Dr. Charles Schulz , University of Minnesota, Dan Markingson and the Seroquel CAFE study--the UMN says no further discussion, calls Carl Elliott a 'crusader'

Journalist William Heisel asks University of Minnesota's Dr. Charles Schulz for interview-no reply--PR says no more discussion of Dan Markingson's case, and calls Carl Elliott a crusader against the University and Dr.Charles Schulz.


Schulz, was the principal investigator in the CAFE study of Seroquel, which hangs over the University as a dark cloud, due to the death--suicide--of Dan Markingson.

Heisel, in persuit of a more detailed discussion with Schulz, never heard from Dr.Schulz (who is currently overseeing a Seroquel XR trial for Borderline at the UMN), but did receive an email from the public relations department representative. What transpired in that email essentially demotes Carl Elliott, a bioethicist at the University of Minnesota into a one-man crusader against the University and Dr. Schulz. The University has taken a stand now, that no more discussion is necessary regarding the death of Dan Markingson, in fact the UMN is attempting to disconnect the death and the trial, all of it.

Red flag alert! if the University has nothing to hide then why not talk? attempting to bury the discussion runs along the same lines as AstraZeneca burying the Study 15 for Seroquel, or the hiding of the diabetes and weight gain side effects as AstraZeneca did for years.

Why is the University allowing a placebo vs. Seroquel XR trial for Borderline Disorder? the drug is already on the market, and against a placebo? sounds like another patent extender indication, get them all approved before the drug goes generic and off patent.

Why won't Schulz talk? they've all decided this is no longer worthy of mass media attention. Who decides that?

Read William Heisel's article here-at the Reporting on Health blog. "The Markingson Files: University of Minnesota dallies on clinical trial documentation". Besides the lack of interviews the UMN is also dragging their feet sending Heisel documents, in essence it appears the UMN has flipped the bird at Heisel and anyone else interested in the Markingson case, and Schulz and AstraZeneca Seroquel trials are business as usual, nevermind that Schulz has in the past has received income from AstraZeneca.

No conflict of interest there......

CIRCARE: Citizens for Responsible Care and Research: Dan Markingson: AstraZeneca Sponsored CAFE Trial at the University of Minnesota

Dan Markingson: AstraZeneca Sponsored CAFE Trial at the University of Minnesota

Came upon this wonderful site that is chronicling the Dan Markingson story:  This is a must read story of pharmaceutical greed gone haywire in our scholastic institutions. This story goes far beyond the corporate money and corruption that has infiltrated are university medical and research systems. This is a tragic story of life lost and the well orchestrated cover-up that has ensued since.

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circare.org

2011-06-15: We appreciate your patience while we work on this page.

Litigation Documents Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679
Efficacy and Tolerability of Olanzapine, Quetiapine and Risperidone in the Treatment of First Episode Psychosis: A Randomized Double-Blind 52-Week Comparison Trial Number 5077IL/0114 Rev. 2: Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2003-03-01 [Bates IRB000140-91]: http://www.circare.org/dw/cafeprotocol_rev2_20030301.pdf
Stephen C. Olson, M.D. FDA Establishment Inspection Report Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [Exhibit J] 2005-07-22: http://www.circare.org/dw/olson_fdaeir_20050722.pdf
Deposition of Stephen C. Olson, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [Court File No. 62-CO-06-11934] 2007-05-01: http://www.circare.org/dw/olson_depo_20070501.txt

(See bookmarks) Exhibits to Deposition of Stephen L. Olson, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679: http://www.circare.org/dw/Olson_exhibits_online.pdf

Bates IRB 000001-000184 Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [UM IRB documents]: http://www.circare.org/dw/umirb_cafe.pdf
Deposition of Charles Schulz, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [Court File No. 62-CO-06-11934] 2007-06-22: http://www.circare.org/dw/schulz_deposition_20070622.txt

(See bookmarks) Exhibits, Pt.1 to Deposition of Charles Schulz, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [Court File No. 62-CO-06-11934]: http://www.circare.org/dw/schulz_ex1.pdf
(See bookmarks) Exhibits, Pt.2 to Deposition of Charles Schulz, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [Court File No. 62-CO-06-11934]: http://www.circare.org/dw/schulz_ex2.pdf
(See bookmarks) Exhibits, Pt.3 to Deposition of Charles Schulz, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [Court File No. 62-CO-06-11934]: http://www.circare.org/dw/schulz_ex3.pdf
(See bookmarks) Exhibits, Pt.4 to Deposition of Charles Schulz, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 [Court File No. 62-CO-06-11934]: http://www.circare.org/dw/schulz_ex4.pdf

Deposition of Jeanne Kenney, LCSW Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-05-08: http://www.circare.org/dw/kenney_depo_20070508.txt
Paul S. Appelbaum, M.D. Summary of Expected Testimony Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/appelbaum_20071112.pdf

Richard Lentz, M.D. Summary of Expected Testimony Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/lentz_20071112.pdf
Ernest D. Prentice, Ph.D. Summary of Expected Testimony Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/prentice_20071112.pdf
Robyn S. Shapiro, J.D. Summary of Expected Testimony Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/shapiro_20071112.pdf

David Dunner, M.D. Defendants Dr. Stephen Olson's and Dr. Charles Schulz's and the University of Minnesota Physician's Disclosure of Findings and Opinions of Expert Witness David Dunner, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/dunner_20071112.pdf

Jan Fawcett, M.D. Defendants Dr. Stephen Olson's and Dr. Charles Schulz's and the University of Minnesota Physician's Disclosure of Findings and Opinions of Expert Witness Jan Fawcett, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/fawcett_20071112.pdf
Ira D. Glick, M.D. Defendants Dr. Stephen Olson's and Dr. Charles Schulz's and the University of Minnesota Physician's Disclosure of Findings and Opinions of Expert Witness Ira D. Glick, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/glick_20071112.pdf
Ronald Groat, M.D. Defendants Dr. Stephen Olson's and Dr. Charles Schulz's and the University of Minnesota Physician's Disclosure of Findings and Opinions of Expert Witness Ronald Groat, M.D. Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-12: http://www.circare.org/dw/groat_20071112.pdf

Plaintiff's Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants Dr. Stephen Olson's and Dr. Charles Schulz's Motions to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint Pursuant to Minn. Stat. Sec. 145.682 and for Summary Judgment Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2007-11-30: http://www.circare.org/dw/27cv071679_20071130.pdf
Order and Memorandum Granting Partial Summary Judgment Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN 27-CV-07-1679 2008-02-11: http://www.circare.org/dw/27cv071679_order_20080211.pdf
Defendants Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and Institutional Review Board's Notice of Taxation of Costs and Bill of Costs and Disbursements Weiss v. UM et al. Fourth Dist. Ct. Hennepin County, MN CV-07-1679 2008-04-29: http://www.circare.org/dw/uminn_20080429.pdf
The Markingson Case. Scribd 2011-05-01 [documents]: http://www.scribd.com/MarkingsonCase/documents

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University of Minnesota Correspondence RE: Death of Dan Markingson in the CAFE Trial
Hon. Clyde Allen, Jr. on Behalf of the Board of Regents, Response to Professor Carl Elliot et al. 2011-02-07: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/prod/groups/ahc/@pub/@ahc/documents/content/ahc_content_295041.pdf
Mark B. Rotenberg Elaboration on Behalf of the Board of Regents RE: Response to Professor Carl Elliot et al. 2011-02-07: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/prod/groups/ahc/@pub/@ahc/documents/content/ahc_content_295042.pdf
Carl Elliot et al., University of Minnesota Faculty Letter to Regents: Call for Outside Investigation of Markingson Suicide. 2010-12-06: http://ptable.blogspot.com/2010/12/university-of-minnesota-faculty-letter.html

Professional Commentary
The Deadly Corruption of Clinical Trials. Carl Elliot. Mother Jones September/October 2010: http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/09/dan-markingson-drug-trial-astrazeneca
How FDA Got the Markingson Case Wrong. Carl Elliot. Bioethics Forum 2011-03-03: http://www.thehastingscenter.org/Bioethicsforum/Post.aspx?id=5147&blogid=140&blogid=140

Media Coverage
University of Minnesota GC Responds to Critics. Shannon Green. Corporate Counsel 2011: http://www.law.com/jsp/cc/PubArticleFriendlyCC.jsp?id=1202493390862
Rotenberg MR. The Academic Health Center Responds to Carl Elliott's Media Outreach. University of Minnesota Press Release Undated [response to Mother Jones article]: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/media/carlelliottresponse/
Dan Markingson's suicide: U of M attorney responds [UPDATE]. Andy Mannix Minneapolis/St. Paul News — The Blotter 2010-12-08: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/12/dan_markingsons.php
Dan Markingson's 2004 suicide: U of M faculty seek investigation. Andy Mannix Minneapolis/St. Paul News — The Blotter 2010-12-06: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/12/dan_markingson.php
Dan Markingson's 2004 suicide: U of M Board of Regents won't reopen the case. Andy Mannix Minneapolis/St. Paul News — The Blotter 2011-02-11: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2011/02/dan_markingsons_1.php
Mary Weiss responds to VP Mulcahy. The Minnesota Daily 2011-03-02: http://www.mndaily.com/2011/03/02/mary-weiss-responds-vp-mulcahy

Errata
Archived Telecast House Health Care and Human Services Policy Oversight Committee, Minnesota House of Representatives. Hearing on HF388 (Dan's Law) 2009-03-11: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/programa.asp?ls_year=86&event_id=153
Adityanjee v. Case W. Res. Univ., 156 Ohio App.3d 432, 2004-Ohio-1109 [Dr. Schulz: see CV, p. 4, Exhibits to Deposition Pt. 1 and pp. 6, 9/17 ff]: http://www.circare.org/dw/2004-ohio-1109.pdf
Memo: Jeffrey J. Goldstein to M Czupryna RE: Sales and Marketing in Charge of Seroquel Research 1997-11-17: http://www.circare.org/dw/goldstein_19971117.pdf

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If you find the information on this page helpful please support CIRCARE with a tax-deductible contribution today. Because CIRCARE doesn't accept funds from pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturers, we depend on contributions from individuals like you to help us advocate for meaningful protection of human subjects in research. Find out more on our Support page

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The Seven Year Itch: Seroquel used as a sleep aid in 2004, continues 7 yrs later

                                                       Photo credit Jeff Gentner  /  AP
Shirley and Stan White's son, Andrew White, died in his sleep on Feb. 12, 2008, while taking a Seroquel, a powerful antipsychotic prescribed as a sleep aid. Shirley White holds a box of her son's prescription medication is photo taken in the their son's bedroom in Cross Lanes, W. Va.

Antipsychotic Prescribed as Sleeping Pill by Matthew Herper, Forbes September 2004

"When AstraZeneca introduced the schizophrenia drug Seroquel in 1997, it was a dud. The London-based drug giant had no experience selling psychiatric drugs, and its then small sales force couldn't compete with the might of Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson, which ruled the market for antipsychotic medicines."

AND

"Henry Nasrallah, a psychiatrist who is the associate dean of the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, says he has prescribed Seroquel as a sleep aid for patients who also suffer from other mental disorders. "A lot of our patients beg us for sleep," says Nasrallah. "And if we are going to give them something for sleep, we want to give them a mild, not harmful, drug that seems to help both their sleep and their depression or anxiety."

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Since the writing of Herper's 2004 article, Seroquel grew into a blockbuster antipsychotic that continues to be prescribed off-label for insomnia. The drug is connected to veterans dying in their sleep. Often prescribed to vets for insomnia and PTSD, the antipsychotic gained momentum the last 7 years, with increased sales and prescriptions.

The doctor quoted in the 2004 article above, psychiatrist Henry Nasrallah, is a doctor whose hand is heavily in the pharmaceutical paid speaker cookie jar. Nasrallah receives income from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson, which could be a conflict of interest, when speaking about Benedryl vs. Seroquel as he did back in 2004.

It's incredible this story can be written again today, 7 years later. Since then AstraZeneca was fined $520 million dollars for illegal marketing of Seroquel, entered a CIA (Corporate Integrity Agreement) with the Dept of Justice, and internal documents have been exposed detailing AstraZeneca insiders as knowing the antipsychotic had metabolic possibilities, with weight gain and diabetes.

Seroquel lawsuits totalled 26,000 and some remain to be heard in court while others have an unsettled case, where the plaintiffs are waiting for actual settlement numbers, and even information packets. Bloomberg reported cases settled in August 2010 and those plaintiffs have yet to see a dime of settlement money, though the general consensus is about $10,000 per person, for a lifetime body damage of diabetes.

The drug is in multiple trials in the XR version for a multitude of indications.

There are some people who tout atypicals as wonder drugs, and some might say they "work". For those who say that, I say listen to those who this drug in particular has injured. Those are the ones paving the way to AstraZeneca's Golden Wonder Drug blockbuster bank account, the drug that has become the multi-purpose antipsychotic and the one with dangerous side effects....yet where are the funtioning Schizophrenics or patients who suffer with psychosis? what are they saying about this drug's usefulness?

When does America stop tolerating paid pharma doctors and researchers? What will the next 7 years bring? how many more lawsuits or deaths?

Big Bucks Big Pharma AstraZeneca Seroquel - Selling America a bad pill of goods - disease mongering

 Hat Tip to Pharmagossip

Big Bucks Big Pharma AstraZeneca makers of Seroquel - Selling America a bad pill of goods - disease mongering for profit - it's about your health

AstraZeneca Seroquel Litigation - is the civil settlement real or just another rip off

AstraZeneca Seroquel Litigation - is the civil settlement real or just another rip off

 So what exactly happens when a corporation such as AstraZeneca markets a drug such as seroquel that harms or kills many thousands of patients? We know the Federal Government and the States go after their money: which gets spun out in some juicy headlines with seemingly large dollar fines for the mass media and public to grovel over & digest. You may even read where a whistle-blower or two receive millions from those deals. 

 

Yet for those unfortunate victims who are actually injured or killed by these corporate actions and product! Just maybe if the hidden evidence or corporate wrong doings can be brought to light; a small percentage of those injured parties will seek legal representation and some justice (compensation) through the civil courts.

 

What really happens? 

 

It appears there are many pharmaceutical product liability law firms casting a broad net across America (Developing an inventory) stock piling thousands of cases under the rouse that those victims will receive individual representation serving the injured parties best interest (tort litigation); only to find out later that injured parties end up to be nothing much more than a case number and bargaining chip for these laws firms to cash in (take into secret settlement negotiations) for huge profitable recovery settlements that serve the law firms interest and not the best interest of their individual clients. 

 

We are now learning that the vast majority of these firms never intended to take cases to trial or vigorously represent their clients best interest. What they did do, is sign off on settlements that are broad sweeping, don't address injured party loss or future medical needs & were all inclusive without taking into consideration the differences in individual cases or do they even thoroughly investigate details of injuries/circumstances for each client they represent. 

 

In fact these settlement deals are designed to be a take it or leave it promotion that will in fact leave many of the most viable cases being pushed to the curb without further legal representation. We are now learning the tactics used by these law firms in settlement mediation are questionable agreements to aggressively promote the settlement whether it’s in the best interest of the injured parties or not.  

 

In fact it appears to be written directly into these secret backroom dealings. It appears that under the rouse of Tort litigation (individual Representation for the injured party), client’s actuality become victims of a class action settlement proceeding by proxy without their consent.

 

This works out just great for the many plaintiffs’ law firms involved; since they are reaping a large percentage of each individual final settlement agreement sum (millions of dollars for the law firms, maybe a poultry few thousand dollars to the injured party).

It really turns out to be nothing more than a pay off numbers (Shell) game many of these law firms are operating under the costumed veil sham of individual legal representation.

 

So instead of actually serving their clients best interest or preparing individual cases for trial; Plaintiff law firms lock themselves into mediation conferences to arrive at the highest settlement sum that serves their best interest. These law firms then wash all remnants of this particular drug litigation from their web sites/client advertising promotions, dump any client/injured party that doesn’t go along with their legal scam, and then move on to the next drug settlement payday.

 

 

This is not what injured parties deserve or should reasonably expect from their legal representation. It’s a crime & shameful enough that so many innocent individuals were victims of pharmaceutical corporate greed and malfeasance: but to be now victimized yet again by those that have a moral, legal, and ethical obligation to represent their best interest is just absolutely unconscionable and the worst kind reprehensible insult imaginable. 

 

This blog was created to change/challenge this corrupted system, to give you the citizen a voice, a place to speak out, somewhere to gather the truth, to present the evidence, to share your story, and a place to represent much needed change.

 

If there was ever a time in our history to stand up for what is right and the principles of justice; it is now.

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For more thought provoking commentary and reading:

Seroquel Lawsuit - Are Plaintiff Law Firms working in their clients (injured parties) best interest or just their own?

 

Here is a recent example from soulful sepulcher blog highlighted below involving youhavealawyer aka Saiontz & Kirk, P.A.  Who in turn farmed out those Seroquel Litigation cases to miller firm llc.

We can only begin to mull over and interpret what information/misinformation the injured parties are actually receiving (or are not receiving) from their supposed legal representation firms.

Legal Malpractice? Scamming Seroquel victims without intent to represent in court: Miller Firm 

Source: anonymous Seroquel lawsuit victim/plaintiff Exclusive

This post will be updated as my source reveals more information from the conversation via telephone with the Miller Firm.

Backstory: The plaintiff hired the firm in the above letter, that firm turned around without approval/consultation and gave the case to the Miller Firm.

4-26-11

Plaintiff received return phone call from Miller Firm after repeated attempts to contact re the packet delivering settlement information, per the lawsuit against AstraZeneca that according to Bloomberg was settled in August 2010. To this date there are no plaintiffs who have received settlements from the Miller Firm who claim to represent 630 clients.

The Miller Firm representative told my source they have no intent on going to trial with any cases, and in fact believe their cases are not worthy of a lawsuit. The only option will be for the clients to accept the offer of approximately $12,000 before taxes and lawyer fees removed. If the client refuses the offer of the settlement they are not going to continue to represent the client, the cases are and will be closed.

The hold up according to the rep at the Miller Firm is waiting for the Government to waive the Medicaid/Medicare cases.

QUESTIONS

1. Why is another firm (Garrison Firm)in charge of the packets and asking for Goverment waiver of Medicaid/Medicare?

2. Is AstraZeneca going to pay the victims or is the U.S taxpayer?

3. How many victims of Miller Firm 630 clients are Medicaid/Medicare clients?

4. Why did the Miller Firm tell my source they do not want any personal case information?

5. Is this legal malpractice? Never having intent on representing clients in court/trial? Never reading any client information on how the drug injury happened?

THESE ARE NOT VICTIMLESS CRIMES there is a great injustice happening to people injured by Seroquel and now finding out that their lawyers are not going to help them settle with any trial or information of their case. How can they choose a settlement offer if they never had client information?
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**Update: evening 4-26-11 email from anonymous plaintiff source
"Many more questions than answers!

This again is not passing the logic, smell, or ethics test.

These backroom deals made in secret are certainly not any form of justice; taken in even the most liberal context.

Why would medicare/medicaid give a reimbursement waiver….isn't that like saying government is going to cover the cost of treating victims of AstraZeneca's wrong doing? In fact, why isn't the government taking legal action to cover the insurmountable cost of treating those harmed by AstraZeneca's Seroquel?

If these cases were/are without merit, why did these firms agree & advertise to represent those individuals injured by Seroquel?
Why were plaintiffs not kept up to date or made aware of what these settlement negotiations entailed?


Why did plaintiff attorneys with supposedly an ethical & professional obligation to their clients’ best interest not want information & facts that were pertinent to individual cases? 630 cases settling for an estimated guess of $12,000 per case...law firm gets a tad over three million, and those injured by Seroquel 5 to 7 thousand dollars for a life time affliction caused by Seroquel.
(That’s if government decides to grant a reimbursement waiver!).
Do the math yourself...what is the cost of treating diabetes and like conditions for a single year? Then figure out the cost down the road when more serious health issues come into play?
This doesn't even take into consideration the pain, suffering, loss of income & quality of life many injured by Seroquel have and continue to endure daily. Who is going to pay for the continued health care over the many years to come? Not AstraZeneca, not these law firms pocketing millions; it's the tax payer & victimized individuals once again that will foot the bill.
How about those victims that weren't using medicare/medicaid?
We see endless headlines about huge pay outs to Government for these pharmaceutical corporate crimes...but the facts are that those injured & victims of these crimes are left to fend for themselves. Government goes after their piece of the pie. States get their slice. Lawyers get a nice huge heaping slice of pie w/ ice cream on top...doctors get pie served to them. AstraZeneca & alike continue getting all the pie they want including ownership of the bakery.
Victims of the crimes get to continue being victims...that's what are government, lawyers, and the courts call justice in America.
What ever happened to the treasured American concept of receiving your day in court before a jury of your peers; deciding upon the delicate & imperfect scales of justice the merits & outcome for these cases? I'm guessing a billion dollar legal team with an endless/bottomless well of political influence contributions buys something far more than mere justice now a days."
What can be gleaned from this latest news?
It appears all settlements claims have been centralized with Garrison Firm (Special Court Appointed Master?) for determination of settlement amount & packet distribution.

No offers are going out until the medicare/medicaid issues are resolved, whether or not you as a plaintiff used either of those services.

No individual information or particulars besides the use of Seroquel and having diabetes or related condition was used in the settlement negotiations.
That’s means whether you were prescribed Seroquel off label, for sleep, anxiety, depression, were force treated in an institutional setting, or for any other reason off label or approved use it makes no difference.

From statements made from this law firm’s representative, the law firms that have signed on to this settlement offer do not believe anyone they represent has a case worthy of going to trial. This means this was a quick settlement money grab & not a true legal representation. One would wonder why they took these cases in the first place.

They are sounding little different than AstraZeneca Lawyers. The only ones that are going to get a fair shake & a substantial amount of compensation from this litigation are the lawyers. That is cold reality at this juncture.

Do plaintiffs have a case for refusing this settlement and pursuing possible legal malpractice claims?

Absolutely, it will take time & effort, but Yes! Remember, this is not a class action suit. It is a tort litigation where each case and individual should receive prudent and diligent representation which appears to not have happened in many (if not all) the cases in this settlement."

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Seroquel diabetes lawsuit settlement: Plaintiffs have not received settlement or information packets from Miller Firm

The Miller Firm was given plaintiff cases from the firm Saiontz and Kirk. When the plaintiff telephones Saiontz and Kirk that firm turns around and phones Miller Firm for updates, because NO ONE has any answers on what the settlement offer is for the clients or where the packets are--the information packets were promised via letter to my anonymous plaintiff to arrive "in the next three weeks".
It has now been 6 weeks and no information packet regarding the AstraZeneca Seroquel diabetes settlement has arrived.





March 7, 2011


Saiontz and Kirk


..."it is our understanding that values on client's cases have not been fully determined at this time and that a settlement packet, which will include the amount of the offer, will be sent to you, hopefully, in the next three weeks."
The Miller Firm, which apparently settled with AstraZeneca on behalf of clients refuses to speak about the cases, and if one telephones them to inquire, all you are given is a voice recording telling clients not to call.
Ask for the Seroquel lawsuit 'recording' (703) 519-8080
Perhaps Bloomberg reporters which reported the news without names, and apparent insider "facts" on how the lawsuit was settled, should phone Miller Firm and ask them where the client packets are, or how much monetary settlement each client will receive. Ask HOW Miller Firm can deduct how much one client receives vs. the other, when in fact the Miller Firm has never interviewed my anonymous client/plaintiff, ever.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

AstraZeneca Seroquel diabetes lawsuit victim receives letter: cases are not closed, this is not over

The law firm Saiontz and Kirk handed over their lawsuits to the Miller Firm without the consent of the anonymous plaintiff that received this letter. *(victim was prescribed antipsychotic Seroquel off-label use)
After an enormous self-advocating effort by the plaintiff, and many phone calls inquiring of the status of the plaintiff's case this letter has surfaced.
Victims should not have to do the footwork and constantly persist to find out information lawyers who represent them should be giving them.
These 2 law firms have done nothing to keep in contact with this plaintiff, and when telephoned have answered questions as if they were completely clueless as to the happenings of the Seroquel litigation.
In fact, the Miller Firm goes down as the best answer yet: "When you find out more call us". They had not even heard of the settlement last August 2010, as read about in Bloomberg.
My anonymous source took it straight back to the attained legal counsel that began in the Spring of 2008; and demanded that the firm (on the letter head and authors of this letter) find out what was going on with the cases and to contact the Miller Firm who they had passed the case.
This has taken months of persistent self-advocacy,(entering into years) and it is something injured clients should not have to do. This plaintiff calls and asks and demands answers and after all of that...here's what the person received via letter on March 10, 2011.

♦No definitive answer of the dollar amount of the settlement and a vague promise of "3 weeks" to hopefully hear from the Miller Firm about the AstraZeneca settlement.

My source will seek counsel for a jury trial if the dollar amount is not acceptable for the lifetime disease/damage Seroquel left on the person's body. What price do we place on damage to a vital organ where lifespan is now shortened/diminished as a result of diabetes. What price does one place on that?
NOT $10,000. NOT $12,000.
March 7, 2011
Saiontz and Kirk
..."it is our understanding that values on client's cases have not been fully determined at this time and that a settlement packet, which will include the amount of the offer, will be sent to you, hopefully, in the next three weeks."