South Carolina Ozempic Lawyer
Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs are extremely popular, and many people have had success on them with only mild side effects. Other patients have developed serious complications even though they followed their doctors’ orders and took the drugs as directed. If a GLP-1 drug harmed you, Joe Cunningham Law can help you hold the manufacturer accountable.
The injuries driving the GLP-1 litigation.
For many patients, Ozempic and other GLP-1s are an effective way to manage diabetes and lose weight. For others, the side effects are severe, potentially life-threatening, and have lasting health impacts. If you were diagnosed with any of these conditions after taking a GLP-1 drug, we can help.
- Frequent and prolonged vomiting (more than two weeks)
- Stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) — the most common injury in the federal litigation
- Intestinal blockage (paralytic ileus)
- Bowel obstruction
- Gallbladder disease — gallstones and gallbladder inflammation
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney damage, including acute kidney injury (AKI)
- Thyroid cancer and thyroid tumors
- Sudden vision loss (NAION) — now its own federal MDL
- Injuries from compounded or counterfeit semaglutide and tirzepatide
The GLP-1 litigation landscape changes regularly — new MDLs open, label warnings are added, and filing deadlines shift. If you took Ozempic or a similar drug and developed a serious health problem, call us. We will assess your situation at no charge.
Thousands of cases are pending, and the window to act is now.
The legal landscape around Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs has changed significantly. Federal courts have consolidated these claims so each patient keeps an individual case while sharing in the efficiency of coordinated litigation.
Where the Ozempic Litigation Stands Today MDL No. 3094
As of March 2026, more than 3,363 lawsuits are pending in the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3094 — In Re: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Products Liability Litigation) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, overseen by Judge Karen Spencer Marston. A separate MDL was established in December 2025 specifically for patients who experienced vision loss (NAION) after taking a GLP-1 drug, with dozens of cases already filed and more expected.
Bellwether trials — test cases used to gauge how juries respond — are currently scheduled for late 2026 and early 2027. No settlements have been confirmed yet, but legal analysts project compensation ranging from $100,000 to over $2 million depending on the severity of the injury and the strength of the evidence. If you or someone you love has been harmed by Ozempic or another GLP-1 drug, now is the time to act.
What Is Ozempic and Which Drugs Are Involved
Ozempic is the brand name of a semaglutide manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) used to manage type 2 diabetes by regulating appetite and blood sugar. Patients reported weight loss benefits, which led to the development of other GLP-1s specifically for losing weight. According to the South Carolina Daily Gazette, Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic rose from $597.3 million in 2019 to $3.9 billion in 2023, and a 2024 KFF poll found that 1 in 8 American adults had tried a GLP-1 drug.
Other Novo Nordisk drugs similar to Ozempic include Rybelsus (semaglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), and Victoza (liraglutide). Eli Lilly and Company makes Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), and Trulicity (dulaglutide), which work much like the others.
Do You Have a Case? SC Code §15-73-10
If you took Ozempic or any GLP-1 drug as directed and developed serious health problems, you may have a claim against Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly. South Carolina products liability law (SC Code §15-73-10 et seq.) imposes strict liability for products that are unreasonably dangerous — you do not need to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product was defective and the defect caused your injury.
These claims focus on the drug companies’ failure to warn consumers and doctors about the severity of the risks. Several warnings came only after many patients were already harmed: the FDA added an ileus warning in September 2023, and a new warning for severe gastrointestinal reactions in January 2025. For patients injured before those updates, the delay in warning may be central to a valid legal claim.
Statute of Limitations and MDL Deadlines SC Code §15-3-530
SC Code §15-3-530 sets a three-year general personal injury statute of limitations. For drug injuries that appear long after you started the medication, the discovery rule may run the clock from the date you discovered the injury and its cause, not the date you first took the drug.
MDLs often operate under separate registry enrollment deadlines that can be shorter than the state SOL and are strictly enforced. Missing a deadline can permanently bar your claim. With bellwether trials approaching, it is important not to wait.
The Dangers of Compounded and Counterfeit Ozempic
Beyond the FDA-approved drugs, there is real danger in weight loss products from unscrupulous sources. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a consumer alert on unapproved and compounded weight loss drugs, often sold by compounding pharmacies, med spas, online retailers, and people on social media.
The FDA has also warned about counterfeit Ozempic in the supply chain. If you received Ozempic labeled with lot number PAR1229, the FDA and Novo Nordisk advise you not to take it. If you received a counterfeit product and were harmed, you may still have legal options — contact our office to discuss your situation.
Gastroparesis is the most common injury cited in the federal litigation — according to court documents from a January 2026 hearing, 75% of active lawsuits in the GLP-1 MDL list stomach paralysis as a claimed injury. Ileus accounts for roughly 18% of active claims and gallbladder complications about 8%.
From free review through MDL resolution — what to expect.
A GLP-1 injury claim requires careful enrollment, complete medical records, and clear documentation of the link between the drug and your injury.
Free case evaluation
We discuss which GLP-1 drug you took, your diagnosis, and your timeline, then assess whether your situation fits the active federal litigation or a South Carolina claim.
MDL enrollment and deadline protection
We file and register your claim to preserve your right to recover. Registry and tolling deadlines are real and strictly enforced — missing one can permanently bar your claim.
Medical records and causation
We gather your complete medical history, document the timeline from when you started the drug to your diagnosis, and work to establish the link between the medication and your injury.
Coordinated discovery and bellwether process
The MDL judge oversees coordinated pretrial discovery. The court selects representative cases — bellwether trials — whose outcomes heavily influence global settlement negotiations.
Individual damages determination
Your specific losses are evaluated on their own merits: diagnosis, treatment costs, lost income, and impact on your quality of life. Complete documentation is what protects the value of your claim.
Settlement or trial
Most cases resolve through negotiated settlements. If no fair settlement is reached, or your case is selected for trial, we are prepared to try it. We only get paid if we recover for you.
Economic damages
- Emergency and ongoing medical treatment
- Hospitalizations, surgery, and doctor visits
- Future medical care and long-term recovery costs
- Lost wages and time off work
- Reduced future earning capacity
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lasting changes to quality of life
- Permanent effects, such as vision loss or the need for an ostomy bag
How we value your claim
During your claim, we identify every financial loss tied to the drug — from emergency surgery and hospitalization to the cost of ongoing care and estimated future expenses. We also account for non-economic harm: the pain, the lasting limitations, and the way a serious GLP-1 injury changes how you live. Your individual case documentation, not your position in the aggregate, determines your recovery.
A trial attorney who is not afraid to take on the pharmaceutical industry.
While serving in Congress, Joe Cunningham fought to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for harming people throughout the Lowcountry. As an attorney, he continues to focus on the needs of people who have been wronged by the pharmaceutical industry.
Joe and his team believe in doing what’s right for people in South Carolina who are just trying to lead healthier lives. He is not afraid to take on the makers of Ozempic or any GLP-1 drug when they fail to warn patients about severe and potentially fatal side effects.
Questions we hear before every first call.
The most serious complications include stomach paralysis (gastroparesis), intestinal blockage (ileus), bowel obstruction, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, kidney damage, thyroid cancer, and sudden vision loss (NAION). If you took a GLP-1 drug as directed and developed any of these conditions, you may have a claim.
Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza (Novo Nordisk), and Mounjaro, Trulicity, and Zepbound (Eli Lilly). These are semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, and dulaglutide medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
As of March 2026, more than 3,363 lawsuits are pending in the federal GLP-1 multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3094) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A separate MDL (No. 3163) was created in December 2025 for vision loss (NAION) claims. Bellwether trials are scheduled for late 2026 and early 2027.
If you took Ozempic or another GLP-1 drug as directed and developed a serious health problem, you may have a product liability claim against Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly. These claims focus on the companies’ failure to adequately warn patients and doctors about the severity of the risks.
NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) is a rare form of eye stroke that can cause sudden, permanent vision loss. A 2024 JAMA Ophthalmology study found people with type 2 diabetes taking semaglutide had more than four times the risk of NAION; those taking it for weight loss had more than seven times the risk.
South Carolina’s general personal injury statute of limitations is three years under SC Code §15-3-530, often running from the date you discovered the injury and its cause. MDL registry deadlines can be shorter and are strictly enforced. With bellwether trials approaching, it is important not to wait.
You may still have legal options. The FDA has identified counterfeit Ozempic in the supply chain (including lot number PAR1229), and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a consumer alert on unapproved compounded weight loss drugs. Contact our office to discuss your situation.
Nothing upfront. Joe Cunningham Law takes these cases on a contingency fee basis — we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Talk to a South Carolina Ozempic Lawyer — Free Consultation
Developed a serious medical complication from Ozempic or another GLP-1 drug? Contact Joe Cunningham Law. With thousands of lawsuits now pending in federal court and bellwether trials approaching, don’t wait. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you.
Charleston, S.C. 29407
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