How to Join the Gabapentin Lawsuit

The Gabapentin Lawsuit is an Active Lawsuit

See if You Qualify

You can join the gabapentin lawsuit by contacting an attorney who is actively reviewing gabapentin dementia claims. Our personal injury attorneys provide free case evaluations for people who took gabapentin, Neurontin, or a similar drug and then experienced cognitive decline.

At this time, there is no single government website, public enrollment form, or class-action signup process for gabapentin dementia lawsuits. Instead, qualifying patients can join by filing their own claim. An attorney can help with this process. If a group claim is created in the future, many patients will have the opportunity to move their existing claim into the group litigation.

Below is information on how to file a gabapentin lawsuit against a drug manufacturer. Each step of the process is explained so that people understand the lawsuit filing process. Our firm works with potential clients and their families to help them understand eligibility, expectations, and possible outcomes for their gabapentin claim.

Here are the general steps for joining the gabapentin lawsuit:

• Contact an attorney
• Complete a free evaluation
• Sign a representation agreement
• Authorize and obtain medical records
• Attorney investigates and drafts your claim
• Attorney files lawsuit
• Receive case updates and respond to inquiries
• Await lawsuit resolution

About the Gabapentin Lawsuit

What Is the First Step to Joining the Gabapentin Lawsuit?

The first step in joining the gabapentin lawsuit is to get in touch with a lawyer who is actively reviewing and accepting gabapentin-related claims for dementia, memory loss, or cognitive impairment. You or a loved one can contact our attorneys by calling our law firm directly or by submitting a contact form online.

When you fill out the contact form or place an initial call to our firm, you will need to provide the following information before filing a gabapentin claim:

• Your name
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• When you used gabapentin
• How often you took gabapentin
• Why you were prescribed gabapentin
• The side effects you experienced after you started gabapentin
• Summary of pre-existing conditions

Someone you trust can help you fill out the contact form and make the appointment. However, representatives from your law firm will need to talk to you directly to discuss the case and gather information. If you want someone to serve as your representative (like a power of attorney or guardian) during the case, you can tell the attorney this, and they can prepare the proper legal paperwork.

Step 2: Receive a Free Gabapentin Lawsuit Case Evaluation

The next step is to work with a law firm to complete a free gabapentin lawsuit case evaluation. During this stage, our legal team learns more about why you took gabapentin, when you took it, and what cognitive side effects you experienced. This information will be used to determine initial eligibility. It is important to be honest with the attorney throughout this process so they have the information needed to identify and protect your legal rights.

Initial Information Needed to Start the Gabapentin Lawsuit Process

When you contact a law firm about a gabapentin lawsuit, they will need additional information to evaluate your potential gabapentin claim. This information will be kept confidential. Starting the screening process does not mean you have to file a lawsuit.

Some of the information that your attorney may ask for and confirm during the initial screening process includes:

• Your full legal name
• Date of birth
• Contact information (email address, mailing address, and phone number)
• When you first started taking gabapentin
• Whether you took the generic or branded gabapentin
• How long you took gabapentin (or the number of times you refilled the prescription)
• The dose of gabapentin
• Why you were prescribed gabapentin
• Name of prescribing physician
• When you think cognitive symptoms started to show up (it is okay if you do not know the exact date)
• Any diagnosis you received after taking gabapentin
• Information about pre-existing conditions

Your attorney can help you locate and request this information for your gabapentin case. You can contact an attorney before you have all of this information on hand. During the initial evaluation process, we will determine if you meet the initial criteria for filing a claim through our firm.

Step 3: Review and Sign a Representation Agreement

If our law firm thinks you have a viable gabapentin claim, the next step is for you to decide if you want to hire them. You hire an attorney by reading and signing a representation agreement, which is called a retainer. You do not have to hire an attorney at all, and you do not have to sign a representation agreement that an attorney sends you. However, the attorney is not your lawyer until you sign their office’s representation agreement. Our law firm may ask you to complete other steps before we will represent you. You can only retain the services of one firm, so do not sign multiple retainer agreements.

Do You Have To Pay Your Attorney When You Sign the Retainer?

Our attorneys take gabapentin lawsuits on a contingency basis, meaning clients do not need to pay upfront legal fees to hire them. Instead, the attorney would get paid an agreed-upon percentage of the client’s settlement if the attorney wins the case. For civil proceedings, like gabapentin, our attorneys do not get paid unless you receive compensation from your gabapentin claim. Before you sign a representation agreement, make sure you understand how the attorney will be paid and when, and what services they will provide if you hire them.

Questions to Ask Before Retaining an Attorney for Your Gabapentin Lawsuit

Here are some questions to ask yourself or the attorney before you hire the gabapentin lawyer:

• Does your firm currently accept gabapentin cognitive injury claims?
• Who will be handling my case if I hire your law firm?
• How and when will my attorney be paid for their services?
• How and how often will your law firm send case updates?
• Will the attorney take the gabapentin lawsuit to trial if the settlement offer is too low?
• Can you hire a different attorney if you change your mind?
• How will expenses (like filing fees) be paid during the gabapentin lawsuit?
• Does the client have to repay those expenses if the client does not win their case?

If you have any other questions or concerns, it is a good idea to bring those up with the attorney before you hire them.

Step 4: Sign Authorization Forms for Medical and Pharmacy Records

Once you have retained the services of an attorney, they will need additional medical information to build your case. You may need to sign authorization forms so they can request medical and pharmacy records on your behalf, as well as HIPAA forms. These forms give someone permission to collect and send your medical and pharmacy records to you or to a third party (such as an attorney). Your attorney may ask you to request these records during the case-review process so they can determine lawsuit eligibility. The attorney may also be able to request these on your behalf if you sign written permission forms.

Records Our Law Firm May Request

Here are some of the records that our law firm may request from you, your pharmacy, or your healthcare team:

• Pharmacy records showing your gabapentin refill history
• Prescribing information from your doctor
• Primary care physician records
• Neurology records
• Imaging studies or bloodwork test results
• Cognitive test results
• Hospital records
• Documentation showing you were diagnosed with or evaluated for dementia or cognitive impairment
• Medication lists
• Employment records
• Long-term care records (if applicable)
• Disability or unemployment records
• Insurance records

The attorney may ask for other documents or materials that they think will help them understand your gabapentin history.

Can You Start the Process Without Medical Records?

You can start the gabapentin lawsuit review process before you have all your medical records. Your attorney can help you find and ask for the medical records you might need to support your gabapentin lawsuit. You may need to hire them first and sign the required authorization forms to give them formal permission to request medical records on your behalf.

Step 5: Attorney Review of In-Depth Medical Information To Support Your Lawsuit

Once you have completed the initial screening process, your lawyer will need more information to fully understand your medical history and potential eligibility for a gabapentin lawsuit.

During the intake process, our law firm will ask you about your gabapentin use. For example, they may want to know when you started taking gabapentin, who prescribed it to you, what dose you were on, and why you were prescribed it.

Our law firm will also want to know how you felt and what changes you experienced when you took the gabapentin. If you saw specialists or talked to a medical professional about the gabapentin side effects, your attorney will need documentation from these visits. This information will be important in establishing your injuries and losses. If you receive a settlement or jury award, this information will support damages in your case.

Questions Our Law Firm May Ask To Draft Your Legal Complaint

Here are some of the questions our attorneys will ask to start building your gabapentin lawsuit:

• How did you feel before taking gabapentin? What was your life like, and what things were you able to do?
• How did you feel after taking gabapentin? How was your life different?
• What types of side effects did you experience from gabapentin?
• Were you diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment?
• Are you still taking gabapentin?
• If you are not still taking gabapentin, does the memory loss seem permanent?
• If you stopped taking gabapentin, did your cognitive symptoms get better?
• What other medications have you taken?
• How old are you?
• How old were you when you started taking gabapentin?

The attorney may ask you other questions to help them understand what you experienced. Your medical history and diagnoses will be very important when drafting your individual legal complaint.

Step 6: Your Lawyer Drafts Your Gabapentin Claim

After your attorney reviews your in-depth medical information, they will determine whether or not they think you should immediately file a lawsuit. To file a lawsuit, your attorney will compile what is called a legal complaint. This complaint will contain pertinent information about your gabapentin use and cognitive diagnosis.

Your lawyer will also work to gather relevant information about the company that manufactured the type of gabapentin you took. Your lawyer will start to build a case against that defendant. They will list allegations against that manufacturer that are relevant to your specific circumstances.

Step 7: Your Lawyer Determines Where and When to File Your Gabapentin Claim

There are strict rules about where (i.e., which court) and when people can file gabapentin lawsuits. Your attorney will need to file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations (i.e., legal filing deadline) for your case. Factors that might determine where to file the case include the state you live in and what company manufactured the gabapentin product you took. The attorney will prepare and file the legal documents needed to open the gabapentin lawsuit.

Once your attorney files your lawsuit, they will share important information with you. This information will include the court location, defendants being sued, and case number. If your attorney has follow-up questions, make sure to reply to them in a timely manner.

What Happens After You Join the Gabapentin Lawsuit?

After you join the gabapentin lawsuit, your attorney will send you updates as important events happen in the case. For example, the attorney may tell you when the case is filed, what settlement offers (if any) they have received for your case, and when the next court date is. Your attorney may also contact you to provide missing information they need to turn in written discovery requests from the manufacturer.

Keep in mind that gabapentin lawsuits are in their early stages and will likely take years to reach resolution. If you would like to hear from your attorney more often or less often, contact their office to discuss your preferences.

You May Be Asked to Complete a Plaintiff Questionnaire

Your attorney may ask you to complete a questionnaire or fact sheet. This form is filed with the court and asks you to provide basic information about you, including your medical history, when you started taking gabapentin, what you were diagnosed with, and how gabapentin side effects impacted your life.

You May Need to Provide Additional Records

As the case progresses, you may need to provide additional records, including your insurance records, tax returns, disability or unemployment information, receipts, and prescription history.

You May Be Asked to Give a Deposition

During the gabapentin lawsuit, you may be asked to attend a deposition. A deposition is a formal interview. At the deposition, attorneys may ask you to answer questions about you, your gabapentin use, the side effects you experienced, and other case-related matters. Your attorney will help you prepare for this interview, and they will be there during the interview, too. A court reporter will write a transcript of the interview, and the interview may be used as evidence in the gabapentin lawsuit.

Your Case May Join an MDL or Be Selected for Early Trial Proceedings

There is a chance that a type of centralized litigation called a multidistrict litigation (MDL) may be created for gabapentin. If this occurs, you may be able to file your case as part of that group litigation. If your case is part of a multidistrict litigation, it may be included in the bellwether trial group. In a multidistrict litigation, the parties choose a small group of cases that will go through bellwether trials. These trials help shape the strategies used in other cases in the multidistrict litigation, including how people estimate settlements and the strength of someone’s case. It is far more likely that you join an MDL than that your case is selected as a bellwether trial.

How Long Does It Take to Join the Gabapentin Lawsuit?

It may take several weeks or months to join the gabapentin lawsuit by filing a legal complaint against the drug company. It may take time to find the right attorney, meet with them, and fill out the representation agreement if you choose to hire them. Then, you (or your attorney) need to investigate the gabapentin case and write and file the legal paperwork. If there are administrative delays or your attorney cannot reach you to get the information they need, it may take longer for them to complete the rest of the steps for you to join the gabapentin lawsuit.

How Long Will My Gabapentin Lawsuit Take?

A gabapentin lawsuit will likely take two years or more to resolve. We know this is frustrating for some clients. However, be cautious of firms or attorneys who promise fast payouts or resolution. Gabapentin lawsuits are in their early stages. Civil lawsuits, like those involving cases against drug manufacturers, are complex litigations that take years to move through courts.

It takes time to build strong cases against large pharmaceutical companies. Plaintiff attorneys need to retain experts and devise a legal strategy. Building an effective legal strategy is time-consuming, and courts set case schedules that are outside attorneys’ control. Reputable attorneys carefully review all legal options for their clients and advise on the best path forward.

How Long Will Each Phase of a Gabapentin Lawsuit Take?

Please note: The timeframes above are only estimates. Many individual and external factors will affect how long each step in a gabapentin lawsuit takes. Here is more information on how long civil lawsuits take to settle.

Is There a Deadline to Join the Gabapentin Lawsuit?

Gabapentin lawsuits must be filed before the applicable statute of limitations (i.e., legal filing deadline). If the statute of limitations runs out, you will not be able to file a lawsuit. States have strict rules about when civil lawsuits need to be filed. However, there are exceptions that may apply, which could change how long you have to file a gabapentin lawsuit. An attorney who is familiar with your case can help you learn when you must file your gabapentin case.

Can a Family Member Join the Lawsuit for Someone With Dementia?

A family member of someone who was injured by gabapentin may qualify to file a gabapentin lawsuit on their loved one’s behalf. A guardian, representative, adult child, or other qualified individual may also be able to join a gabapentin lawsuit on another person’s behalf. However, states have rules about who and when someone can participate in a lawsuit on someone else’s behalf. Talk to our law firm about what your and your loved one’s options are, including whether your loved one needs to fill out a form (such as a power of attorney) first.

What Happens If the Injured Person Has Died?

If the gabapentin patient dies, a family member or representative of their estate may qualify to sue the drug manufacturer on their behalf. If the person died because of gabapentin’s side effects, the lawsuit may be a wrongful death lawsuit. However, the estate or a family member may still be able to file a lawsuit even if their loved one’s death was not caused by gabapentin use. An attorney can help surviving loved ones learn what legal rights they have if their loved one suffered from side effects from gabapentin and has passed away.

How Much Does It Cost to Join the Gabapentin Lawsuit?

Many personal injury attorneys take gabapentin lawsuits on a contingency basis and do not charge clients any money in upfront legal fees. In a contingency-fee arrangement, the attorney may only get paid if they win the client’s case for them. However, each attorney’s office has different terms for its representation and fee agreements. Talk to your attorney to understand how they structure their fee agreement.

What Can Prevent Someone From Joining the Gabapentin Lawsuit?

Someone may not be able to join the gabapentin lawsuit for several reasons, such as:

• The statute of limitations has passed, and an exception does not apply.
• The person does not have a qualifying diagnosis related to their gabapentin use.
• There is not enough proof to show that the gabapentin manufacturer is responsible for the person’s injuries.

Other factors may make someone ineligible to file a gabapentin lawsuit. However, each law firm has its own criteria for filing a gabapentin case. So, someone may still be able to sue even if a law firm does not take on the person’s claim.

What Happens If Your Law Firm Does Not Accept Your Claim?

If the law firm does not accept your case, make sure you understand why they are rejecting your gabapentin case. You may still have filing deadlines you must meet to protect your legal rights. Talk to another qualified attorney about your situation to see if they will take your gabapentin lawsuit or help you file the paperwork. We will reach back out to you if lawsuit criteria change and we think you have a viable case.

Common Questions About Joining the Gabapentin Lawsuit

There are some common questions potential plaintiffs and their families have about filing a case as part of the gabapentin litigation. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from our clients.

Question: Do I need an official diagnosis of dementia to file a gabapentin lawsuit?

A diagnosis of early-onset dementia can support a strong claim. However, if a patient has been evaluated by a doctor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, those records can also support a gabapentin claim. What ultimately qualifies someone for a lawsuit will be determined as the litigation evolves.

Question: Can I join the gabapentin lawsuit if I took a generic form of the drug?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit if you took a generic form of gabapentin. Patients who took brand names of the drug, such as Neurontin, Gralise, or Horizant, may also be eligible for lawsuits.

Question: Can I file a lawsuit if I was prescribed gabapentin as an off-label treatment?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit if your doctor prescribed you gabapentin off-label (i.e., for a condition the drug is not FDA-approved to treat). The lawsuit will not be filed against your doctor, and they did not do anything wrong in prescribing you the drug off-label.

Question: Does signing an online form mean I have joined the lawsuit?

Submitting an online contact form does not mean you have joined the gabapentin lawsuit. Joining the lawsuit involves filing a gabapentin legal complaint in the appropriate court.

Question: Can I file a lawsuit if I am still taking gabapentin?

For the purposes of a claim, it does not matter if you are still taking gabapentin. It is important to follow all instructions from your doctor about taking your medication. Do not stop taking gabapentin unless your physician tells you to do so.

Question: If I join the gabapentin lawsuit, who will I file a lawsuit against?

You will be filing a lawsuit against a manufacturer of the drug you took. Common defendants in gabapentin lawsuits could include Pfizer (Greenstone), Glenmark, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Azurity Pharmaceuticals, and others.

Question: Can I join the gabapentin lawsuit on behalf of a family member suffering from dementia or cognitive impairment?

Yes, you may be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of a family member suffering from cognitive dysfunction. Your attorney can advise you on the specific actions you need to take to legally file on their behalf.

King Law Is Investigating Dementia Claims From Gabapentin Use

King Law is investigating potential claims involving people who took gabapentin and were diagnosed with dementia, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or other types of cognitive changes. We can review your medical records, prescription history, and other information to determine if you may qualify to request compensation from the company that manufactures gabapentin.

Contact Robert King Law Firm For a Free Case Review

Request a free gabapentin case review from the Robert King Law Firm by dialing (585) 496-2648 or submitting an online form. If you took gabapentin and developed dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive impairment, memory problems, or other serious cognitive changes, you may qualify to seek compensation from a drug manufacturer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)