Juries Favor Risperdal Lawsuit Plaintiffs In Two Cases

LegalHerald.com reports on the verdicts of three Risperdal lawsuits in which the plaintiffs alleged to have suffered from gynecomastia (male breast growth) as a result of their use of the antipsychotic drug. The complaints were all filed against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, who manufactures the drug.

The first of the three suits awarded the plaintiff and his family $2.5 million. The plaintiff, now 20-years-old, began taking Risperdal when he was 8-years-old to treat symptoms associated with autism. As a teen, he developed size 46DD breasts, a side effect which his suit and many others like it, allege was not disclosed by the manufacturer.

The second suit, which also found favor with the plaintiff, awarded $1.75 million in damages to a Maryland boy and his family for disfigurement and mental anguish after he too developed gynecomastia. This plaintiff was prescribed Risperdal at the age of 9 for the treatment of schizophrenia. The drug was only FDA-approved for adult use at the time. Janssen was found guilty by the Philadelphia jury of failing to warn patients of the risk of developing gynecomastia when taking the drug, despite the fact that the plaintiff continued to take the drug after the 2006 label change and FDA approval for use in children.

The third case found favor with the defendant, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), due to the fact that a direct link could not be established between the plaintiff’s use of Risperdal and his development of gynecomastia.

The verdicts in favor of the plaintiffs give hope to over 1,600 other individuals who have filed suit against the pharmaceutical company, after suffering from adverse effects that they attribute to their use of the antipsychotic drug.

The attorneys of Banville Law understand how devastating the effects of gynecomastia can be for men. The firm is dedicated to assisting individuals who have used Risperdal and then been diagnosed with the condition and are offering complimentary legal consultations for affected parties. Qualified individuals may be eligible for significant compensation.

To ask questions or obtain more information regarding Risperdal lawsuits, please contact Banville Law by calling (888) 997-3792.