Every year, doctors prescribe Wegovy to millions looking for a quick solution to weight loss, but many end up trading pounds for life-altering side effects.
Wegovy seemed promising until patients reported stomach paralysis, bowel obstructions, vision loss, and severe blood clots. If Wegovy harmed you, there's a solid chance you're eligible for compensation.
Call (833) 552-7274 today or contact us online, and LitigationConnect's network of vetted lawyers will review your case and fight to hold the right people accountable.
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Eligibility Criteria for Filing a Wegovy Lawsuit
To stand a legitimate shot at compensation, you'll need to meet specific legal criteria that define eligibility.
Use of Wegovy
First things first: you must've actually taken Wegovy. Sounds obvious, but without verifiable proof—like prescription records or pharmacy receipts—you won't get very far. Courts in pharmaceutical litigation, especially under product liability laws such as California Civil Code §1714.45 and similar statutes nationwide, demand clear evidence connecting you directly to the medication.
Adverse Health Complications
Attorneys are actively building cases around specific medical conditions associated with Wegovy, including:
- Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis): Wegovy has links to delayed stomach emptying, leaving some users unable to digest food properly. Symptoms include chronic nausea, vomiting, and significant pain—conditions severe enough to change your life dramatically.
- Bowel obstructions: When food stops moving through your intestines, the damage mounts quickly, sometimes requiring emergency surgery or hospitalization.
- Vision loss: Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), a serious condition involving sudden vision loss due to disrupted blood flow, has appeared in patient reports following Wegovy use.
- Blood clot-related injuries: Wegovy users have experienced severe clotting issues—strokes, pulmonary embolisms, and deep vein thrombosis. Each event poses a serious, immediate threat to your health.
Your complications must be severe enough that they required hospitalization, emergency medical intervention, or specialized ongoing treatment. Mild side effects won't cut it; courts look closely at severity and documented medical responses to determine legitimate claims.
Age Consideration
Typically, eligibility extends to patients aged 75 or younger at the time treatment began. Age matters because pharmaceutical companies commonly argue older patients have inherent risks due to natural aging processes. Courts scrutinize cases closely to rule out health conditions that might have occurred regardless of Wegovy use. Staying within this age range strengthens your claim significantly.
Prior Medical History
If you've suffered any of these complications previously before ever touching Wegovy, your case weakens considerably. Lawyers defending pharmaceutical companies leap at the chance to argue pre-existing conditions caused your current health issues, not their medication. Your medical history needs to be relatively clean, with clear records showing these complications emerged only after your exposure to Wegovy.
Importance of Medical Documentation
Prescription Records
Your first task: secure your prescription records. Pharmacies and healthcare providers maintain these records under federal law (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA). Specifically, 45 CFR §164.524 ensures your legal right to request copies. Make that request immediately; delay means missing paperwork, lost files, or bureaucratic nightmares.
Your records must explicitly confirm that Wegovy was prescribed and dispensed.
Medical Records
Once you have proof of prescription, shift your attention to medical documentation of the complications. The gold standard here involves detailed, timely, and clear medical records that document:
- Diagnoses from specialists (gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, hematologists).
- Hospital stays or ER visits directly related to your Wegovy-induced complications.
- Surgeries, invasive treatments, or long-term interventions necessary for your recovery.
Under most state laws—such as California’s Evidence Code §1158—you’re legally entitled to copies of these records. Request them from every medical provider involved in your care. Leave no stone unturned. Doctors’ notes, test results, surgical reports—everything matters.
Timeline of Events
Lawsuits revolve around timelines. Precise, chronological documentation establishes the critical link between Wegovy and your injuries. Lawyers representing pharmaceutical giants will scour your timeline, hunting for holes or inconsistencies. To combat this, create a clear sequence detailing:
- When you started taking Wegovy.
- First signs of medical issues.
- Exact dates of hospital visits and specialist consultations.
- When your medical team diagnosed your complications.
The legal principle of causation, as illustrated by statutes such as New York's Pattern Jury Instruction 2:70, demands clarity: your medical problems must trace directly and logically back to the use of Wegovy, not some random event or unrelated illness. The tighter the timeline, the stronger your argument becomes in court.
Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations differ from state to state, usually ranging from one to four years. For instance, California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 gives injured parties two years from the date the injury occurred (or from when they reasonably discovered it). In New York, CPLR §214 sets a three-year limit. Miss the cutoff—even by a day—and you lose your shot at justice permanently. Courts rarely make exceptions here, no matter how valid your claim might be.
Steps to Take if You Meet the Eligibility Criteria
Once you check off eligibility, documentation, and the ticking clock of statutes of limitations, it’s time to act.
Consult an Attorney
General practice attorneys have their place, but pharmaceutical litigation demands experience. These lawsuits aren't simple. Lawyers who handle pharmaceutical cases know the tactics drug companies use to dodge responsibility. They're familiar with medical jargon, clinical trials, and complex litigation under statutes like the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), 21 U.S.C. §301, as well as state-level product liability laws. Pick an attorney with a proven history in drug litigation cases—not someone learning on your dime.
Case Evaluation
Once you're connected with an attorney, the next step is a detailed case evaluation. Attorneys examine every medical record, prescription note, and hospitalization event carefully. They'll build a compelling narrative from your documentation, making sure no gaps or inconsistencies give pharmaceutical companies a loophole. If issues arise—missing paperwork, unclear timelines, conflicting reports—address them upfront. Better to clarify early than to see your case unravel later.
Filing the Lawsuit
Filing the lawsuit officially sets your case in motion. Your attorney drafts a formal complaint, outlining how Wegovy caused your injuries. This complaint will cite specific legal violations, like negligence, failure to warn (common under laws such as California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) No. 1205), or breach of warranty, depending on your circumstances and jurisdiction. The complaint is then filed in an appropriate state or federal court, triggering formal legal proceedings.
Once the lawsuit starts, your attorney handles everything from court appearances to settlement negotiations. You supply the facts; your attorney pushes them through the legal system.
What Happens After You File
Filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Wegovy initiates a structured legal process. Here's what to anticipate as your case progresses:
Case Consolidation and Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)
Given the increasing number of lawsuits related to Wegovy, your case may become part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). MDLs centralize similar cases to streamline pretrial proceedings, conserve resources, and ensure consistent rulings across cases. For instance, lawsuits alleging severe gastrointestinal issues from Wegovy use have been consolidated in certain jurisdictions to facilitate coordinated handling.
Discovery Phase
During discovery, both parties exchange pertinent information and evidence. This phase involves:
- Document Production: Sharing medical records, prescription histories, and any communications with healthcare providers regarding Wegovy.
- Interrogatories: Responding to written questions from the opposing party to clarify aspects of the case.
- Depositions: Providing sworn, out-of-court oral testimonies that are transcribed for later use in court.
Pretrial Motions and Hearings
Following discovery, attorneys may file pretrial motions to address specific issues before the trial begins. These motions can request the court to dismiss certain claims, exclude particular evidence, or even resolve the case without proceeding to trial. Hearings may be held to deliberate on these motions, influencing the direction and scope of the trial.
Settlement Negotiations
At various points, especially after discovery, both parties might engage in settlement discussions to resolve the case without a trial. Settlements offer a quicker resolution and can reduce the uncertainties associated with a court verdict. Your attorney will negotiate on your behalf, aiming to secure compensation that reflects the damages you've incurred due to Wegovy.
Trial Proceedings
If a settlement isn't reached, the case advances to trial. During the trial, both sides present their arguments, examine witnesses, and submit evidence. A judge or jury then determines the outcome, deciding on liability and, if applicable, the compensation amount.
Post-Trial Actions
After a verdict, the losing party may file appeals, potentially prolonging the resolution. Alternatively, if you win, the defendant is obligated to pay the awarded compensation, though collection processes may vary based on the defendant's financial status and any further legal actions.
What Compensation Covers in Wegovy Lawsuits
Medical Bills (Past and Future)
Start with the obvious: hospital visits, ER bills, surgeries, follow-ups, scans, prescriptions, and specialists. Every dollar you spent because Wegovy wrecked your health stacks up here.
Future medical costs carry just as much weight. Courts allow plaintiffs to recover for anticipated treatment if supported by expert testimony. For example, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.0105, recoverable medical expenses must reflect the actual amounts paid or incurred. That means if you need another procedure two years from now to fix what Wegovy started, and your doctor confirms it, that projected cost becomes part of your case.
Lost Income or Earning Potential
If Wegovy took you off the job, that lost paycheck gets factored into damages. Courts award compensation for time missed, and in more severe cases, for future income you’ll never earn because your health limits your ability to work. This includes:
- Missed workdays and hourly wages
- Missed contracts or freelance gigs
- Career-ending complications that force early retirement or job changes
States like Illinois (735 ILCS 5/2-1115.2) allow juries to calculate loss of earning capacity even if the injured party is self-employed or works non-traditional jobs—what matters is proof of lost income due to drug-induced harm.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering includes emotional distress, anxiety, sleep disruption, and the psychological toll of living with chronic illness. Juries weigh these damages based on personal testimony, medical reports, and psychological evaluations.
Some states place caps on noneconomic damages. For instance, in Colorado, non-economic damages in personal injury cases are limited under Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-21-102.5, unless there’s clear and convincing evidence to justify more. Your lawyer will factor this in based on where you live and file.
Get the Drug Company’s Attention the Only Way That Works
Pharmaceutical giants don’t flinch at complaints; they flinch at lawsuits. If Wegovy wrecked your health, don't waste time hoping someone else will do something about it. Make your move.
Call (833) 552-7274 today or contact us online. LitigationConnect’s network of lawyers will connect you with a local attorney who knows exactly how to hit back and hit hard.