At the most recent count, Risperdal lawsuits exceeded 18,500 individual complaints and it is believed that the upward trend will continue for some time. Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which is a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiary. The lawsuits claim that the drug can cause gynecomastia, which is the growth of breast tissue in young men. Parents of boys who have been affected by this side effect have continued to file lawsuits. They hope to receive compensation for the medical costs they have incurred as a result of having to deal with the unwanted side effects.
Most of the lawsuits in relation to Risperdal have been filed in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and California. However, cases have been reported all across the nation. Philadelphia's Court of Common Pleas has taken on the gigantic mass tort, and various multimillion dollar verdicts have already been rendered against Janssen and J&J.
To date, the largest verdict was declared in July 2016, to the sum of $70 million, in Philadelphia. This was in relation to a boy from Tennessee, who developed gynecomastia. J&J appealed to the Pennsylvania's Superior Court but lost, while the sum awarded increased to $76 million.
There have also been numerous cases where, days before the scheduled jury trial, Janssen has come to a Risperdal lawsuit settlement with the plaintiffs. Most of these settlements have been undisclosed. That said, J&J does not feel the financial costs of these lawsuits will affect much of its bottom line. In fact, their annual report reads: "In the Company's opinion, based on its examination of these matters, its experience to date and discussions with counsel, the ultimate outcome of legal proceedings [...] is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position."
J&J is facing many other forms of litigation, not just in relation to Risperdal. Other cases have been filed against their pelvic mesh, their Xarelto blood thinner, their baby powder product, and their DePuy and Pinnacle hip implants. Nevertheless, the company's annual reported states "it has substantial defenses in these matters."
Risperdal is marketed as an antipsychotic drug that is prescribed to people with mental health disorders such as autism, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it for adult schizophrenia treatment in 1993. It was approved for prescription to children in 2006, but apparently, it had already been prescribed off-label before that. The result of this was a lawsuit against Janssen in 2013, when it was alleged they marketed Risperdal to children illegally. They settled this lawsuit for $1.39 billion.
Those who need more information on the Risperdal lawsuits can visit www.risperdal-settlement.com.
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