Illinois Injury and Mass Tort Lawyer Blog

Published on: April 1, 2025

Listeria Outbreak Affects Frozen Supplement Shakes

chocolate-smoothie-1058191_640-e1741658058922 A multistate outbreak of listeria monocytogenes has impacted frozen supplement shakes made by Prairie Farms. As of February 21, 2025, 38 people have been infected by the outbreak across 21 states. On February 22, 2025, Lyons Magnus LLC recalled affected Prairie Farms supplement shakes and people were advised not to sell, eat or serve them. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), along with officials have been gathering data to figure out the causes of this outbreak. If you were harmed by supplemental shakes contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, you should call the knowledgeable Chicago-based food safety lawyers of Moll Law Group. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved.

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As of February 21, 2025, 38 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 21 states. Sick people’s samples were collected on dates ranging from August 17, 2018, to January 23, 2025. Of 38 people with information available, 37 have been hospitalized. Twelve deaths have been reported from California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Most people in this outbreak reported living in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick.

Not everyone reports when they’ve been affected by Listeria (and not everyone gets tested for it). Accordingly, it’s possible there are more sick people than were originally counted.

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Published on: March 25, 2025

Ozempic and Wegovy Linked to Vision Loss

By Moll Law Group

medical-5835701_640-e1741657233713 Semaglutide in the form of drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Rybelsus and Zepbound may increase the risks of vision loss. These drugs are taken to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity and have the potential to help other medical problems like depression, addiction, and Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, it also appears that one of the drugs’ potential side effects is a rare kind of vision loss, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Around 12% of people around the country has taken semaglutide drugs and around 6% of Americans are currently taking them. No direct causal link has been established, but as popularity of these drugs grow, it’s important to be aware of this possible risk. If you suffered NAION while on Ozempic, Wegovy or another GLP-1 drug, you should call the seasoned Chicago-based dangerous pharmaceuticals lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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Only a small group of patients taking semaglutide have experienced vision issues. A JAMA study, one of several studies, looked at 9 patients that had vision trouble while taking semaglutide.

NAION is a non-inflammatory disease in which the blood supply to the optic nerve is harmed and the patient suffers a sudden partial vision loss that’s permanent. The study was initiated because a patient experienced a painless vision loss while on the drug but had the issue resolve favorably when semaglutide was stopped; when he went back on, he had the same problem with the other eye. The researcher looked into whether other neuro-ophthalmologists had seen this in their patients and found nine cases that are featured in his study. Seven out of nine of the patients, all of them in their 50s and 60s, had typical presentations of NAION, which usually affects only one eye at once, but some had unusual symptoms. Researchers are trying to figure out whether being on semaglutide actually causes NAION and other vision loss.

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Published on: March 18, 2025

Class II Recall of Baked Goods Made by FGF Brands

By Moll Law Group

donuts-2969490_1280-e1739548302659 In February, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is recalling 60 baked products due to potential listeria contamination concerns. Around 2 million baked goods manufactured by FGF Brands, which is a pastry wholesaler, were affected. These baked goods, which were made before December 13, 2024, include French crullers, fritters, cinnamon sticks, filled and flavored doughnuts. If you suffered listeria as a result of a baked good made by FGF brands, you should contact Moll Law Group to determine your legal options. Billions have been recovered in product liability lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

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The recall was first issued in January but was upgraded to a Class II recall; these are recalls where use of the recalled product could cause temporary adverse medical consequences or where the probability of serious negative consequences is remote. Next steps for consumers were not automatically provided by the FDA.

If you suffered listeria poisoning or listeriosis, you may have a basis to sue for damages. Listeriosis is a foodborne bacterial infection that’s commonly caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes. As the third leading cause of death from foodborne sickness, listeria affects around 1600 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and can be especially serious when suffered by older adults, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. It’s estimated that about 260 people die each year from infections and symptoms include muscle aches, headache, fever, stiff neck, loss of balance, convulsions, diarrhea, and confusion. Those who are pregnant may suffer miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or their newborns may suffer life-threatening infections. In the worst case, listeria can result in death.

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Published on: March 11, 2025

FDA Bans Red No. 3, the Artificial Coloring in Many Products

By Moll Law Group

red-3270956_640-e1739031721374 Red No. 3 is used as bright red artificial coloring in candy, cereal, fruit cocktails, strawberry-flavored milkshakes, and other foods and beverages. It’s ubiquitous. And so it’s alarming that data has surfaced that the dye can cause cancer in lab animals; specifically, evidence reveals that lab male rats exposed to heightened Red No. 3 levels developed cancer.

The FDA recently banned use of Red No. 3, but the Center for Science in the Public Interest has commented that it exists in thousands of—a whopping 9200—products. Notably, the FDA isn’t banning Red No. 40, another artificial dye linked to problems, specifically behavioral ones, in kids.

Food manufacturers can take until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products, which means consumers should be alert to ingredient lists and avoid products with Red No. 3. Those manufacturers of ingested drugs that include Red No. 3 such as supplements have until January 15, 2028.

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Published on: March 4, 2025

The FDA Makes Announcements Related to Smoking and Nicotine Addiction

By Moll Law Group

cigarette-7285317_640 2025 opened with announcements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about cessation of smoking and the reduction of nicotine addiction. The first of the two announcements was a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This would call for a reduction in nicotine in combustible tobacco products to levels that are not addictive. This has been requested by public health advocates since 2009’s Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which authorized such a change. The agency has set out a comment period that from January 16 all the way to September 15 of this year. However, the other announcement had to do with authorizing 3 mg and 6 mg nicotine content in a broader range of flavors of 20 Zyn nicotine pouches, which seems potentially dangerous for children. If your child was harmed by a nicotine pouch or other addictive nicotine product, call the knowledgeable product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

Consult the Trustworthy Moll Law Group About Your Nicotine Claim

In a time when the harms of nicotine to the body and brain, particularly on youth brain development, are increasingly clear, it seems surprising that the FDA would authorize 20 Zyn nicotine pouches in multiple attention-grabbing flavors like Peppermint, Chill, Smooth, Citrus, and Cinnamon. The second announcement seems to cut against the general tendency of the FDA to try to spur smoking cessation, such as by calling for reductions of nicotine in other products.

The agency justifies the decision allowing for greater marketing efforts with the claim that adults who use Zyn have switched entirely to those products to consume nicotine rather than smoke cigarettes or obtain smokeless tobacco. It claims that the Zyn products have less deleterious chemicals than those other products. It also argues that it will keep an eye on Zyn marketing to make sure the manufacturer is complying with the nuances of the marketing order—Zyn isn’t allowed to promote these products to children or teens, and the marketing order can be rescinded for noncompliance.

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Published on: February 25, 2025

Depo-Provera Claims Now Centralized and Part of Multidistrict Litigation

By Moll Law Group

injection-957260_640-e1739547652876 In an important legal step, the Depo-Provera birth control lawsuits have been centralized and transferred to multidistrict litigation that will take place in Florida. There were 27 lawsuits pending in 8 districts, and another 41 related actions pending in 15 districts. Plaintiffs had proposed to centralize the litigation in the Northern District of California or the Central District of California. However, the Panel on Multidistrict Litigation elected to move the cases to Florida. If you were harmed by Depo-Provera, you may have grounds to pursue damages in a product liability lawsuit. The seasoned Chicago-based lawyers of Moll Law Group represent plaintiffs around the country. Billions have been recovered in product liability lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

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The plaintiffs who brought Depo-Provera lawsuits have alleged that they used the injectable contraceptive. Studies now show that long-term use of Depo-Provera can result in an increased risk of developing meningiomas (types of brain tumor) and the plaintiffs argued that they developed intracranial meningioma that was caused by use of Depo-Provera or a generic version of it. They sought centralization of these claims because they have substantially similar misrepresentation and product liability claims.

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation found that the actions that were brought before them involve common questions of fact and that centralizing these cases in the Northern District of Florida will serve the parties’ convenience, as well as the witnesses, and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation.

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Published on: February 18, 2025

USDA Report finds Boar’s Head listeria outbreak was due to poor sanitation practices

By Moll Law Group

charcuterie-338498_6401-e1739031396223 Last July, Boar’s Head recalled liverwurst products due to a listeria outbreak. This recall eventually expanded and came to encompass sliced hams and sausages produced at the same plant as the liverwurst. Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture determined that a Boar’s Head facility’s inadequate sanitation practices contributed to the serious listeria outbreak last year. This was an outbreak from July through November that killed 10 people and resulted in hospitalizations of even more. The report from the USDA shows disturbing yet routine sanitation violations.

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The USDA’s report examines alarming facility conditions that included dead bugs, mildew and black mold near machines, condensation dripping onto exposed products, broken flooring that could retain moisture that would make conditions for the meat wet, and meat and fat residue from the prior day’s production on packaging and other equipment.

Boar’s Head has expressed that it is cooperating with the USDA investigation and is trying to improve food safety programs, such as by implementing greater food safety control procedures and more serious testing at the poultry and meat facilities.

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Published on: February 11, 2025

What’s Happening in Mass Tort Litigation in 2025?

By Moll Law Group

courtroom-144091_640-e1736228223529 This year, important actions will occur in a number of federal mass tort cases. These cases involve forever chemicals, social media, diet drugs, Bayer’s Roundup, preterm infant formula, ultra-processed foods, Depo Provera, and plastics. In some cases, mass tort lawsuits have survived a number of pretrial motions and will be going into further motion practice or to trial. Other legal issues, including the use of novel theories of law to establish companies’ liability, are making litigation this year complex and contentious. Give our attorneys a call, if you were harmed by any of the mentioned products. We represent clients across the country and billions have been recovered in lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

Call Moll Law Group About Your Mass Tort Lawsuit

Mass torts are filed in civil court when there are many individual lawsuits against a defendant (or several defendants) for injuries arising out of the defendants’ similar acts or omissions against the various individuals suing. Often devastating injuries are involved.

Bayer’s Roundup Litigation

Over 50,000 claims have been made against Monsanto and Bayer, which acquired weedkiller Roundup when it purchased the former, for alleged defects in Roundup. The weedkiller’s active ingredient is glyphosate, which is carcinogenic. While Bayer did win most of the recent Roundup trials, there have also been verdicts that are collectively more than $1 billion, even in instances where they were reduced, which bodes poorly for the manufacturer. In 2020, Bayer settled certain Roundup cases for $10.9 billion, and it hopes to ask the Supreme Court to rule that federal law preempts these plaintiffs’ claims. However, many cases are still ongoing, and 2025 will likely see more trials, though it’s also possible another settlement will be reached.

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Published on: February 4, 2025

Seasoned Attorneys for Abbott Trifecta Valve Lawsuits

By Moll Law Group

surgery-1807541_640-e1737155771843 In February 2023, Abbott, which manufactures Trifecta Valves warned doctors and other providers that its valves were subject to early structural valve deterioration. In summer 2023, the company announced that it would stop sales of the Trifecta Valves, including Trifecta Valve with Glide Technology (Trifecta Valva GT). Meanwhile the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has offered many recommendations and continues to work with the manufacturer to determine the risks and best practices in connection with the affected valves. If you were injured or a loved one’s death is because of an Abbott Trifecta Valve that deteriorated early after being implanted, call the seasoned Chicago-based attorneys of Moll Law Group. Our firm serves consumers around the country—billions have been recovered in lawsuits with which we’ve been involved.

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Some patients with diseased aortic heart valves or who have malfunctioning or damaged prosthetic aortic heart valves were treated with Trifecta and Trifecta Valve GT. The FDA first approved first generation Trifecta valves in 2011. While the first generation model is no longer in service, many other kinds of Trifecta Valves have been implanted since. Studies show that the Abbott Trifecta Valves require more reintervention than other commercial valves. They’ve deteriorated in some instances just three to four years after being implanted.

Health care providers have been told about the potential dangers of early structural valve deterioration (SVD), but the full risks are not known. If you were harmed by a valve or a loved one died because of the deterioration of an Abbott Trifecta Valve, you should let the FDA know about the adverse event, so that it can get a better sense of the dangers. You can also expect that your health care provider is now aware of the possible risks and if you have one implanted, you should see your provider to determine the next best steps.

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Published on: January 28, 2025

Study Reveals Increase in Pregnancy Complications in Illinois

By Moll Law Group

woman-1284353_640-e1737155490309 Recently, Northwestern Medicine published a study that finds that maternal health problems and birth complications have increased in Illinois. Severe maternal morbidity or severe health impacts from labor and delivery went up from 1.4% to 2% in connection with 988,000 births between 2016-2023 at more than at 127 hospitals in Illinois. In addition, researchers found increased rates of gestational diabetes, mental health problems, obesity, and high blood pressure, all of which are risk factors for maternal morbidity and complications around birth. Some of the increase may have to do with medical errors. If you were harmed or lost a loved one due to what you believe was a medical error, you should call the seasoned medical malpractice lawyers of Moll Law Group. Billions have been recovered in cases with which we’ve been involved.

Consult Seasoned Attorneys of Moll Law Group About Pregnancy Complications

Doctors are aware of the stress pregnancy places on the body. Sometimes chronic illnesses and conditions can be exacerbated by pregnancy and the hormonal changes involved. In the study, which was published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology Open, researchers found that Black women have over twice the rate of serious complications that white women do. Also facing greater risks of severe maternal complications across racial groups are those pregnant women who live in high-poverty neighborhoods. The study found an increase of over 22% in vaginal birth complications and an increase of almost 49% with cesarean birth complications.

According to the study, greater access to prenatal care and health counseling prior to pregnancy would be a crucial move towards reducing maternal health problems and birth complications. When a mother has medical conditions during pregnancy, doctors may need to make changes to the usual recommendations for what sorts of tests are performed, what medications are taken, or how delivery is timed. The study’s authors also highlighted the work of Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative to reduce maternal disparities during labor and delivery and noted that increased access to doulas and patient navigator programs—and policies to reduce poverty—can also have a positive impact.

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