Risperdal Lawsuit Claims Contending Males Taking The Antipsychotic Drug Causes Gynecomastia Move Forward With October Meeting Reports Wright & Schulte LLC
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) October 11, 2014 -- As Risperdal lawsuit claims continue in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, another monthly meeting has been scheduled for parties to discuss the litigation surrounding antipsychotic drugs and the development of male breasts or gynecomastia. According to court records there are nearly 80 Risperdal lawsuit claims pending in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas mass tort program. The court’s calendar shows attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendants are scheduled to meet on October 15, at the Complex Litigation Center in Philadelphia’s City Hall. The Risperdal side-effects complaints were filed on behalf of males who allege that they experienced gynecomastia, which is excessive male breast growth similar to that of a woman after using the antipsychotic drug. The Risperdal side-effect lawsuits purport that Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which manufactures and markets the drug, failed to warn consumers and health care providers about the serious side-effects of taking Risperdal. (In Re: Risperdal Litigation, Case Number 100300296)
Risperdal gynecomastia is a devastating condition that can have far reaching effects on a boy’s social development and quality of life. The attorneys at Wright & Schulte LLC are committed to ensuring that the victims of Risperdal gynecomastia obtain the justice they deserve. To learn more, please contact Wright & Schulte LLC for a free Risperdal lawsuit consultation to ensure you are treated fairly and receive all of the compensation the law allows. Call 1-800-399-0795 or visit http://www.yourlegalhelp.com for more information.
In June, plaintiffs’ attorneys asked Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Arnold New, who is presiding over the Risperdal litigation, to reconsider his decision of preventing plaintiffs from asking for punitive damages against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Judge New issued an order on July 18 reaffirming his earlier decision to deny punitive damages to plaintiffs but they can still ask for compensatory damages. The issue of punitive damages arose as a result of Janssen asking Judge New to allow the New Jersey Product Liability Act to apply in the Risperdal litigation because the company is headquartered in New Jersey. The New Jersey Product Liability Act does not allow punitive damages to be awarded against manufacturers of prescription drugs or medical devices if they have received pre-market approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Plaintiffs’ attorneys contend that the defendants marketed Risperdal for uses that were not approved by the FDA and therefore, punitive damages should be allowed. Judge New initially granted Janssen’s motion in an order issued May 2, 2014. (In Re: Risperdal Litigation, Case Number 100300296)
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was the subject of a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for marketing Risperdal for uses that were not approved by the FDA. According to the DOJ, Janssen did not have FDA approval when the company marketed the antipsychotic medication for use in children and adolescents with behavior challenges and the company did not disclose the health risks associated with use of the drug. In November 2013, the DOJ announced that Janssen was charged with a criminal count of misbranding Risperdal and Janssen pleaded guilty to the charge. The company also agreed to pay a $400 million criminal fine. The DOJ said Risperdal was not approved for use in children for any purpose until late 2006. Janssen was also under criminal investigation for marketing Risperdal for unapproved use in elderly dementia patients. The DOJ charged Janssen in this case with introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce. The company also paid $1.25 billion to settle a separate civil case regarding Risperdal. [justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/November/13-ag-1170.html, November 4, 2013] [fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm373499.htm, November 4, 2013]
Risperdal is approved by the FDA as an atypical antipsychotic drug to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability in autistic children and adolescents. An investigation by the Los Angeles Daily News showed children in California’s foster care system have been prescribed psychiatric drugs, including Risperdal, Prozac, and Haldol, to control their behavior, although the medications have not been approved by the FDA use by children. The Los Angeles Daily News said it looked at 10 years of data that begins in 2004. The newspaper’s investigation found that nearly 1 out of every 4 adolescents in California’s foster care system is receiving psychiatric drugs, which is three times the rate for all adolescents nationwide. The newspaper reported that of the thousands of foster children prescribed psychotropic drugs in the last 10 years, nearly 60 percent were prescribed an antipsychotic, which are the highest risk psychotropic drugs. The newspaper further reported that the percentage of foster children who were prescribed two or more psychotropic medications increased from 10.1 percent in 2004 to 12.2 percent in 2013.
[dailynews.com/health/20140823/children-in-californias-foster-care-system-are-prescribed-risky-medications, August 23, 2014]
About Wright & Schulte LLC
Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright & Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured or wronged and fight tirelessly to ensure that even the world’s most powerful corporations take responsibility for their actions. If you’re looking for a law firm that will guarantee the aggressive and personal representation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. Free Risperdal lawsuit case evaluations are available through yourlegalhelp.com or by calling 1-800-399-0795.
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Richard Schulte, Wright & Schulte LLC, http://yourlegalhelp.com/, +1 1-800-399-0795, [email protected]
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