Requip Class Action
UPDATES
UPDATE: MAY 4, 2016
We are pleased to advise that on May 3, 2016, the Honourable Mr. Justice Belobaba approved the settlement of the ReQuip Class Proceeding.
It is anticipated that compensation will be available for Qualifying Class Members before the end of September 2016.
Qualifying Class Members will be receiving a letter from us before the end of May with more information.
Final Appeal Form
Final Claim File Request Form
UPDATE: DECEMBER 18, 2015
The tentative Settlement Agreement will be considered for approval by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at 10:00 a.m. on May 3, 2016 at Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto. See Final Approval Hearing Notice
If you have already submitted a completed Questionnaire as part of the Negotiation Process, you do not need to do anything further. A letter will be coming to you shortly with respect to your individual claim.
If you are a Class Member and have not submitted a Questionnaire then, as set out in the Settlement Notice, along with the required Doctor’s Letter you must do so prior to February 12, 2016 in order to be considered for compensation. If you fail to submit a Questionnaire by the deadline, you will be forever disentitled from making a claim for compensation (note that there is no guarantee that submitting a Questionnaire will result in any compensation).
UPDATE: APRIL 16, 2015
There is nothing new to report at this time. Discussions continue with defence counsel. A further update will be posted here as information becomes available. Thank you for your ongoing patience
UPDATE: NOVEMBER 27, 2014
As part of the Negotiation Process, we continue to share the information that has been received from Class Members with the lawyers for the defendant.
We expect to have further meetings with the lawyer for the defendant over the next several months to better canvass the possibility of a negotiated resolution.
We intend to send an update letter to Class Members in and around February, 2015 and ask that you wait for our letter rather than call for updates.
We will also post any public update information here as well once it is available.
REQUIP CLASS ACTION CERTIFIED - NEGOTIATION PROCESS AGREED TO BETWEEN THE PARTIES
We are pleased to announce the Certification of the ReQup class action by Order of the Honourable Justice Lax dated October 22, 2013.
To review the official Certification Notice please click here.
We are also pleased to announce the agreement between the parties to develop a Negotiation Process aimed at determining whether the claims of Class Members can potentially be resolved without further litigation.
If you are a person resident in Canada (other than Quebec) who was prescribed the drug ReQuip (generic name Ropinirole Hydrochloride) in Canada and ingested the drug ReQuip at any time on or before October 22, 2013 and claim, as a result, to have suffered damages relating to an impulse control disorder (such as pathological gambling, hyper-sexuality, compulsive shopping and/or binge eating) we strongly encourage you to participate in the Negotiation Process.
To participate in the Negotiation Process, you must submit a completed Negotiation Process Questionnaire to Thomson Rogers, by no later than, January 31, 2014.
Below you will find the following important documents:
Order of Justice Lax dated October 22, 2013
Certification Notice
Negotiation Process Questionnaire
If you intend to participate in the Negotiation Process and have not already been in contact with us at Thomson Rogers please contact us at 1-888-223-0448 for further information.
UPDATE: OCTOBER 2, 2013
The Certification Motion has been adjourned until October 22, 2013. We will update the website afterwards.
UPDATE: JULY 3, 2013
This action is proceeding to a Certification Motion on September 11th, 2013. More details regarding the Certification Motion will follow shortly.
On November 20, 2009, Thomson Rogers issued a national Class Action lawsuit on behalf of Canadians with Parkinson's disease and/or other medical conditions who allege to have developed compulsive behaviour such as pathological gambling, as a result of their use of the drug ReQuip, a dopamine agonist. The Class Action claim seeks millions of dollars in compensation from the Canadian drug manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
The representative plaintiff, Mr. Octavian Grosu from Brampton, Ontario, gambled compulsively while taking ReQuip and lost more than $250,000. Many more Canadians are believed to have suffered a similar experience and ReQuip’s product monograph was changed in late 2008 to refer to a potential risk of impulse control symptoms including compulsive behavior such as pathological gambling and hypersexuality. Medical reports have linked dopamine agonists, such as ReQuip, to compulsive behaviour including compulsive gambling.
If you would like to notify Health Canada of side effects you have experienced as a result of the use of ReQuip, please call the Health Canada Adverse Reaction Reporting Centre at their tollfree number, 1-866-234-2345.
This Class Action has not yet been certified.
If you’d like to learn more about this class action, please contact Darcy Merkur via e-mail at [email protected] or through our toll-free number 1-888-223-0448. Locally, in the Toronto area, you may call 416-868-3176.
Requip FAQs
What is this action about?
This action is about the drug ReQuip which was usually prescribed to persons suffering from Parkinson’s disease. ReQuip is a dopamine agonist and it is alleged in this Class Action that there may be a link between ingesting the drug and compulsive gambling and other obsessive behaviours, including hypersexuality and compulsive or obsessive shopping.
Who is Eligible for this class?
Any Canadian who has taken ReQuip and has behaved compulsively or developed a compulsive gambling addiction or other such behavioural problems may be a class member. Please contact a lawyer at Thomson Rogers to determine if you fit into this class.
What is the claim?
The claim alleges (remembering that no allegations have yet been proven) that, amongst other things, the defendant GSK, breached their duty of care to individuals taking ReQuip, since they knew or ought to have known of the serious behavioural related complications associated with ReQuip and allegedly failed to adequately warn patients and physicians about the dangers of ReQuip. The actual claim, is available on our website.
When was this proceeding initiated by Thomson Rogers?
This claim was issued on November 20, 2009.
Who is the representative plaintiff?
This action was commenced by the representative plaintiff Octavian Grosu. Mr. Grosu alleges that after taking ReQuip, he developed a compulsive gambling addiction.
Is ReQuip Still on the Market?
Yes, ReQuip is still on the market. However, as of around November 4, 2008, the consumer information portion attached to this product warns those prescribed ReQuip that impulse control symptoms including compulsive behaviors such as pathological gambling and hypersexuality have been reported in patients treated with ReQuip.
How do I register for the Class Action?
Please submit your information via our website at www.thomsonrogers.com or contact any of our class action lawyers for more information. If we have your contact information we will update you from time to time on the status of the case. Updates also appear on our website.
What is the Status of the Class Action?
The Statement of Claim was only recently issued. This class action has not yet been certified by the Courts.
What are the Costs of Participating in this Class Action?
Only the representative plaintiff is generally responsible for costs if this action is unsuccessful. There is no financial risk generally for class members.