Fen Phen Settlement: 2003 Update on Fen Phen Deadlines

Fen-Phen was a prescription diet drug pulled from the market in 1997 after research revealed it could cause heart problems.

Federal prosecutors say Arledge knowingly allowed clients to make claims of about $250,000 each, even though they had no legitimate health problems caused by the drug.

Supreme Court lets Third Circuit ruling on fen-phen evidence stand.

The Supreme Court recently declined to hear an appeal involving a fen-phen class action and let the Third Circuit's ruling stand, allowing plaintiffs to use evidence that the trial court had found to be barred under the terms of a prior settlement-agreement. (In re Diet Drugs Prods. Liab. Litig., 369 F.3d 293 (3d Cir. 2004).)

As part of a multidistrict class action settlement between users of two appetite suppressants--fenfluramine (Pondimin) and dexfenfluramine (Redux Refers to being brought back, revived or restored. From the Latin "reducere." )--and the drugs' manufacturer, Wyeth, Inc., class members could opt out of the agreement at different stages. If they opted out initially, they could pursue remedies elsewhere with no restrictions. Class members who opted out later could pursue their claims separately but were prohibited under the agreement from seeking punitive damages Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that which is necessary to compensate the individual for losses and that is intended to punish the wrongdoer.

Court upholds FDA’s Ephedra Ban

A federal appeals court has upheld a ban on the weight loss supplement ephedra issued by the Food and Drug Administration. The Colorado court’s decision overturned a ruling by a judge in Utah that temporarily overturned the ephedra ban.

Ephedra, also known as ma huang, was marketed as a supplement for weight loss and sports performance. Some supplements containing ephedra were marketed as “herbal Fen Phen” after the diet drug combination was taken off of the market in September 1997.

Fen-Phen Patients Win Right To Seek Free Exams, Says Leeds and Colby; Landmark Ruling In Favor of Victims Granted by Third District Court of Appeals.

MIAMI, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients who filed a state-wide class action suit against the manufacturers and sellers of the diet drugs, Fenfluramine and Phentermine (Fen-Phen) won a landmark ruling by the Florida Third District Court of Appeals. The December 22 ruling allows former Fen- Phen patients the right to pursue free follow-up exams to check for possible health problems related to the use of those drugs even if they currently exhibit no signs of illness.