• 19
  • January
    2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In a precedent-setting decision this afternoon at the United State District Court of Massachusetts in Boston, Judge Marianne Bowler denied a motion filed by 14 drug companies seeking to block the plaintiffs, 53 women with breast cancer, from proceeding with their case seeking compensation from the makers of diethylstilbestrol (DES).  The plaintiffs, known as DES daughters, were exposed to DES in utero more than 40 years ago when their mothers took the drug purported to prevent miscarriages. (For a copy of the original order, click here DES Order.pdf)

Attorneys Aaron Levine and Julie Oliver-Zhang, representing the plaintiff DES daughters, presented final argument opposing the motion followed by responses from drugmakers Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb. One hour after the final arguments, Judge Bowler denied the Defendants' motion and ordered immediate mediation for compensation to the plaintiffs.

Calling upon a team of expert witnesses including the Chair of the Harvard's Department of Epidemiology and other scientists from academic institutions such as Georgetown University and University of Paris, the plaintiffs presented sufficient facts to support the relevance and reliability of their experts and their opinions that prenatal DES exposure substantially increased the risk of breastcancer in women over the age of 40.

This decision emphasizes the critical need for annual mammography, heightened surveillance for breast cancer, and avoidance of female hormone replacement therapy for the 2-3 million DES daughters across the country.

For further information about eligibility to joining the lawsuit, please contact Aaron Levine & Associates at 202-833-8040 or visit our website at www.aaronlevinelaw.com.