Paola Pearson, Senior Associate at Philadelphia personal injury law firm Anapol Weiss, has been appointed by the Honorable Judge Brian R. Martinotti of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey to the Plaintiffs Executive Committee (“PEC”) of the recently formed Multi-District Litigation (MDL) for injured consumers alleging products liability claims involving Elmiron, a popular medication used to treat interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome.
Paola joins six other experienced attorneys from across the country to form the Executive Committee leading the litigation against the companies involved in the design, marketing, distribution and sale of Elmiron. Another fourteen experienced attorneys were appointed by Judge Martinotti to serve on the Plaintiffs Steering Committee (“PSC”).
“I’m excited to be part of this diverse committee working to bring justice to hundreds of women whose quality of life has been needlessly compromised by this dangerous bladder medication,” Paola said of her leadership role. “I have no doubt the collective experience, skill and passion of the group will drive the litigation to a successful outcome while setting a new bar for MDL leadership groups that better represent the changing legal profession.”
Plaintiffs’ Committees for mass tort MDLs are selected based on the individual and collective experience and skill and of the attorneys who will steer the litigation and effectively advocate for all plaintiffs.
“Paola Pearson not only talks the talk but walks the walk,” said Managing and Name Partner of Anapol Weiss, Sol Weiss, of Paola’s appointment. “Whether sifting through major document productions, deposing company employees or medical witnesses, and writing serious briefs, Paola in six years at the bar has mastered Mass Tort litigation. Her appointment to the Elmiron executive committee recognizes her dedication and advocacy.”
Multi-District Litigation (MDLs) are created when individual lawsuits for a common product, often allegedly defective pharmaceutical drugs or medical devices, are consolidated in one federal court to streamline the trial preparation process. Elmiron, also known by its chemical name pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS), has been prescribed for relief of interstitial cystitis or chronic bladder pain since 1996.
The Elmiron lawsuits seek justice for hundreds of Elmiron patients who have suffered significant vision loss and following dozens of studies establishing a link between Elmiron and pigmentary maculopathy, which results from chronic and permanent damage to cells of the retina. Injuries can range from vision impairment to blindness, which are irreversible and may progress even after patients stop taking the drug.
Paola Pearson has been an Associate at Anapol Weiss for more than six years. Paola earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Villanova School of Law and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania, the District of New Jersey, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Paola is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Hispanic Bar Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association and the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiffs’ Attorneys.
About Us
Anapol Weiss is an award-winning Philadelphia personal injury law firm that handles many high-profile nationwide mass torts. The firm was founded over forty years ago, and attorneys of Anapol Weiss are regularly named Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
Press Coverage
The executive committee of the Elmiron MDL has been covered in several news outlets, including Law360, Law.com, The Legal Intelligencer, and NJ Law Journal.
- Judge Appoints Elmiron Leadership Team with “Significant Diversity”
- Diverse Atty Group Proposed as Lead Counsel In Elmiron MDL
Referenced Studies
These studies are some of dozens illustrating the link between Elmiron and pigmentary maculopathy.
- Nickel JC, Moldwin R. FDA BRUDAC 2018 criteria for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome clinical trials: Future direction for research. J Urol. 2018;200:39–42. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2018.02.011.
- Nickel JC, Herschorn S, Whitmore KE, et al. Pentosan polysulfate sodium for treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: Insights from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Urol. 2015;193:857–62. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.09.036.
- Pearce WA, Chen R, Jain N. Pigmentary maculopathy associated with chronic exposure to pentosan polysulfate sodium. Ophthalmology. 2018;125:1793–1802. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.04.026.
- Hanif AM, Armenti ST, Taylor SC, et al. Phenotypic spectrum of pentosan polysulfate sodium-associated maculopathy: A multicenter study. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019;137:1275–82. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.3392.
- Jain N, Li AL, Yu Y, et al. Association of macular disease with long-term use of pentosan polysulfate sodium: Findings from a U.S. cohort. Br J Ophthalmol. 2019 Nov 6; doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-314765.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. More evidence linking common bladder medication to a vision threatening eye condition: New study shows about a quarter of patients with significant exposure to the drug show signs of retinal damage. ScienceDaily; Oct 12, 2019.
- Nickel JC, Moldwin R. Re: FDA BRUDAC 2018 criteria for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome clinical trials: Future direction for research. J Urol. 2018;200:39e42. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2018.02.011.