A little over a year after Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $4.69 billion to 22 plaintiffs after finding their ovarian cancer was linked to asbestos in the company’s talcum powder, the company was hit with another multibillion=dollar verdict linked to another product. In the recent case, This time, a man led the charge. He was awarded $8 billion after developing breasts. He claimed that the growth was due to taking the drug Risperdal.
Failure to Warn
The man’s case was based on the argument that the company failed to warn young men that taking Risperdal could cause the growth of male breast tissue. The plaintiff’s lawyers said that the large punitive damage award of $8 billion sent a message to the manufacturer that they considered its actions deliberate and malicious. The jury found that the company disregarded the safety of vulnerable children.
The manufacturer said that the jury did not hear evidence as to how the drug’s label clearly outlines the risks associated the medicine or its benefits. It plans to appeal the verdict.
About the Case
The 26-year-old man started taking Risperdal in 2003 when a psychologist diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder. He was previously awarded $680,000 in the case in compensatory damages. His is the first of thousands of similar cases in his home state.
History of Risperdal
Risperdal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1993. It was placed on the market in 1994. The World Health Organization lists risperidone as the list of essential drugs, meaning that it is a medicine needed for a basic healthcare system.
In 2013, the Department of Justice said Risperdal and two other drugs manufactured by Johnson & Johnson were promoted for dementia patients while it had only been approved to treat schizophrenia. The FDA had not found this use as safe and effective. The Attorney General at the time said that the manufacturer’s conduct jeopardized the health and safety of patients and damaged the public trust. The Department of Justice also alleged that Janssen, one of the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, promoted the drug for use in children and those with mental disabilities even though it was aware of the health risks. It further alleged that Janssen’s sales reps told doctors they needed to increase Risperdal prescriptions to receive speaking fees for speeches arranged by Janssen. Ultimately Janssen agreed to one of the largest health care fraud settlements in the country’s history, including agreeing to pay fines.
At the time, Johnson & Johnson said Janssen did not direct sales representatives to promote Risperdal for use by children or adolescents and did not approve sales materials aimed at treating this demographic.
Defective Drug Claims
Texas residents who have taken Risperdal and suffered adverse side effects may wish to discuss their claim with an experienced defective drug claim. These claims arise when patients suffer serious side effects or are not given clear warnings about the dangers of taking the medication. A products liability lawyer can discuss the specifics of your claim during a free consultation.
