We also work on contingency, so there are no upfront fees or costs. We won’t bill you for our time or expect payment whenever you call us. We secure our legal fee from the compensation you receive at the end of our case. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

Hire a Lawyer from Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP to Help You with Your Zantac Case

The mass tort attorneys from Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP understand the complex nature of product liability lawsuits. We know how devastating it is to get cancer from a medication you thought you could trust. When you hire us, we will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

For more than 20 years, we have served clients throughout the state of Alabama. We work efficiently to secure the maximum settlement available. It’s our experience and dedication that allowed us to recover millions of dollars in various cases over the years. We use our skills and knowledge from past cases to help us in future cases we take.

If you believe Zantac caused your cancer and you want to pursue a lawsuit, call us at (205) 324-1212. Our legal team is available to take your call and schedule your free consultation.