Find a dangerous drug lawyer in Phoenix: reporting, courts and deadlines

Call the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center at 800-222-1222 if you think a drug is harming you. Report it to FDA MedWatch. Arizona product claims follow a 2-year limit. Federal cases from Phoenix go to the District of Arizona, which handled the large Bard IVC filter litigation.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (32)

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Road map of downtown Phoenix marking West Washington Street, where the federal courthouse stands
Arizona drug and device claims follow a 2-year limit. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What should I do first if a drug or device hurt me in Phoenix?

  1. In an emergency, call 911. Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, at 1111 E. McDowell Rd., is one of the city's state-designated Level I trauma centers.
  2. Call the poison line at 800-222-1222. With an out-of-state cell phone in Arizona, call 602-253-3334.
  3. To identify a pill, call the same line and press 4.
  4. Ask the prescriber before you stop any prescription.
  5. Keep the bottle, box, lot number, pharmacy label and any implant card.
  6. Report it. FDA's MedWatch program takes reports directly from patients.

The poison center is based at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix and has served Maricopa County since 1979. Calls there can also leave a record of when symptoms began.

Who do I report a bad drug or pharmacy mistake to in Arizona?

ProblemWho takes itWhat it can do
Serious drug side effect or device failureFDA MedWatchAdds to safety data. Your doctor is not required to report it
Wrong drug or dose from a pharmacyArizona State Board of Pharmacy, 602-771-2727Can discipline a license. Files often stay open 100 to 120 days
A doctor's prescribingArizona Medical Board, 480-551-2700Can discipline a doctor

None of these pays you. The Board of Pharmacy says a complaint is a public service and not a plea for restitution. Money comes from a claim or a lawsuit against the responsible company or provider.

Where are dangerous drug lawsuits filed for Phoenix patients?

Many stay in Maricopa County Superior Court. Others go to federal court. Maricopa County is in the Phoenix Division of the U.S. District Court, at the Sandra Day O'Connor courthouse, 401 W. Washington St.

Arizona has real history here. In 2015 a federal panel sent the nationwide Bard IVC filter lawsuits to the District of Arizona, noting that the Bard unit responsible for those filters was headquartered in the district.

When thousands of similar claims exist, they are often grouped this way, so your case could be sent to a judge in another state. A local lawyer should tell you early if your drug or device is already part of one.

Can I sue over an FDA-approved drug or device in Arizona?

Sometimes. FDA approval helps the maker but does not end every case. The kind of product matters a great deal.

ProductGeneral ruleWhat it means
Brand name drugThe maker is responsible for its label at all timesFailure-to-warn claims are often possible
Generic drugFederal law requires the label to match the brandMany warning claims are blocked
High-risk device with premarket approvalMany common-law safety claims are barredHarder, not impossible
Device cleared through 510(k)That process looks at equivalence, not safetyState claims more often survive

Claims that the maker lied to the FDA also conflict with federal law. In Arizona, a maker of an FDA-approved drug generally is not liable for punitive damages, unless it knowingly withheld information from the FDA.

How long do I have to sue over a drug or device in Phoenix?

Two years under the injury statute, which product claims follow. Arizona's older 12-year product cutoff was struck down. The hard question is when your two years began. Arizona's clock can turn on when a patient should have known of the problem, so write down the date you first connected the drug to your symptoms. For a child, the clock usually waits until age 18.

If a public hospital such as Valleywise gave you the drug, a 180-day claim may apply. A federal clinic has a separate claim first. Arizona has no damage cap.

What should I ask a dangerous drug lawyer in Phoenix?

  • Is my drug or device already part of a grouped federal case?
  • Is it generic or brand, and is the device 510(k) or premarket approved?
  • What does my two-year clock start from?
  • Should I keep taking it while you investigate? Ask your doctor that one too.

Questions

Who do I call in Phoenix about a medication reaction?

The poison line at 800-222-1222, and 911 in an emergency.

Can I report a bad drug myself?

Yes. FDA MedWatch takes reports from patients.

Is there a cap on damages in Arizona?

No. Arizona's constitution bars caps on injury damages, so no state law sets a ceiling for a Phoenix jury.

How long do I have to sue?

Generally 2 years.

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Sources (32)

  1. Banner Health, checked 2026-11-09. “call toll free: 800-222-1222 In Arizona with an out-of-state cell phone? Call 602-253-3334.”
  2. FDA MedWatch, checked 2026-11-09. “program for reporting serious reactions, product quality problems”
  3. A.R.S. 12-551, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be commenced and prosecuted within the period prescribed in section 12-542”
  4. U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, checked 2026-11-09. “centralization in the District of Arizona will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses”
  5. U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, checked 2026-11-09. “The Phoenix Division is comprised of the following counties: Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma, La Paz and Gila.”
  6. FDA MedWatch, checked 2026-11-09. “you may complete the Online Reporting Form yourself”
  7. FDA MedWatch, checked 2026-11-09. “Your health care provider is NOT required to report to the FDA.”
  8. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Banner - University Medical Center 1111 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006 11/18/25 11/18/27”
  9. Banner Health, checked 2026-11-09. “To identify a pill, please call 1-800-222-1222 and press 4 when prompted.”
  10. Banner Health, checked 2026-11-09. “based at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, has served Maricopa County and surrounding areas since 1979.”
  11. Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, checked 2026-11-09. “P.O. Box 18520 Phoenix, AZ 85005 Phone: 602-771-2727”
  12. Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, checked 2026-11-09. “regulating the practice of pharmacy and the manufacturing, distribution, sale and storage of prescription medications and devices and non-prescription medications.”
  13. Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, checked 2026-11-09. “it is not uncommon for a complaint file to remain open 100-120 days.”
  14. Arizona Medical Board, Contact Us, checked 2026-11-09. “Arizona Medical Board 1740 W Adams, Suite 4000 Phoenix, AZ 85007 480-551-2700 877-255-2212”
  15. Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, checked 2026-11-09. “a public service to the citizens of Arizona and not a plea for restitution”
  16. U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, checked 2026-11-09. “401 W. Washington St., Suite 130, SPC 1 Phoenix, AZ 85003-2118”
  17. U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, checked 2026-11-09. “is headquartered in this district”
  18. Supreme Court, Wyeth v. Levine (2009), checked 2026-11-09. “the manufacturer bears responsibility for the content of its label at all times”
  19. Supreme Court, PLIVA v. Mensing (2011), checked 2026-11-09. “violated the federal requirement that generic drug labels be the same as the corresponding brand-name drug labels”
  20. Supreme Court, Riegel v. Medtronic (2008), checked 2026-11-09. “bars common-law claims challenging the safety or effectiveness of a medical device marketed in a form that received premarket approval from the FDA”
  21. Supreme Court, Medtronic v. Lohr (1996), checked 2026-11-09. “process is focused on equivalence, not safety”
  22. Supreme Court, Buckman v. Plaintiffs' Legal Committee (2001), checked 2026-11-09. “claims conflict with, and are therefore impliedly pre-empted by”
  23. A.R.S. 12-701, checked 2026-11-09. “is not liable for exemplary or punitive damages if the drug alleged to cause the harm”
  24. A.R.S. 12-701, checked 2026-11-09. “knowingly, in violation of applicable federal food and drug administration regulations, withheld from or misrepresented”
  25. Arizona Supreme Court, Cronin v. Sheldon (1999), checked 2026-11-09. “Hazine declared unconstitutional the same statute of repose that Bryant upheld”
  26. Arizona Supreme Court, Walk v. Ring (2002), checked 2026-11-09. “whether the plaintiff by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known of defendants”
  27. A.R.S. § 12-502, checked 2026-11-08. “the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action”
  28. Valleywise Health, About, checked 2026-11-09. “only public teaching health system”
  29. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  30. HRSA, FTCA FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant may not file suit before presenting an administrative claim”
  31. Arizona Constitution, art. 18, sec. 6, checked 2026-11-09. “the amount recovered shall not be subject to any statutory limitation”
  32. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”

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