Manufacturer of Humira faces lawsuit after death

A drug manufacturer is facing a lawsuit over claims one of its prescription drug caused congestive heart failure.

Janet Levy, individually and as special administrator for the Estate of Joseph B. Levy, filed a lawsuit Nov. 5 in the Circuit Court of Cook County against Abbvie Inc., alleging wrongful death, design defect, failure to warn, misrepresentation, negligence, breach of the implied warranty of merchantability and negligent misrepresentation.

According to the complaint, Joseph B. Levy was prescribed the medication, Humira, in June 2008. On Nov. 6, 2012, he died and the medical examiner found a contributory relationship between his death and his use of Humira, according to the complaint.

The suit contends the defendant committed numerous violations of law, including but not limited to, providing inadequate warnings, misrepresenting the risk of congestive heart failure, failing to exercise ordinary care and having actual knowledge that Humira created an unreasonable risk of serious bodily injury.

The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000. She is being represented by Gary D. McCallister and Jamie G. Goldstein of Gary D. McCallister & Associates LLC.

Cook County Circuit Court case No. 2013L012256.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Cook County Circuit Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.