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this pageVerdict Against Metabolife
BIRMINGHAM, AL — November 27, 2002 — A federal jury awarded $4.1 million against Metabolife International, the maker of a diet supplement that contains ephedra. The four people named in the lawsuit suffered strokes and heart attacks after taking Metabolife 356, a product the jury deemed “unreasonably dangerous.”
Widely used at one time in weight–loss and bodybuilding products, ephedra has been linked to deaths, heart attacks, strokes, and seizures. Ephedra products such as Metabolife 356 cause serious health problems by raising blood pressure and increasing the heart rate.
The Department of Justice has been conducting a criminal investigation of Metabolife (see Government Investigating Ephedra Manufacturer). It is also questioning whether Metabolife President Michael Ellis lied when he stated in a 1998 letter that the company was not aware that Metabolife 356 was harmful.
At Brayton Purcell, we will continue to keep up–to–date about medical drugs that may pose a threat to consumers. If you have any questions about unsafe drugs and your legal rights, please feel free to contact us.