As Risperdal Lawsuits Mount, Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes New Report Detailing Rising Use of Antipsychotic Drugs Among Australian Children
New York, New York (PRWEB) June 09, 2014 -- As Risperdal lawsuits (http://www.risperdallawsuitcenter.com/) continue to mount in U.S. courts, Bernstein Liebhard LLP notes that a new report out of Australia has detailed a steep rise in the use of antipsychotic drugs among that country’s children. The report, which was prepared by the Drug Utilisation Sub Committee (DUSC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), found that more than 12,600 children under the age of 19 are being treated with antipsychotic drugs. Among other things, the report noted that risperidone (sold in the U.S. under the brand-name Risperdal), was the most commonly prescribed drug in children aged 14 years or younger. Overall risperidone use increased by 46% during the period covered by the report.*
According to an article on news.com.au, the findings have raised concerns in Australia, due to the serious side effects that often accompany the use of antipsychotic drugs. The growing use of risperidone and other antipsychotics have also fueled worry that the medications are being prescribed for unapproved uses.**
“This report was published as hundreds of Risperdal lawsuits – many of which were filed on behalf of children – are pending in U.S. courts. It should be noted that these claims accuse the manufacturers of the drug of promoting Risperdal for unapproved pediatric uses,” 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 Lawsuit Allegations
Court documents indicate that some 500 Risperdal lawsuits have been filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. Scores of these claims have been filed on behalf of boys and men who allegedly developed gynecomastia (male breast growth). Among other things, the lawsuits allege that Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals concealed the link between Risperdal and gynecomastia. (Risperdal Litigation, case number 100300296)
In the U.S., Risperdal is approved to treat adult and adolescent schizophrenia, bipolar disorder in adults and children ages 10-to-17, and irritability in children (5-to-16 years of age) with autistic disorder. However, Risperdal lawsuits point out that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) did not begin approving pediatric indications for the drug until 2006. The complaints allege that prior to that, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen improperly promoted the medication for use in children.
On November 4, 2013 the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Johnson & Johnson had agreed to pay $2.5 million to resolve criminal and civil charges stemming from its marketing of Risperdal and other drugs. Among other things, federal prosecutors had alleged that the company marketed Risperdal for pediatric uses long before it was approved for such indications in 2006. According to court documents filed in the case, the Justice Department had also charged that the company concealed side effects associated with the medication, including an association between Risperdal and male breast growth. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 04-cv-1529)
Alleged victims of Risperdal and gynecomastia may be entitled to file their own Risperdal lawsuit. To learn more about this potential Risperdal side effect, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s website. Free case reviews may also be obtained by calling the Firm directly at 800-511-5092.
*pbs.gov.au/info/industry/listing/participants/public-release-docs/antipsychotics-children-adolescents-2013, DUSC, June 2014
**news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/why-are-our-toddlers-being-prescribed-antipsychotic-drugs/story-fnet08ui-1226946316491m news.com.au, June 7, 2014
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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Contact Information:
Felecia L. Stern, Esq.
info (at) consumerinjurylawyers (dot) com
http://www.risperdallawsuitcenter.com/
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Felecia L. Stern, Risperdal Lawsuit Information Center, http://www.risperdallawsuitcenter.com/, +1 800-511-5092, [email protected]
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