Louisiana Risperdal Lawsuit Plaintiff Claims Drug Caused Son’s Gynecomastia Development

LegalHerald.com reports on a lawsuit which was filed in reference to antipsychotic drug Risperdal. The filing was against defendant Johnson & Johnson, who manufactures the drug. The plaintiff is a mother who claims that Risperdal caused her son to develop severe gynecomastia (breast tissue growth). The lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana on behalf of the 17-year-old son in December of 2014.

This plaintiff is joined by many others from across the United States who allege much the same. In fact, it was reported that over 1,012 lawsuits referencing the drug have now been consolidated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here, the cases await pretrial proceedings. Several lawsuits which were filed earlier have already had trials, and Johnson and Johnson has recently lost 3 cases. The pharmaceutical giant reportedly settled a lawsuit from 2012 which was filed by a 21-year-old plaintiff who had taken Risperdal and had also developed gynecomastia. This plaintiff, however, had begun using the powerful antipsychotic drug at the early age of 9, before it was FDA-approved for use among children.

It was reported that although the drug was not approved for use in children for some years, Johnson & Johnson chose to market the drug as an option for children. This highly controversial tactic is called “off-label” marketing. The Department of Justice has since ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $2.2 billion in fines to resolve both criminal and civil allegations filed against them in November 2013. The allegations centered around this illegal marketing strategy and concerned several drugs including Risperdal.

Children who have taken Risperdal have been reported to have developed several concerning side effects, including significant weight gain, and the development of type-2 diabetes or gynecomastia. Not only can these side effects negatively impact the life expectancy, health, and quality of life of patients, they can also cause long-term physical, emotional, and even psychological side effects. Often, patients suffering from severe gynecomastia are teased, taunted, and bullied, and have only the option of surgery to rectify the condition.

The attorneys of Banville Law have seen what devastating emotional tolls the development of gynecomastia can have on young men and men of all ages. At this time, they are working to assist other patients who have taken Risperdal and who believe that the drug has negatively impacted their health. Those affected could be entitled to significant compensation gained through legal action. The attorneys of Banville Law encourage any affected patient to take advantage of the important opportunity to investigate their legal rights in the matter. To better assist those deserving in doing this, Banville Law is now offering complimentary legal consultations to qualified individuals.

To request additional Risperdal lawsuit information, or to ask questions, please contact the attorneys of Banville Law by calling 888-997-3792.