More and more lawsuits against Hydroxycut manufacturer Iovate Health Sciences are being filed since Iovate recalled many of its products after being linked to liver damage, heart damage, seizures and at least one death. In fact, lawsuits have now been filed in Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and Canada.

Product liability & wrongful death lawsuits

Three product liability lawsuits, two of them class actions, and one wrongful death lawsuit have been filed against Blasdell, New York and Canadian based Iovate Health Services since the manufacturer recalled 14 of its product lines on May 1st 2009. Here's a brief look at each lawsuit:

• Tennessee: A class action product liability lawsuit has been filed in Tennessee in which the lead plaintiffs purchased Hydroxycut products before the recall was announced. The case accuses Iovate of negligence, breach of warranties, failure to warn, fraud and unjust enrichment.
• Georgia: This Georgia product liability lawsuit is the first individual lawsuit to be filed. While details about the plaintiff are sketchy, the lawsuit alleges negligence, failure to warn, breach of warranty claims and more.
• Texas. This individual wrongful death lawsuit involves a young man who took Muscle Tech Hydroxycut Hardcore in November of 2006 and died of liver failure shortly afterward.
• Canada: The Canadian suit was filed on behalf of consumers who bought Hydroxycut products after May 1, 2003. It alleges the company failed to include a warning label about the possible risks of severe side effects and seeks at least $20 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Injuries & one death reported

Although Hydroxycut products are not regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Administration does receive reports of injuries from consumers. The FDA has reported that at least 23 people may have suffered liver damage due to Hydroxycut product use. The supplements, often used by dieters and bodybuilders, have been associated with heart failure, seizures and certain muscle diseases which may eventually lead to kidney failure. In addition to the cases above, a 19-year old boy died of liver failure after taking Hydroxycut in 2007 – although the death was not reported to the FDA until March 2009 and is the subject of the Texas lawsuit above.

For additional information on Hydroxycut recalled products or see the FDA's website.

It is estimated that over nine million people have taken Hydroxycut products. If you've been injured, contact an experienced product liability lawyer to discuss your situation and decide whether or not legal action is a viable option for you.