RE: Jury found Zantac not responsible6 Aug 2024 08:54
Zantac Cancer Lawsuit Updates 2024
August 5, 2024: Zantac Defeat in Illinois
In an Illinois state court, the jury in the Joiner case determined that GSK was not responsible for the plaintiff’s colorectal cancer.
This is a blow. It is the second loss in a row. Does it mean our lawyers think these lawsuits will be hard to win at trial and expected Zantac settlement amounts should be adjusted? No and no. But we also cannot pretend that this is not a blow for colorectal cancer claims.
I made this point in the May 224 update below and I’ll make it again. Colorectal cancer was not among the diseases targeted in the MDL due to a weaker link compared to the five types of cancer that were actively pursued. This was because the plaintiffs’ attorneys in the MDL deemed these claims to be too difficult to advance.
I disagree with their assessment and still do. Nevertheless, there was a rationale behind their decision that has been borne out in these first two trial.
Still… this is just the beginning—two innings in what is a nine-inning game. Time will tell if the colorectal cancer lawsuits are winnable in front of a jury.