Our Practices

PERSONAL INJURY – REGLAN / METOCLOPRAMIDE

Our firm focuses on personal injury, specializing in pharmaceutical injury and medical malpractice. We are nationally recognized leaders in Reglan/Metoclopramide litigation. Few people have dedicated their lives more than Ralph Pittle, the lawyer behind Medical Legal Consultants of Washington, to helping those harmed by big medical device and drug companies, especially those who are suffering the side effects of taking Reglan® or its generic twin, metoclopramide. From his early training as a pharmacist, Ralph saw how the trust that people put in those who create and market “medical miracles” can lead to pain and suffering. It was why he went back to school to become a lawyer and it is what has kept inspiring him for more than 46 years.

For 30 years Ralph has focused on one type of case: the awful suffering some people have endured because of the drug Reglan (metoclopramide). Metoclopramide can lead to a permanent disability called tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia, or TD, rips into someone’s quality of life with embarrassing and sometimes grotesque muscle spasms, such as constant blinking, scrunching up the face, sticking out the tongue and other muscle spasms and twitches. (Click here to check your symptoms against a list of those for tardive dyskinesia.) Tardive dyskinesia often robs its victims of their zest for life, leading them into depression and sometimes thoughts of suicide.

Ralph’s success with Reglan® and metoclopramide litigation against the drug companies that brought it to market, the pharmacies that dispense it, and the doctors that prescribe it, has enabled him to expand his firm to address numerous other types of cases with new firm members who each have expertise in a broad number of areas of law. See our attorney profile page. Now we are able to expand the range of services offered to our clients in order to meet their needs beyond matters related to Reglan and metoclopramide injuries.

RALPH’S LONG AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY WITH REGLAN CASES

Ralph’s experience and results place him in a unique position of strength to win your battle for justice. Ralph has spent more than 40-years as a litigator, standing up for people like you who were injured through no fault of their own. He is very passionate about this subject, and continues to fight to inform all members of the public of the risks associated with Reglan and metoclopramide so that everyone has the chance to avoid unnecessary injury. Ralph’s 30-plus year campaign in pursuit of justice for those injured by Reglan, or its generic twin metoclopramide, tells the story.

In 1989, Ralph was retained for the first case in the United States involving Reglan-induced tardive dyskinesia. Ralph fearlessly took on drug giant A.H. Robins Company, which was then owned by the even larger American Home Product Corporation; both are now part of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Building on his successful experience litigating for those injured by breast implants, penile implants, Dalkon Shield IUDs, Copper 7 IUDs, Norplant contraceptive systems and more, Ralph carried on his fight with a focus on injuries caused by Reglan/metoclopramide. Ralph’s peers thought so highly of his work that they voted him co-chairman of the esteemed Association of Trial Lawyers of America Tardive Dyskinesia Litigation Group.

Ralph’s work is well known. He has won large settlements from doctors and drug companies with his strong advocacy on behalf of drug-induced TD victims of all ages. Ralph has teamed up with lawyers across the country to help win money for Reglan and metoclopramide-caused suffering, helping persuade the FDA to require new warning labels for Reglan and metoclopramide products. Because of Ralph’s long and successful track record pursuing Reglan and metoclopramide cases, he is uniquely prepared to review your facts, determine if you have a good claim, and how much that claim might be worth.

Ralph and his team conduct complete document and deposition discovery against the huge drug companies. Two of Ralph’s earliest clients in Reglan litigation insisted that all records and files gathered in their cases be available to any of Ralph’s clients to use for securing a just outcome in other victims’ cases. As a result, Ralph’s clients save literally hundreds of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars that it would otherwise take to prepare their cases. Ralph and the law firms that joined him are the only lawyers in the country that have won this concession from the big pharmaceutical companies.

TIMELINE OF MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Ralph Pittle has the background and depth of experience you need for a drug-caused tardive dyskinesia case. Here are some of the milestones and highlights from his career working directly with these kinds of TD cases.
In 1985, Ralph took his first case dealing with drug-induced tardive dyskinesia. He won a settlement for that client.
Four years later in 1989, Ralph pursued the first case in the United States against the A.H. Robins Company and American Home Product Corporation, the manufacturers of Reglan, involving tardive dyskinesia. The court ruled that the client’s doctor should have told her the risks.
Ralph’s legal team secured the right to use the full document discovery and deposition testimony acquired from A.H. Robins, Wyeth, and generic manufacturers for all future cases, which greatly benefits in advocating for his clients.
Ralph Pittle’s leadership led to his election as co-chairman of the Tardive Dyskinesia Litigation Group at the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now known as the American Association for Justice).
Ralph led a team of lawyers that secured landmark rulings from Courts of Appeals in Washington, Texas and California that greatly boost his Reglan clients’ ability to win substantial cash settlements.
Ralph can offer new clients a well-grounded estimate of what their case might be worth based on his 33 years of experience fighting Reglan and generic metoclopramide cases.

EMPLOYMENT LAW

We know how disruptive a termination event can be, especially when the adverse action is taken in violation of the law. A wrongful termination leaves the impacted individual without income, facing tremendous stress and uncertainty which can often affect the individual’s self-worth and have large and unanticipated effects on the entire family. When one is wrongfully terminated for reporting discrimination, fraud, or other unlawful activity on the part of the employer; the injustice can be very hard on an individual. We are to fight back for you. Our attorneys represent employees and other workers in all areas of employment law. These include:

Discrimination
Sexual Harassment
Racial Discrimination
Gender discrimination
Pregnancy Discrimination
Sexual Orientation
Age Discrimination
Religious Discrimination
Hostile Work Environment
Family Medical Leave Act
Disability and Reasonable Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Breach of Contract
Separation Agreements
Severance Packages
Unemployment Benefits and Appeals
Whistleblower Action Including Reporting Employers Discriminatory or Fraudulent Activity
Wrongful Termination
Retaliation

If you have been laid off due to downsizing, outsourcing, offshoring, work shifted to H1B foreign worker, reorganization, or similar circumstance, you may have a claim against your employer. The reasons provide to you during a layoff event of this nature may not be the actual reason for your termination. We will evaluate the facts of your circumstance to determine whether you have a claim against your employer, and what that claim might be worth.

EMPLOYER PREVENTION

Medical Legal Consultants of Washington can also assist with employment law matters. This includes working with employers in a proactive manner to develop preventative programs to help employers avoid action that may give rise to legal claims. Medical Legal Consultants and our attorney associations provide depth of advice which employers can harness to draft effective policies and practices, handbooks, agreements, and other documents in a manner that is compliant with applicable law and useful to guide company actions in a manner that avoids legal liability.

GENERAL LEGAL MATTERS

BUSINESS LAW

Our attorneys have years of experience with business operations in small-to-mid-sized environments, as well as the corporate world. Medical Legal Consultants of Washington can help with entity setup and strategic planning, risk avoidance, clearing obstacles, dispute resolution, and where necessary litigation in pursuit of your interests. We focus on delivering our business clients turn-key options to facilitate client decision making that will maximize return on investment through effective risk mitigation, asset protection, and revenue generating strategies. We believe effective advanced planning and contract drafting, that includes legally adept decision making and implementation of protective measures, can often avoid costly and prolonged legal battles. As seasoned litigators, our firm can protect your interests under any circumstances. Services include: Contracts, Partnership Disputes, Entity Formation, Employment Contracts, Non-compete Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, and Business Litigation.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

One value-add area we focus on with our business clients is intellectual property. Our attorneys can assist with trademark and copyright advice, registration, and litigation.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

A prominent part of Medical Legal Consultants of Washington’s mission is to promote and expand access to the civil justice system through our attorneys’ efforts. As guardians of the law our attorneys seek justice in pursuit of the dignity of the individual. Consumer Protection laws provide a particularly poignant brand of protection, antithetical to unrestrained power and those who operate without respect for the law. Actions adverse to consumers and falling under these laws harm the individual, while simultaneously eroding a greater economic system that depends on fair and accurate information and consumer confidence. We seek to protect consumers in the following areas:

RCW § 19.86 – Unfair Business Practices.
Lemon Law: Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and RCW § 19.118.
Disputed Debt, Collection Agencies: 15 U.S. Code § 1692, RCW § 19.16, and other relevant authority.
Credit Reporting: Fair Credit Reporting Act – 15 U.S Code § 1681 and RCW § 19.182.

Medical Legal Consultants of Washington will assist with any legal matter that makes sense based on facts and our attorney’s experience. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for assistance with your legal needs. Our attorneys will evaluate your situation and either assess your case, or make an appropriate referral.

TRUST & ESTATE PLANNING

Medical Legal Consultants of Washington attorneys can assist you with your estate planning needs. We encourage everyone to take the time to plan for settling their estate upon death. For a minimal investment of, you can remove the unnecessary stress and consternation of surviving family members attempting to figure out your wishes and navigate the Washington statutory requirements all in their time of loss and mourning. We can listen to your desires and help you craft the most appropriate estate plan. We also guide people through the process of probate. Estate plans can negate the need for probate, or significantly simply the process. Proper panning can yield significant tax benefits, and peace of mind for you and your family. We can assist you with: Last Will and Testament, Trusts, Advanced Healthcare Directive, Durable Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, and related documents. Our attorneys are also available to represent you and guide you through the probate process.

TARDIVE DYSKINESIA

Those suffering from tardive dyskinesia display repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Typical signs include (for a more complete list of symptoms and side effects, please click here):

Fine, worm-like movements of the tongue
Lip smacking
Chewing or sucking movements
Grimacing (making faces)
Puckering or pursing the lips
Tongue protrusion
Rapid eye blinking

While these symptoms involve the face, some TD victims may also show uncontrolled movements of the arms, legs and body. The National Institutes of Health says it may even appear that someone with TD “is playing an invisible guitar or piano.”

RESOURCE LINKS

FDA Requires Boxed Warning and Risk Mitigation Strategy for Metoclopramide-Containing Drugs (Feb. 26, 2009)