Expected Ozempic Lawsuit Settlement Amounts (2024)

Lawsuits are arising as patients face severe side effects and illnesses after taking Ozempic. These plaintiffs seek compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. But how much are the potential settlement amounts? Those sums depend upon the nature and extent of injuries due to Ozempic.

Where Do Lawsuits Over Ozempic-Related Injuries Currently Stand?

As of June 6, 2024, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation assigned the Ozempic cases to Judge Karen S. Marston in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The panel did this after the original presiding judge, Gene E. K. Pratter, died unexpectedly.

The defendant in the MDL is Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic. There are 101 pending lawsuits against it, which required forming the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL).

An MDL is not a class action. Each lawsuit remains a separate matter. The arrangement allows for efficiency since the cases likely have similar discovery and court procedure demands. So, under an MDL, a court can consolidate some matters and handle others individually. Plaintiffs can also accept a separate settlement if they receive an offer.

A class action lawsuit may be possible, but the MDL remains the main forum for pursuing Ozempic-related damages right now.

There are no jury awards or publicly reported Ozempic lawsuit payouts for claims alleging Ozempic-related injuries. So, there are no known Ozempic settlement amounts. Any settlements are likely confidential, so successful plaintiffs cannot tip off other victims of potential case values.

Predicting Ozempic Lawsuit Payouts

Predicting the value of a lawsuit settlement is difficult because so much of the calculation depends on factors unique to the plaintiff. A victim who experienced bowel pain might prove a few thousand dollars in losses, while someone else might prove hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses because they had their gallbladder removed. The compensation for these losses is called compensatory damages.

Complicating the prediction even further is the role of punitive damages. Many of the headline-grabbing jury awards on past dangerous product lawsuits included tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, which are calculated based on the losses of the plaintiff, the calculation of punitive damages is based on the egregiousness of the defendant’s conduct.

Punitive damages punish bad actors. These damages warn other companies not to engage in dangerous or dishonest conduct. Some grounds for imposing punitive damages in other mass tort cases include the following:

• Failing to warn consumers about known risks

• Concealing the dangers of the product from regulators

• Misleading the public about safety in its marketing materials

• Paying “experts” to muddy the waters by publishing counter-articles

No one has alleged any actions like these by Novo Nordisk. The worst allegation so far is that the company spent $11 million wining and dining doctors with meals and trips to promote Ozempic to them. The plaintiffs need something further to justify punitive damages for these marketing trips.

How Much Is the Ozempic Lawsuit Going to Pay Out?

While specific Ozempic lawsuit payouts available can vary based on individual circumstances and the lawsuit’s jurisdiction, common categories of damages sought in Ozempic settlements include the following:

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses include compensation for past, present, and future medical costs arising from the side effects or injuries alleged to have been caused by Ozempic. That includes hospital stays, medications, surgeries, and necessary long-term care or rehabilitation.

Ozempic allegedly causes:

• Chronic vomiting

• Gastrointestinal or stomach pain

• Intestinal blockage or obstruction

• Intestinal or stomach paralysis

• Pancreatitis

These medical conditions can require:

• Emergency room visits

• Hospitalization

• Gallbladder removal surgery

Every victim will incur different medical expenses depending on their symptoms and the treatment they receive. For example, gallbladder removal surgery costs between $5,000 and $17,000. This wide range depends on many factors unique to the patient, as well as other factors like the patient’s insurer and any complications that arise.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

An Ozempic lawsuit payout may include lost wages if a plaintiff took time away from work to recover. Those suffering long-term impacts on their ability to work or earn a living may receive damages for lost earning capacity.

The loss amount depends on two primary factors: wages and recovery time. Victims who earn more will have more significant income losses. Similarly, victims who require more extensive treatment will miss more work. For example, the recovery time from gallbladder removal could run anywhere from one to six weeks.

Pain and Suffering

This category covers the physical pain and emotional distress suffered as a result of taking Ozempic. It can include compensation for enduring physical discomfort, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and the condition's impact on overall well-being.

Painful gastric problems can erode the quality of life. It can cause sleep deprivation and impact long-term health. Losing a gallbladder, for example, means losing vital functions that produce lifelong symptoms.

Unfortunately, pain and suffering damages are unpredictable. Jurors have considerable discretion in deciding how much to award for these losses, depending on the severity and impacts of the injury.

Punitive Damages

Sometimes, a jury may award punitive damages if the drug manufacturer was particularly egregious or reckless.

Punitive damages are just that - punitive. They punish the defendant to deter similar conduct in the future. They do not compensate for specific losses. But they can increase case value.

Legal Fees and Costs

Plaintiffs can seek reimbursement for the legal expenses incurred while pursuing an Ozempic settlement, including attorney fees, court costs, and expenses related to gathering evidence and expert testimony.

Loss of Consortium

Severe personal injuries may damage relationships with spouses or partners. Called “loss of consortium,” these damages acknowledge the damage to companionship, affection, and sexual relations.

Loss of consortium is usually a cause of action filed by an affected partner. Plaintiffs can also claim it if they face emotional or physical distress by their injury’s impacts on their relationship.

Get Help With Your Ozempic-Related Injury

It's important to note that the availability and extent of these types of compensation depend on the specific facts of each case, the laws of the lawsuit’s jurisdiction, and the determination of fault and causation.

To understand the value of your case, you need to know how your injuries connect to your use of Ozempic and how to quantify your resulting losses. ConsumerShield offers educational resources to help you understand Ozempic lawsuits and what they can accomplish.

But our resources only go so far. At some point, you will need to consult a legal professional to assess the particular factors of your case and estimate the Ozempic lawsuit settlement amounts you can seek. We will conduct a free case evaluation and connect you with a lawyer who can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us to start down the path toward just compensation.