Lawsuits Over Tainted Injections Expected to Grow

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A Minnesota woman's lawsuit over a tainted steroid is likely to be followed by hundreds or thousands more in the growing national meningitis outbreak.

Barbe Puro hasn't been diagnosed with fungal meningitis yet. But she called a lawyer soon after learning that injections she says she got last month for chronic back pain may have been contaminated.

Lawyers are seeking out victims for possible lawsuits. A Google search of the words "fungal meningitis" brings up a slew of paid ads by firms hoping to land clients.

The Minnesota case seeks class-action status, and lawyers say cases likely will be consolidated somewhere to ease the burden on courts.

They say it's likely that lawsuits will target not just the steroid maker but also health care providers that administered the shots.