Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, lead counsel for victims with cases on file in federal court who developed fungal meningitis after exposure to allegedly tainted injections manufactured by New England Compounding Center (NECC), today reminded victims that the deadline to submit a proof of claim against NECC with the bankruptcy court is Jan. 15, 2014.

The firm warns individuals who were exposed to injections manufactured by NECC, and their attorneys, that failure to ensure that the claims agent receives both a proof of claim and a PITWD addendum before the deadline may result in those claims being forever barred by the court. Completed forms should be submitted to claims agent Donlin Recano, not filed with the bankruptcy court.

"As this critical deadline approaches, we are alerting victims as well as their attorneys that to preserve their legal rights, the time to act is now," said Thomas Sobol, lead counsel of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee. "Failure to submit a claim by January 15 could cause the court to forever bar claims against NECC or other wrongdoers who may be liable for damages resulting from the meningitis outbreak."

The 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis infections was the worst such outbreak in U.S. history. The CDC ultimately recorded 64 deaths and 751 cases of fungal meningitis in 20 states, linked to allegedly tainted injections manufactured and distributed by NECC.

Following the outbreak, hundreds of lawsuits were filed, alleging that NECC and affiliated companies ignored the most basic safety procedures in its facilities, resulting in the tainted injections. The company filed for bankruptcy in December of 2012.

Copies of the proof of claim form, the PITWD addendum form, the Bar Date Notice, and the Bar Date Order are available at http://www.drcdrx.com/necpcc/ProofOfClaim. More information is available at http://www.drcdrx.com/necpcc/index.

About Hagens Berman

Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP represents consumers, whistleblowers, investors, workers and others in complex and class-action litigation. The firm has offices in nine cities and has been named to the National Law Journal's Plaintiffs' Hot List six times. Founded in 1993, HBSS continues to successfully fight for consumer rights in large, complex litigation against large corporations. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Visit the firm's class-action law blog at www.classactionlawtoday.com.

Firmani + Associates Inc.
Mark Firmani, 206-443-9357
mark@firmani.com.