Zantac is manufactured by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, but Zantac is only one of the many brand names for the potentially carcinogenic, antiacid drug called ranitidine. It has been discovered very recently that ranitidine in general could very well be responsible for various types of cancers.

This was made public back in September 2019, as the proven carcinogen known as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was found in unacceptable amounts within Zantac and various other ranitidine-based antiacids from other pharmaceutical companies.

Zantac Recalls: The US

As of April, 2020, the FDA has officially initiated a request for removing all ranitidine products from the pharmaceuticals market, in light of ranitidine’s possible connections with various types of cancer. The investigation is ongoing to determine how and why this seemingly harmless OTC antacid suddenly became associated with unhealthy levels of the carcinogen nitrosodimethylamine. So far, what has been found and proven beyond doubt, can be summarized along the following lines:

• The FDA considers nitrosodimethylamine as a hazardous impurity, something that shouldn’t be present in a “safe” drug in such high amounts
• NDMA has been detected and confirmed in Zantac, as well as a range of other ranitidine products
• NDMA is now confirmed to indeed be a carcinogen
• However, nitrosodimethylamine in above-safety levels is not present in Zantac at the time of manufacturing
• The carcinogen increases in its volume and crosses the safety threshold after being stored for a significant while in conditions above room temperatures

Zantac Recalls: The UK

The MHRA in the UK acted faster than the FDA by taking ranitidine off the market way before this announcement was made and the voluntary recall was initiated in the US. While the findings in both the UK and the US are similar in terms of Zantac’s potency as a carcinogenic drug, the difference was mainly observed in the speed of action.

Zantac Lawsuits: The Situation in Both Nations

There aren’t too many differences between the Zantac lawsuits, whichever of the two nations the plaintiff may belong to. However, certain facts can be highlighted about the cases, so that we can get a better understanding of how they are progressing within each country:

• Thousands of citizens from both nations who have been diagnosed with cancer, and were on ranitidine for a long time, will likely be filing lawsuits against the manufacturers soon
• The number of lawsuits field already is increasing exponentially in both nations, with every passing month
• The primary belief in the US is that Sanofi in particular was aware of Zantac’s carcinogenic properties
• US lawyers are pursuing the litigations with a very serious allegation against Sanofi; it states that they did not warn the public of ranitidine’s dangers, despite being aware of the same
• In the US, the number of Zantac lawsuits is much higher than it is in the UK at the moment
• Being a Multidistrict Litigation, none of the 500+ cases have been settled yet in the US
• The four primary plaintiffs that filed the Zantac lawsuits first are all from the US, but litigation processing is on the way in the UK as well
• In both nations, the plaintiffs are seeking punitive and compensatory damage compensation

It should be understood that many lawsuits against Sanofi and multiple other manufacturers are incoming, but it is difficult to predict how things will turn out in the coming months and consequent years. This is on account of the fact that FDA/MHRA investigations have not yet been concluded. As the situation unfolds over time, we should be able to determine what to expect from the Zantac lawsuits, with better clarity in both nations. You can find all the valuable information here at Masstort.us!

The Difference Between a Mass Tort and Class Action Lawsuits

Every year, roughly 40 million lawsuits are filed in the United States. These range in scope from civil court cases to major multi-billion-dollar endeavors. While the vast majority of lawsuits are small in nature and many are settled out of court, a relative handful of these cases are large-scale and involve dozens, hundreds or even millions of people.

In terms of large-scale lawsuits, there are two main types: mass tort and class action lawsuits. While there are some similarities between the two, there are notable differences as well. Ultimately, whether a mass tort or class action lawsuit is pursued depends on a number of factors.

Let’s examine the differences between these two types of lawsuits mass tort lawsuits vs class action lawsuits so you’ll have a better working knowledge of the legal process.

How Mass Torts Work

A mass tort case isn’t as well-known as class action lawsuits, which can create confusion for those when hearing the term. At its core, a mass tort case involves a large number of plaintiffs who are suing a single entity – however, the terms under which this is occurring is quite a bit different.

A mass tort case allows each plaintiff to sue under one claim despite having different grievances, monetary damage claims and other unique factors. Each person is therefore considered a distinct legal entity, which differs mass torts from class action lawsuits.

The usual goal of a mass tort is to achieve a settlement from the defendant. In many situations, this is the outcome of a mass tort claim. However, if a settlement cannot be reached for some or all of the plaintiffs in question, then each individual’s claim can go to trial.

Generally speaking, mass tort claims focus on a handful of particular injuries. These include damages caused by prescription drugs, illnesses caused by toxic working or living environments, and cases of product liability.

How Class Action Lawsuits Work

A class action lawsuit operates differently than a mass tort claim in a variety of ways. Perhaps most importantly, a class action lawsuit does not inherently represent individual interests. Instead, it seeks to account for the number of individuals who were impacted by an action or product, and then provide (usually) a set amount of damages to be evenly split among the plaintiffs.

Class action lawsuits do not allow for variance: this means that any plaintiffs who join a class action suit are joining because of a specific, shared injustice, damage or fault experienced due to the defendant’s behavior. As such and for legal purposes, all of the individual plaintiffs are functionally treated as a single, broader plaintiff.

Class action lawsuits are generally less complicated in terms of legal structure and procedural requirements, but a number of requirements exist. These include all affected individuals being notified prior and legal representatives having direct experience with lawsuits in the field relating to the case itself. Class actions also rarely receive certification if the amount an individual plaintiff could stand to earn exceeds the cost of procuring individual representation; this is a major reason why class action lawsuits exist.

Both mass torts and class action suits have their respective places in the legal system. Due to specific types of injuries, overall legal costs, the industries or sectors responsible for damages and the potential variance of damages across individual plaintiffs, one type of lawsuit or another may be required. Now that you know the key differences between the two lawsuits, you’ll undoubtedly have a better understanding of the legal system as it pertains to multi-plaintiff cases.