Cattle Rack Rancher
Well-known member
Drug company sued over death of rancher
KEVIN O'HANLON
Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. - The widow of a Clay County rancher and rodeo rider who was killed by an accidental injection of a cattle antibiotic has filed a lawsuit alleging the drug's manufacturer failed to warn about its dangers.
Rourk Erickson, 38, was killed in 2003 when a cow charged and the needle holding the antibiotic punctured his skin, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in North Platte by Erickson's widow, Debra.
The drug, Micotil 300, is used to treat respiratory infections in cattle. In animals, Micotil is to be injected only under the skin, and it can be deadly if overdosed or injected into the bloodstream.
It also can be fatal to humans.
More than a dozen deaths related to the drug have been reported since it was approved for use in 1990 in other countries and in the United States in 1992.
Eli Lilly and Co. distributes Micotil through its Elanco Animal Health division in Greenfield, Ind.
"Eli Lilly distributed with supplies of Micotil information concerning use of the drug," according to the lawsuit filed by William Lamson Jr. and William Settles of Omaha. "However, Eli Lilly supplied Micotil 300 in a bulk solution form without any delivery system designed to prevent or reduce the potential for accidental injection into the person administering the drug to cattle in a typical place in which cattle are kept.
"Without a safe delivery system supplied with the drug, a cattle producer such as Mr. Erickson could use the drug only by employing a delivery device, such as a syringe and needle that presented a significant hazard of accidental injection," the lawsuit says.
Rourk Erickson died on March 8, 2003, after putting Micotil into a syringe equipped with a hypodermic needle to treat one of his cattle.
As he walked through a barn, another cow charged into a fence panel, knocking him to the ground and forcing the needle into his body.
He died a short time later.
"Eli Lilly failed to adequately warn cattle producers using Micotil ... about the drug's extreme dangerousness to humans, about the potential for death resulting from accidental injection, about the lack on an effective treatment or antidote for this drug while alternative drugs with effective treatments and antidotes were available," the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and unspecified damages.
Dennis Erpelding, spokesman for Elanco, did not immediately return a call to his office seeking comment.
Last year, South Dakota cattleman Terry Ehrich died after accidentally injecting himself with Micotil.
Ehrich was working at his Rockham ranch when he tried to administer the drug to a head of cattle. The animal moved and the syringe went into Ehrich. He died about 3 1/2 hours later.
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KEVIN O'HANLON
Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. - The widow of a Clay County rancher and rodeo rider who was killed by an accidental injection of a cattle antibiotic has filed a lawsuit alleging the drug's manufacturer failed to warn about its dangers.
Rourk Erickson, 38, was killed in 2003 when a cow charged and the needle holding the antibiotic punctured his skin, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in North Platte by Erickson's widow, Debra.
The drug, Micotil 300, is used to treat respiratory infections in cattle. In animals, Micotil is to be injected only under the skin, and it can be deadly if overdosed or injected into the bloodstream.
It also can be fatal to humans.
More than a dozen deaths related to the drug have been reported since it was approved for use in 1990 in other countries and in the United States in 1992.
Eli Lilly and Co. distributes Micotil through its Elanco Animal Health division in Greenfield, Ind.
"Eli Lilly distributed with supplies of Micotil information concerning use of the drug," according to the lawsuit filed by William Lamson Jr. and William Settles of Omaha. "However, Eli Lilly supplied Micotil 300 in a bulk solution form without any delivery system designed to prevent or reduce the potential for accidental injection into the person administering the drug to cattle in a typical place in which cattle are kept.
"Without a safe delivery system supplied with the drug, a cattle producer such as Mr. Erickson could use the drug only by employing a delivery device, such as a syringe and needle that presented a significant hazard of accidental injection," the lawsuit says.
Rourk Erickson died on March 8, 2003, after putting Micotil into a syringe equipped with a hypodermic needle to treat one of his cattle.
As he walked through a barn, another cow charged into a fence panel, knocking him to the ground and forcing the needle into his body.
He died a short time later.
"Eli Lilly failed to adequately warn cattle producers using Micotil ... about the drug's extreme dangerousness to humans, about the potential for death resulting from accidental injection, about the lack on an effective treatment or antidote for this drug while alternative drugs with effective treatments and antidotes were available," the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and unspecified damages.
Dennis Erpelding, spokesman for Elanco, did not immediately return a call to his office seeking comment.
Last year, South Dakota cattleman Terry Ehrich died after accidentally injecting himself with Micotil.
Ehrich was working at his Rockham ranch when he tried to administer the drug to a head of cattle. The animal moved and the syringe went into Ehrich. He died about 3 1/2 hours later.
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