A jury in Philadelphia returned a bit of a mixed message to those involved in Risperdal litigation recently. The jury ruled that the drug’s manufacturer did not adequately warn the medical community of potential Risperdal side effects. However, that same jury ruled that the plaintiff in this particular case did not sufficiently prove that Risperdal caused the harm suffered. This Risperdal lawsuit was a bellwether trial in the Risperdal multidistrict litigation, or MDL. The result will doubtlessly shape the manner in which the future Risperdal claims are presented to the court. The defendant in this Risperdal lawsuit was Janssen Pharmaceutica, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
About This Risperdal Bellwether Trial
This particular Risperdal lawsuit concerned a 19-year-old man who used Risperdal approximately seven years ago. He claims that as a result of using the medication that he developed a condition known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is a condition whereby males experience abnormal breast growth. Gynecomastia is the most commonly alleged Risperdal side effect. After the evidence was presented and the arguments made, the jury decided that the plaintiff did not sufficiently prove that his gynecomastia was a result of the use of Risperdal. The same jury did determine that the makers of Risperdal did not adequately warn the public of the potential dangers of using it.
About the Risperdal MDL
More than 1,300 Risperdal lawsuits have been filed against Janssen Pharmaceutica. These lawsuits all basically claim that using Risperdal led to the development of gynecomastia in young males. These claims have beeon consolidated into a multidistrict litigation. The bellwether trial mentioned here is one of the first steps in an MDL. The purpose of a bellwether trial or trials is to help determine how the subsequent claims could proceed when the time comes to bring them to court. This result will likely prompt attorneys for the other plaintiffs to work to bolster the link between the use of Risperdal and gynecomastia.
About Risperdal
Risperdal, as mentioned above, is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceutica. It was originally approved for use in the United States in 1993 by the FDA. Risperdal is known as an antipsychotic, and it is used to treat problems including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Risperdal has also been used for ‘off-label’, meaning unapproved, uses including autism. Millions of Risperdal prescriptions have been written in the United States, and that only underscores the potential harm that could be done to young men who were unaware of the potential Risperdal side effects.
Risperdal Lawsuits and Your Legal Rights
If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using this medication, you need to make sure that you take immediate steps to protect your legal rights. You can do so by seeking the help of Risperdal side effects lawyers who have been standing up to enormous corporations on behalf of injured consumers successfully for many years. Contact Parilman & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation. You can either email the firm or call 800-800-DRUG.
