There has been a repeated
outcry for some form of legal action against GSK. Some,
like myself, feel that it is the fastest way to force the
company to warn potential customers as well as the medical
community about the potential withdrawal problems associated
with Paxil. Others want their pound of flesh in the form
of restitution for their suffering. Having read some really
horrific stories about financial hardship directly linked
to the withdrawal process (especially from American visitors),
I believe that legal actions are in indeed in order. Although
suffering is hard to quantify, it is virtually inevitable
that GSK will be successfully sued.
A number of Class action
suits are on their way, and I will try to keep these pages
as updated as possible.
Legal
Data Collection Form
over
2400 entries as of 08/05/02
The following form
serves as a collecting point, which will be made
available only to reputable law firms that are
seeking to represent clients against GSK. Some
co-operation has already occurred. Rest assured
that the information gathered here is treated
with utmost privacy . The results are stored in
a small database, accessible only to myself. Names
and addresses, including e-mail addresses will
not be released to any one person or organization,
without prior research. Should there be any doubt
in my mind, you will be contacted before the information
is released. Should this site ever shut down
or the information become irrelevant, it will
be destroyed with the greatest of care.
Important: this form should only be used as one
possible tool in your fight for redress. Contacting
attorneys in your area or other law-firms directly
via the internet is strongly encouraged. Some
data might be used anonymously for research and/or
journalistic purposes. Your name will never,
ever be used without obtaining prior consent.
The form below is not yet up.
Law
Firms Dealing with Paxil Withdrawal Issues
USA
Baum,
Hedlund, Aristei, Guilford & Schiavo
This firm appears to at the forefront of the battle
against GSK. They have launched at least two class
action suits against the makers of Paxil. For
the sake of full disclosure, I must state that
I am one of the complainants in one of their suits.
My dealings with them, so far, have been satisfactory.
They appear to be well financed and have achieved
a decent amount of media exposure, including stories
on CNN. Their site is easily navigated as well
as up to date.
Addendum March 7 2002: browsed the internet and
found that they are also signing up people from
their new, paxil
specific site. They also seem to run this
one Shawn
Khorrami
California firm that advertises on Google.com
(they pop up whenever you type in the word "Paxil").
I have gotten in touch with Shawn and he strikes
me as a decent chap. At this time they are interested
in pursuing individual actions against GSK.. All
cases are tried on a contingency fee basis Pendley
Law Firm
I had a chat with Christopher Coffin, one of the
six attorneys of this firm. He appears to be a
decent chap and has assured me that his firm has
the resources and expertise to handle Paxil cases.
Although based in Louisiana, they are interested
in cases from all over North America. Give them
a try and let me know what happens. Update
march 2002: class action suit was filed in
Louisiana.
Jeffrey
A. Rapkin(Florida)
I received this letter at the
end of September , 2002.
" To my fellow Paxil hostages: I'm about
to file my lawsuit and I want to
know if anyone out there wants me to put their
name on the complaint. I am
not a lawyer looking for business or to make
a buck. I am a lawyer who has
been held hostage by this fucking drug for the
past five years. Last time I
tried to get off of it I had more than just
suicidal thoughts. Without going
into great detail, the withdrawal was more than
I could bear and I lost the
struggle. So now here I am at my wits end and
I am going to sue.
Now, I will not duplicate the suit that the
folks in California have filed
and I have had questions about how their suit
is going to succeed. The suit
I have drafted is for people who:
1.) Are a resident of Florida
(including part-timers)
2.) Do not have a history of difficulty with
anxiety or panic attacks
before taking Paxil,
3.) Were prescribed Paxil by a regular physician,
not a psychiatrist,
4.) Began taking Paxil because of a difficult
period in their life: such as
the loss of a loved one, a lost job, financial
difficulties, post-partum
depression, divorce, or any other type of crisis
that would appear to be
temporary in nature,
5.) Want to discontinue use of Paxil but feel
that they are unable because
of the suffering that accompanies the withdrawal.
If one through five apply to
you, then you and I have something in common.
I'm going after those who made this drug. You
and I both know that they
knew what they were doing when they unleashed
this unique form of torture on
the public. I am going to file suit. If you
wish to join in, send me an
email. I don't want money from you, I don't
want anything except a show of
hands. Please tell me that I am not alone."
CANADA
Poyner
Baxter
British Columbia Law firm that has started a class
action suit in B.C., Canada. Read their statement
of claim
here. As far as i know, only BC residents
can join , but I could be wrong. Scarfone
Hawkins LLP
Ontario firm, which also launched this
web-site. I have not been in contact with
them yet. More info after I had a chat with them. Lauzon
Belanger
Quebec firm, which has just launched a class action
suit. Note that the three Canadian Firms seem
to have synchronized their suits. Again, I have
not been in contact with this firm as of yet,
so cannot make any recommendations.
UK
Hugh
James Ford Simey
Based out of Cardiff Wales, this
firms has had at least one meeting with Paxil
Withdrawal sufferers, according to the report
of one visitor. I have had some contact with them
a few months ago, but have not had any direct
comunication from them in a while.
Medcalfes
Solicitors
Firm is considering pursuing legal
action against GSK. No direct contact with them.
General
Legal Links (the firms cannot be determined, but
I am pretty sure that they are US based)
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