Travacalm Class Action
In January 2003 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
issued an Urgent Class 1 recall of certain batches of the
over-the-counter travel sickness tablet Travacalm. The
tablets were recalled after reports of a number of adverse
reactions suffered by persons who had consumed the tablets. Those
reactions included hallucinations, fainting, nausea, loss of muscle
control and motor skills. Subsequent testing by the TGA found that
some tablets contained substantially higher doses of the active
ingredient than the label indicated.
The Action
On 2 May 2003 Maurice Blackburn issued a class action in the
Supreme Court of Victoria seeking damages on behalf of named group
members who consumed Travacalm tablets and suffered injury.
Settlement
The Statement of Claim alleged that the tablets were defective,
were of unmerchantable quality and were unfit for purpose.
In August 2005 the Supreme Court approved a Settlement Agreement
which provided for the assessment of group member claims and for
the payment of damages. Settlement monies were paid in 2006.
As a result of the class action 100 victims received
compensation for their injuries