Financial Compensation for Zantac Cancer Lawsuits

Were you or a loved one diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac or another ranitidine product? You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Sanofi, Novartis, or another drug manufacturer. You can use this money to pay for cancer treatment and make up for any income you lost, among other things.

Your Zantac lawsuit payout will depend on the specifics of your case. This includes how serious your illness is, how much money you lost because of it, and how much evidence you can find linking the drug to your illness. Our legal team can help you to take timely legal action after a cancer diagnosis.

What Are the Zantac Lawsuits About?

Zantac and its generic form (ranitidine) are both popular heartburn medications. However, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ranitidine may contain harmful levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). According to the FDA’s press release, this substance is a “probable human carcinogen,” and NDMA contamination may increase users’ risks for certain types of cancer.

Even if a ranitidine product is safe to take on the day you buy it, its NDMA levels may increase over time, especially if stored in improper conditions. These factors led to the FDA’s 2020 recall order.

The Zantac lawsuits allege that the makers of Zantac and other similar drugs knew or should have known about the dangers of NDMA years ago. Despite this knowledge, the companies prioritized profits over safety and did not warn users about the cancer risks associated with their products.

Why Are Zantac Lawsuits Being Filed?

Drug manufacturers have a responsibility to their customers to:

• Rigorously test and check their products for dangerous substances and other possible hazards
• Promptly and publicly acknowledge possible risks
• Promptly recall products that could be harmful to customers
• Ensure all products come with warning labels that include all potential risk factors, contraindications, and so forth

Former Zantac users allege that Sanofi, the company that makes Zantac, endangered their lives and increased their risk of developing cancer by failing to fulfill one or more of the above responsibilities. The makers of generic ranitidine products, including Novartis, face similar allegations. This is why Zantac lawsuits are being filed.

Who Can File a Zantac Lawsuit?

Anyone harmed by Zantac or a similar product may file a Zantac lawsuit and seek compensation from the drug manufacturer or other liable party. As of October 7, 2021, there were 800 lawsuits and over 110,000 claims pending against companies that manufactured ranitidine products.

An individual may qualify to join or file such a lawsuit if they:

• Were prescribed Zantac or used an over-the-counter Zantac-like product that contained ranitidine

• Were diagnosed with cancer after using Zantac or a similar product

• Can collect enough evidence (e.g., medical records, expert testimony) to show a probable link between cancer and their use of the contaminated drug

• Took Zantac over a long enough period—per Harvard Health Publishing, (ranitidine is intended for short-term use—using it for extended periods of time may come with increased health risks)

If you are unsure whether you meet the above criteria, our team can help you figure that out before taking legal action. A dangerous drugs attorney from our network can then help you decide which of the following options may be best for you.

Join an MDL

Multidistrict litigation (MDL) allows plaintiffs injured by the same entity to fight together while keeping their lawsuits separate. As a Zantac MDL being handled by the United States District Court shows, people from across the United States are combining their cases to fight against large drug manufacturers more efficiently.

Join a class action suit

A class action is best suited to those cases where the plaintiffs suffered identical or very similar injuries. This process allows multiple plaintiffs to combine their suits into one, saving them time and money and making it easier to confront a well-funded, well-represented drug manufacturer.

File individually

If a plaintiff does not qualify to join an existing MDL or class action lawsuit—for example, if their injury is very different or they used a different product made by the same manufacturer—they may choose to file their own lawsuit. 

An individual lawsuit may eventually become an MDL or a class action, if others with similar grievances decide to take legal action.

When will the Zantac lawsuit be settled? What is the payout?

Many Zantac cancer lawsuits are still pending, so it is impossible to determine how long such cases typically take to settle. A lawsuit’s length depends on:

• The strength of your case: If the evidence against the drug manufacturers is strong enough, they could try to settle quickly. If they believe they have a chance of winning at trial, they might not offer a timely settlement, and the case could spend years in the courts. 

• Who you are suing: One manufacturer may decide to settle, while another may keep fighting.

• If the manufacturer appeals: Even if a court rules against a manufacturer, they may decide to appeal the decision to a higher court. This would lengthen the lawsuit.

How much could you recover from such a lawsuit? At this moment, it is impossible to determine what the average payout will be or how Zantac lawsuits will be settled. You could, however, receive money in one of two ways. The two primary types of settlement are outlined below.

Global (matrix) settlements

A global, or matrix, settlement occurs when the defendant agrees to pay all plaintiffs, thus ending the case. What percentage of this amount you receive depends on how serious your illness and losses are compared with others who are part of the same legal action.

Inventory settlements

In an inventory settlement, rather than earmarking a lump sum to be distributed among all plaintiffs, the defendant works with each plaintiff or law firm to figure out what an acceptable settlement may look like. Again, your payout will depend on how seriously you were affected by the drug and resulting illness.

Potential Zantac Lawsuit Payout: What Can Victims Expect?

Zantac and ranitidine victims could recover damages for economic and non-economic losses related to their use of the drug. Plaintiffs can expect a mass tort lawsuit lawyer from our network to:

• Help them figure out an appropriate settlement and the best way to get it
• Answer any legal questions or concerns that arise in the course of the lawsuit
• Take care of all investigative and clerical responsibilities, including collecting evidence and filing all necessary paperwork with the courts
• Manage all communications with the defendant and their representatives
• Fight hard for their money, either at the negotiating table or in the courtroom

What Compensation is Recoverable in Zantac Lawsuits?

Zantac litigation could enable you to recover compensation for some or all of the following damages.

• Past and future medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Past and future loss of wages
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of employment or employment opportunities
• Loss of independence
• Scar tissue
• Reduced quality of life
• Temporary or permanent disability
• Emotional trauma
• Miscellaneous expenses related to cancer or cancer treatment

In addition to all of the above, you may recover things like funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support if you are filing on behalf of a deceased loved one.

A final note on compensation: some states have laws restricting the amount of money a person can recover in certain cases. You must know what your state’s legal situation looks like before asking for compensation. The attorneys in our network are familiar with the laws in the areas they practice in and can assist you with this part of the process.

What You Can Get in on Zantac Cancer Cases

The damages a plaintiff may be eligible for vary from case to case. For example, a person with Stage 3 cancer who requires extensive treatment and time off from work may qualify for more money than someone with Stage 1 cancer who could go back to work relatively quickly.

The process of calculating how much money you are eligible for can get challenging due to:

• Availability of evidence: If you have kept medical bills, receipts, pay stubs, and other materials, it may be easier to prove that you deserve damages.

• Legal formulas: There are special formulas or calculations that lawyers can use to determine what to ask for on their client’s behalf.

• What type of compensation you are seeking: Non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering) do not come with a “price tag” like a bill or a receipt. It can be difficult for a layperson to convert physical and emotional pain into monetary terms.

If you file a wrongful death case, calculating your payout may be even more complicated, depending on whether the deceased filed suit and recovered damages on their own before they passed. If your loved one received compensation for certain items, you probably could not sue for those same items.

The mass tort lawyers in our network can determine the right payout for each client.

What Is the Statute of Limitations Deadline for Zantac Claims?

The statute of limitations varies based on:

• Where you live: Depending on where you live, you could have as little as a few years to file the lawsuit.

• Why you are suing: The statute of limitations may differ depending on whether you are filing on your own behalf (a personal injury suit) or on behalf of a deceased loved one (a wrongful death suit).

• Who you are suing: If you choose to sue only the drug manufacturer, you may have a different deadline than if you sue your doctor or a combination of parties. Some states make a distinction between different categories of defendants; others do not.

• When you discover the illness: This is especially important in medical malpractice and dangerous drug cases because a person may not realize they are sick right away. In such cases, the statute of limitations does not start “counting down” when you were actually injured, but rather once you receive a diagnosis from a medical professional.

The statute of limitations is one reason why you should act quickly after a ranitidine-related cancer diagnosis. Other reasons include:

• The availability of evidence, which may be destroyed or become less valuable as time goes by

• The availability of MDLs or class action lawsuits, which may start to be settled or decided before you can join them if you spend too much time considering your options

• Your need for compensation

You may be able to recover damages more quickly if you start your lawsuit sooner 

Should You File a Zantac Lawsuit?

Our team can help you figure out if you are eligible to file a lawsuit against Zantac’s manufacturer. We do this by:

• Listening to your story: Everyone who calls is entitled to a free case review. A member of our team will listen to your story at no cost or obligation to you. 

• Evaluating your case: You can find out over the phone within minutes if you may be eligible to join a mass tort or multidistrict litigation.

• Finding the right Zantac lawyers: Our network of attorneys has helped people throughout the United States recover compensation after exposure to dangerous drugs. We can connect you with one of our lawyers who works in your area.

If you qualify to file a lawsuit against Sanofi or another party, doing so can benefit you and your entire family in several ways, including:

• Ensuring that justice is done: The drug manufacturer failed in their duty to care for customers, including you. They should not be allowed to get away with negligent behavior. Filing a lawsuit is one way of holding them accountable.

• Helping you support your family: The compensation you receive from a Zantac lawsuit payout can enable you to pay bills and other necessities and maintain your standard of living despite your illness.

• Giving you peace of mind: With proper compensation, you can focus on your treatment rather than worrying about the future or feeling rushed to go back to work before you are ready.

Contact us for help on your Zantac cancer lawsuit

Filing a Zantac lawsuit can be a lengthy and challenging process. The Sentinel Group wants to help you recover a fair Zantac lawsuit payout by pairing you with the right personal injury lawyer from our organization. 

Call today for a free consultation. We would be happy to educate you about your rights and the legal options available to you after suffering due to NDMA exposure.