The largest collective action ever carried out in France (4,113 complainants) has just been completed. The Lyon district court issued its decision on Tuesday afternoon and dismissed the plaintiffs who had summoned the Merck laboratory for “lack of information”. The patients claimed compensation of 10,000 euros each for lack of information about the change in formula when the “new Levothyrox” in France.
A disappointment for the sick
The Lyon district court considered that the Merck laboratory worked within the rules and in concert with the French health authorities and did not commit any fault in the information due to patients.
“It is a big disappointment for me and for the patients who awaited recognition of the justice of their sufferings” declared Me Christophe Lèguevaques, the plaintiffs lawyer. “But we will certainly advise clients to appeal this decision.” he confided at the Reuters agency.
Another legal action is still pending, this time in criminal matters. In March 2018, the health center of the Marseille prosecutor’s office opened a judicial investigation against the Merck laboratory suspected of “aggravated deception, unintentional injuries, endangering the life of others and manslaughter”. But for a year, no examining magistrate has yet been appointed.
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