In a significant legal development, a U.S. District Judge has rebuffed Ultragenyx’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Henrietta Lacks’ family.
The lawsuit alleges that the pharmaceutical giant knowingly profited from the unauthorized use and mass production of Lacks’ living tissue.
Lacks, whose cells were taken without her consent, became unwittingly central to scientific research.
Renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law and Christopher Seeger of Seeger Weiss reacted to the judge’s ruling, stressing its magnitude.
They called upon Ultragenyx to address this historical injustice.
The legal action contends that Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical knowingly capitalized on the living tissue of Henrietta Lacks, despite the company’s awareness of its controversial origins at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The case underscores a broader pattern of exploiting Black women’s bodies for research purposes during the racially segregated 1950s.
In her ruling, United States District Judge Deborah L. Boardman asserted the plausibility of Ultragenyx’s liability for unjust enrichment, thereby denying the company’s motion to dismiss.
In response, Attorneys Crump and Seeger expressed gratitude for the judge’s decision, hailing it as a crucial step towards rectifying a longstanding injustice.
They extended an invitation to Ultragenyx, urging the pharmaceutical industry to engage in resolution discussions on behalf of Henrietta Lacks’ family.
