Woman sues Mylan for defective Fentanyl patches

CHARLESTON -- A Charleston woman is suing Mylan Pharmaceticals after she claims she was hospitalized after using Fentanyl Transdermal System patches.

On Jan. 28, 2009, Glenda Ann Maxwell filled a prescription for the patches and used the properly and as directed, according to a complaint filed July 2 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

On Jan. 31, 2009, Maxwell was found unresponsive while wearing one of the patches and was hospitalized, according to the suit.

Maxwell claims she was in a coma for approximately 12 hours and was hospitalized for one week. She claims she suffers from memory loss and has no sense of direction now.

The defendant failed to conform to the generally recognized state of the art industry standards regarding safety at the time the patch was designed, manufactured and marketed, according to the suit.

Maxwell claims the patch was defective because it malfunctioned and did not perform as intended and designed.

Maxwell is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Harry F. Bell Jr.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-1210