The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois ordered the company to “exercise all avenues available” to produce approximately 4,000 documents related to the case “as soon as possible.” Plaintiffs had previously raised the issue of insufficient production of documents with the court.

The lawsuits were filed by mothers who claim that taking Depakote during pregnancy caused birth injuries in their children. The lawsuits claim that the children were born with conditions including heart defects, neural tube defects, spina bifida and other congenital malformations and injuries.

The plaintiffs include a woman who was prescribed the anti-seizure medication during her pregnancy and whose daughter was diagnosed with severe scoliosis that threatened her lungs and heart. In another case, a woman took Depakote before she knew she was pregnant, and her child was born with an extra digit. A third case involves a woman who took Depakote during her pregnancy, which she alleges was the cause of her son’s undescended testicle, which required surgery.

Depakote, also known as valproic acid, is used as a mood-stabilizing and anti-convulsant medication. It is often used to treat biploar disorder, epilepsy and migraine headaches. The drug is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, a global pharmaceutical firm headquartered in North Chicago.

Bob Briskman is a birth injury lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

The lawsuits allege that the plaintiffs suffered birth injuries as a result of their mothers’ use of the drug, including spina bifida, neural tube defects, heart defects and other congenital malformations. The defendant is the manufacturer of the drug, Abbott Laboratories, which is based in Illinois.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, where there are already more than a dozen other lawsuits pending against Abbot Laboratories. The plaintiffs are claiming diversity of citizenship and an amount in controversy of more than $75,000.

Depakote, otherwise known as valproic acid, is marketed under the brand names of Depakote ER, Depacon and Depakene. It is commonly prescribed as an anti-epileptic medication. The lawsuit claims that Abbott failed to properly design and test the medication and did not provide adequate warnings of the dangers associated with its use by pregnant women. The plaintiffs claim that the ingestion of the drug by pregnant women during the first trimester is known to cause severe birth defects.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs have suffered physical and mental pain and suffering, permanent injuries, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of future earning capacity, as well as having incurred significant medical costs.

Bob Briskman is a birth injury lawyer in Chicago and attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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