Risperdal Settlement
According to the Montana Attorney General’s Office, a Risperdal settlement has been reached for more than $5.9 million. Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson reached the Risperdal settlement in February, over the companies’ allegedly deceptive and illegal marketing of Risperdal, according to an announcement made on March 6, 2014.
If you or a loved one suffered from complications while taking Risperdal, consider seeking legal counsel from a Risperdal attorney today. Contact Attorney Group to learn more about filing a lawsuit and to be connected with an experienced Risperdal attorney to recover damages for your condition.
Risperdal Settlement Tops $5.9 Million
The lawsuit, filed in 2008 by a Risperdal attorney against the manufacturers of Risperdal, accused the drug makers of promoting Risperdal as effective and safe for a range of conditions that may not have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Risperdal settlement orders that Janssen cease making misleading claims in the marketing and promoting of Risperdal and other medications and be transparent in disclosing potential side effect information to the general public. Despite the Risperdal settlement and its agreement to resolve several claims, the manufacturer maintains that it did not act illegally in the marketing of its products.
In more than 200 Risperdal lawsuits now pending in the Philadelphia Court of Common Please, young boys and men allege gynecomastia, or male breast development, among other complications resulting from use of the medication. According to court documents, several Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits are pending in the consolidated Pennsylvania litigation in which plaintiffs allege that the manufacturers failed to adequately warn patients and physicians of the dangers associated with Risperdal.
The Attorney General stated that $1.5 million of the settlement would help to fund a new Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Program, which will promote public awareness on the dangers of addiction to prescription drugs. According to the agreement, another $1.5 million will be used for mental health programs and services through the Montana Mental Health Trust.
However, this is not the first Risperdal settlement in the U.S. On November 4, 2013, Johnson & Johnson agreed to a Risperdal settlement totaling $2.2 billion, making it the third largest pharmaceutical settlement in U.S. history. In this litigation, Johnson & Johnson was accused of illegally promoting Risperdal for uses not approved by the FDA and for marketing the product to patients for whom the product was not intended.
Additionally, Johnson & Johnson reportedly requested that a judge keep clinical studies sealed that pertained to Risperdal. According to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, these documents were not public records, and plaintiffs were thereby disqualified from receiving access to them. Johnson & Johnson maintained that these documents were intended for researchers and regulators, not for the public, and should not be used in Risperdal lawsuit trials.
What is Risperdal?
Risperidone, or Risperdal, is prescribed mainly to treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder. The FDA first approved the drug in 1993 to treat symptoms of various psychiatric disorders. However, the manufacturer allegedly attempted to expand its market to elderly patients suffering from dementia.
The drug has recently been linked to gynecomastia, or the development of male breasts, due to the potential for Risperdal to increase levels of prolactin, a hormone responsible for breast growth and milk production. As a result, males who took the medication and suffered from these side effects may consider working with a Risperdal attorney in an effort to seek compensation for pain and suffering, psycho-social harm, embarrassment and other damages.
Injured? Contact a Risperdal Attorney Today
Although there are already Risperdal settlements occurring, and although each case is different and past results do not guarantee future outcomes of cases, you may still be entitled to work with a Risperdal attorney and seek compensation for your injuries if you or a loved one suffered from adverse side effects while taking the medication. Attorney Group provides free case evaluations to those who feel they have a valid claim. We will connect you with a Risperdal attorney who can help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled, so contact us today to take the first step in recovering damages for your condition.
