Nine New Complaints Filed In Meningitis
NEWS RELEASE
SALTZ, MONGELUZZI & BENDESKY, P.C.
Nine new Complaints filed in New Jersey on heels of Congressional hearings into nationwide Meningitis Outbreak
Bridgeton, New Jersey (November 20, 2012) – As Federal scrutiny intensifies, nine more New Jersey chronic pain sufferers, ranging in age from 26 to 76, are now turning to the courts in Cumberland County to hold accountable those responsible for their conditions and the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak that has claimed more than 30 lives. The nine are represented by Saltz, Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, P.C., which has now filed 15 Civil Complaints on behalf of New Jersey residents, all of whom received contaminated steroid injections prepared by the embattled New England Compounding Center (NECC) and administered by health care providers in South Jersey.
Michael F. Barrett, Esq., lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said the nine new cases come on the heels of two days of Congressional hearings into the outbreak last week and illustrate the persistent, prevalent, yet non-discriminatory nature of the fungal meningitis spread in New Jersey and nationwide.
“Every one of these victims put their full faith and trust in their health care providers, and the NECC, to protect their health and welfare,” explained Barrett. “Prior to receiving the contaminated steroid injections, the only thing they shared in common was their chronic pain. What they all now share with Thanksgiving approaching is guarded relief that they are alive and receiving treatment.”
Barrett said some of his clients are or have been treated with anti-fungal therapies and are all under close medical monitoring. The litigation names as defendants not only the NECC but the physicians and health care facilities where the New Jersey residents received their injections. Specifically, South Jersey Regional Medical Center and Premier Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine are named as two of the six New Jersey sites where NECC contaminated injections were administered.
The new group of plaintiffs consists of residents from Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. They are:
– Meghan Jones, 26.
– Jennifer Tolotti, 30.
– Jose Ramos, 35.
– Juanita Rivera, 37.
– Dawn Zavacki, 40.
– Diane Tisa, 49.
– Robert Tayvinsky, 51.
– Naquita Rios, 52.
– Kathryn Leaverton, 76.
Barrett said additional Complaints are being drafted and that Amended Complaints may be filed based on new information obtained through his Firm’s investigation and the Congressional hearings.
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Contact:
Michael F. Barrett, Esq.
856-751-8383 / 215-496-8282 / mfbarrett@smbb.com
Steph Rosenfeld (for SMB)
215-514-4101 / steph@idadvisors.com