Lipitor Patients May Face Statute of Limitations Cut-Off

Jacky Gale | January 14th, 2014

Lipitor lawsuit funding

Countless numbers of Lipitor patients could soon be dealing with the implications of a cut-off date for Lipitor litigation. Lawsuits are subject to statutes of limitations, which vary from state to state. However, in many states, patients who took Lipitor (atorvastatin) and developed diabetes may face additional legal hurdles when filing a lawsuit after February 2014.

Potential plaintiffs who have delayed filing a claim due to the cost of litigation may opt to take advantage of Lipitor lawsuit funding, which can assist them as they pursue a jury award or settlement. Unlike a traditional bank loan, lawsuit loans are non-recourse, so there is never any risk to a plaintiff.

Statute of limitations involves warning label additions

In many states, the statute of limitations for product liability lawsuits is two years. The reason this particular statute of limitations may apply to potential Lipitor plaintiffs is a change that Pfizer, the defendants, made to their labeling information in February 2012. They updated the label to reflect the link between the cholesterol-reducing medication and the development of type 2 diabetes.

Many of the legal experts who are keeping a watchful eye on Lipitor litigation trends have predicted that Pfizer will argue that the statute of limitations should have begun at that time, and that lawsuits filed more than two years after that date should be dismissed. To avoid this legal hurdle, it is expected that many more plaintiffs will file Lipitor lawsuits against Pfizer before February 2014.

Diabetes patients face ongoing medical expenses

Often, prospective plaintiffs resist filing a lawsuit because they fear they will be unable to pay their legal fees or keep their families financially afloat while litigation is pending. For these patients, lawsuit funding may be the ideal solution. This type of loan can help plaintiffs pay their bills as they await a jury award or settlement. Lawsuit loans can be particularly helpful because litigation often takes months or even years to resolve.

In the meantime, those who took Lipitor and developed diabetes must deal with severe medical and financial concerns. Lipitor, which is prescribed to lower cholesterol levels, has been linked to a 37 percent increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes in one study published in the American College of Cardiology.

When a patient develops type 2 diabetes, medical expenses can quickly add up. The patient may require injected insulin, perhaps in addition to oral diabetes medications, as well as a steady supply of blood glucose test strips. Patients are also at risk of developing additional complications from diabetes, which add to their medical expenses. Although a jury award or settlement can help pay medical expenses, ongoing care needs, and day-to-day living expenses, it may be years before Pfizer makes payments. Lawsuit funding for Lipitor plaintiffs can help bridge this financial gap.

Benefits of a Lipitor diabetes settlement loan

LawStreet Capital provides legal loans for plaintiffs, as they await a jury award or settlement. These loans are distributed in the form of an immediate cash advance, so plaintiffs need not wait to pay their bills or provide for their families. Although Lipitor lawsuit funding may not be suited to every plaintiff, having adequate funding during the litigation process may help plaintiffs feel more financially secure as they pursue justice against Pfizer.

Since the money never needs to be repaid in the event that you lose your case, lawsuit funding loan is completely risk-free. You could have approval within 24 hours after filling out a simple online form, with no credit check or employment verification required. Speak with a friendly and knowledgeable representative at LawStreet Capital by calling 1.866.FUND.662.