Risperdal Lawsuits Continue As First Bellwether Trial To Start Today in Philadelphia Reports Wright & Schulte LLC
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) November 03, 2014 -- The attorneys at the law firm of Wright & Schulte note the first bellwether trial for Risperdal lawsuits is scheduled to begin today in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas reports Wright & Schulte LLC. The 940 Risperdal lawsuits allege males who have taken Risperdal developed gynecomastia, which is abnormal breast tissue growth. The complaints also purport Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., failed to adequately warn doctors and their patients about the risks associated with the antipsychotic drug. A case selected for a bellwether trial is representative of a larger group of similar lawsuits that have common issues. The outcome of bellwether trials act as an indicator of trends in similar lawsuits tried in the future.(In Re: Risperdal Litigation, Case Number 100300296)
The law firm of Wright & Schulte LLC continue to speak with young men who have been prescribed Risperdal and developed enlarged male breasts. The firm will watch the trials closely to gauge the path of the remaining gynecomastia lawsuits. If you believe you have experienced Risperdal side-effects contact the product liability attorneys at Wright & Schulte LLC for a free legal consultation by calling 1-800-399-0795 or visit http://www.yourlegalhlep.com.
According to court documents, a bellwether trial was scheduled in the Court of Common Pleas in 2012, but Johnson & Jonson settled on the first day of the jury trial. The case selected for trial was a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 21-year-old man who was prescribed Risperdal when he was nine years old and continued using it for five years. The lawsuit maintained that the man developed gynecomastia allegedly as a result of using Risperdal. According to the lawsuit, the man had surgery to remove his breasts. Details of the lawsuit settlement were not made public. (Case No.100100618)
Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and irritability in autistic children and adolescents. However, the FDA did not approve the drug for use in children for any purpose until late 2006. According to the FDA, Janssen began marketing the drug in 2002 for unapproved use to treat agitation associated with dementia in the elderly. Janssen also marketed the drug to treat irritability in autistic children and adolescents. The FDA repeatedly warned Janssen about its “misleading marketing messages” to physicians. The U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation of Janssen’s marketing tactics and in November 2013, Janssen agreed to plead guilty over marketing Risperdal for uses not approved by the FDA. In addition to the guilty plea, Janssen agreed to pay over $1.6 billion to allegations of misbranding and filing false claims for the drug.
[justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/November/13-ag-1170.html, November 4, 2013] [fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm373499.htm, November 4, 2013]
According to court records, Johnson & Johnson contends that plaintiffs should have known as early as October, 31, 2006, about the risk because this was when the Risperdal label was updated to notify users about the link between Risperdal and gynecomastia. Plaintiffs' attorneys asserted that the company did not update the Risperdal label to inform the public about the risk of abnormal breast growth but only to “highlight and market the drug’s new indication” of being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for limited use by children. (In Re: Risperdal Litigation, Case Number 100300296)
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.
Contact:
Wright & Schulte LLC
812 East National Road
Vandalia, Ohio 45377
1-800-399-0795
http://www.yourlegalhelp.com
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Google+
Richard Schulte, Wright & Schulte LLC, http://yourlegalhelp.com/, +1 1-800-399-0795, [email protected]
Share this article