Risperdal Lawsuit From South Carolina Results In $124 Million Judgement And Denied Appeal

LegalHerald.com reports on a decision by the United States Supreme Court that they will not hear pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson’s appeal of a $124 million judgement that has been made against the company in a lawsuit referencing the antipsychotic drug they manufacture, Risperdal. This particular lawsuit was filed by the state of South Carolina and it claims that Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a Johnson & Johnson subdivision) marketed the drug illegally. The lawsuit was filed in the South Carolina U.S. Supreme Court under case number 15-600.

The lawsuit was first filed by the state in 2007 and it noted that Janssen had misleadingly marketed Risperdal by failing to properly display risks linked to the drug on labels attached to sample drug packets. In addition, it alleged that the manufacturers sent letters to physicians which claimed that Risperdal was safer than other antipsychotic drug options on the market. In documentation regarding the trial, Justice Kittredge noted in the decision, “To put it mildly, the November 2003 DDL [Dear Doctor Letter] contained false information.”

It was reported that when writing the decision for the Supreme Court of South Carolina, Judge Kittredge also noted, “By 1997, Janssen also had information that Risperdal posed a serious risk of stroke, cardiac arrest, and sudden death in the elderly.” He also added, “Despite this clinical information, it was several years before Janssen updated the Risperdal label to accurately reflect the frequency and severity of the risk of hyperprolactinemia, weight gain and diabetes, or stroke, cardiac arrest, and sudden death in the elderly.”

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson corporation) was found liable by the judge and was ordered to pay $327 million in civil penalties. This order was later reduced twice to become $124 million. This reduction was reportedly due to issues with the statute of limitations concerning some of the charges. Janssen appealed this decision, however, the Supreme Court has since rejected their appeal and refuses to hear further arguments.

Risperdal has also become the topic of a mounting number of other lawsuits filed by individual plaintiffs who claim that the drug has negatively impacted their health. As this information comes to light, it can understandably cause significant concern for patients currently using Risperdal. The attorneys of Banville Law are working to help others who believe that risperdal has caused them health complications. They believe that affected patients are entitled to the opportunity to fully evaluate their legal rights in the matter. To better assist those wishing to investigate their rights further, the attorneys of Banville Law are currently offering free legal consultations for qualified parties.

To request additional information on Risperdal lawsuits, or to ask questions at any time, please contact that attorneys of Banville Law by calling 888-997-3792.