A jury has awarded $15 million to the family of a 10-year-old boy who allegedly developed spina bifida after his mother took Depakote to treat her bipolar disorder while pregnant. The plaintiff’s attorneys claimed that Abbott Laboratories failed to warn doctors and patients of the increased risk of Depakote birth defects. Affected patients and their families may be able to seek compensation with the help of a Depakote lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Depakote birth defects attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Lawsuit: Drug Maker Allegedly Failed to Update Label
A federal jury in Illinois has awarded the family of a 10-year-old boy $15 million after the boy’s mother allegedly took Depakote while she was pregnant, potentially causing the boy to suffer severe birth defects. According to Law360, the boy’s mother claimed that she was not aware of the risks associated with the drug’s active ingredient, valproic acid. Those risks included an increased risk of having a baby born with spina bifida, a birth defect in which a baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly.
Depakote is a prescription medication used to treat brain-related conditions, including epilepsy, migraines and bipolar disorder. According to the report, the mother’s doctors decided to treat her bipolar disorder with Depakote after the drug’s label indicated the risk of spina bifida at one to two percent. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the drug maker, Abbott Laboratories, “made a conscious decision not to update its label” to include a 10 percent risk of spina bifida in order to maintain the drug’s profitability. The award does not include punitive damages, the website reported.
How a Depakote Birth Defects Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by Depakote may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
