Risperdal Lawsuit News: Pennsylvania Judge Overseeing Risperdal Gynecomastia Litigation Asked to Reinstate Punitive Damage Claims, Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reports
New York, New York (PRWEB) June 04, 2014 -- Plaintiffs in Risperdal lawsuits (http://www.risperdallawsuitcenter.com/) who allegedly developed gynecomastia (male breast growth) due to their use of the atypical antipsychotic have asked a Pennsylvania state court judge to reinstate their punitive damage claims. On May 2nd, Judge Arnold New of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas barred plaintiffs in Risperdal gynecomastia claims from seeking punitive damages after determining that New Jersey’s Products Liability Act should apply to cases because Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Risperdal, is headquartered in that state. The New Jersey law precludes punitive damages in cases involving medications that were approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (Risperdal Litigation, case number 100300296)
In a Motion for Reconsideration filed on June 2nd, plaintiffs suggest that the law of the state were a plaintiff was prescribed and treated with Risperdal may have a greater bearing on the issue of punitive damages. The Motion urges Judge New to allow the question to be decided on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, plaintiffs ask that the judge declare his initial Order final and appealable, and certify it for interlocutory appeal.
“Our Firm is representing a number of clients who have filed Risperdal lawsuits in this proceeding, and we look forward to a decision in this matter. However, it is important to note that regardless of the outcome, plaintiffs who allegedly developed gynecomastia from Risperdal will still be able to pursue compensatory damages against Janssen and other defendants,” says Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing the victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is currently offering free legal consultations to men and boys who allegedly developed gynecomastia due to their use of Risperdal.
Risperdal Gynecomastia Allegations
According to court documents, more than 500 Risperdal lawsuits are pending before Judge New in the Pennsylvania Mass Tort proceeding, all of which allege use of the medication caused plaintiffs to suffer serious complications, including gynecomastia. Those involving male breast growth allege that the medication can cause the body to produce excessive amounts of prolactin, a hormone which is known to stimulate breast growth and milk production in women, as well as the development of excess breast tissue in male patients. Among other things, Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit are accused of concealing the link between Risperdal and gynecomastia. Plaintiffs further allege that the defendants improperly marketed Risperdal for off-label uses, including the treatment of children long before pediatric indications were approved in 2006.
In November 2013, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen agreed to pay $2.2 billion to settle allegations brought against them by the U.S. Department of Justice over the marketing of Risperdal and other medications. Among other things, the government had charged the companies with improperly marketing Risperdal for use in children, and further alleged that they had concealed the link between Risperdal and gynecomastia, as well as other side effects. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 04-cv-1529)
Men and boys who allegedly developed gynecomastia from Risperdal may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Learn more about filing a Risperdal lawsuit by visiting Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s website. Free case reviews may also be obtained by calling the Firm directly at 800-511-5092.
About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3 billion on behalf of our clients. The Firm has been named by The National Law Journal to the Plaintiffs’ Hot List, recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country, for the past 12 consecutive years. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is the only firm in the country to be named to this prestigious list every year since it was first published in 2003.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP represents the victims of defective drugs and medical devices on a contingency-fee basis, and our clients are never expected to pay attorneys fees unless their case results in a successful recovery on their behalf. New York State’s contingency fee cap rules generally limit those fees to 33 1/3% of the total recovery. As a result, the Firm’s fees can be significantly lower than those assessed by attorneys in other states, which depending on the law may amount to as much as 40% or more of a plaintiff’s recovery.
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ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2014 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, 800-511-5092. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Contact Information:
Felecia L. Stern, Esq.
info (at) consumerinjurylawyers (dot) com
http://www.risperdallawsuitcenter.com/
https://plus.google.com/115936073311125306742?rel=author
Felecia L. Stern, Risperdal Lawsuit Information Center, http://www.risperdallawsuitcenter.com/, +1 800-511-5092, [email protected]
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