Parkinson’s disease drug “Cabaser” class action: Settlement approval

Winterford v Pfizer Australia Pty Limited [2015] FCA 426 deals with the approval of the settlement of representative proceedings.

The judgment at [2] explains:

The applicant has claimed that the respondent (“Pfizer”) failed to warn, or adequately warn, consumers, pharmacists, medical professionals and health care workers about the potential side effects of the Cabaser and Dostinex tablets which Pfizer manufactured and supplied. The applicant alleges that the consumption of the tablets caused him, and the group members whom he represents, to suffer from various forms of obsessive behaviour abnormal to them, as a result of which they suffered loss and damage. The forms of obsessive behaviour alleged are compulsive gambling, compulsive spending, compulsive eating, hyper sexuality, punding (meaning a compulsive fascination with, and performance of, repetitive, mechanical tasks) and a combination of these behaviours. The claim is defended by Pfizer.

At [28] the settlement was approved, subject to review and amendment of the settlement distribution deed.