Risperdal Plaintiff Awarded $1.75 Million In Damages

LegalHerald.com reports on the fourth Risperdal lawsuit to go to trial which has resulted in a ruling in favor of the plaintiff. The Philadelphia jury’s verdict awarded a young man $1.75 million in damages to be paid by Risperdal drug manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary).

The plaintiff began taking Risperdal in 2003 when he was nine years old. During this time the drug had only been approved for adult use for the treatment of schizophrenia. The suit claims that Janssen illegally marketed the drug for use in children for treatment of various conditions. The plaintiff continued to take the drug for five years, during which time Risperdal gained FDA approval for the treatment of children and adolescents. Unfortunately, during that time, the plaintiff also developed a condition known as gynecomastia or male breast growth. His complaint claimed that Janssen failed to inform consumers and physicians of the potential risk of developing gynecomastia when using the drug. While this particular case posed additional difficulties for the plaintiff and his legal team due to the fact that he continued to take the drug after its approval for use in children, the jury still ruled against the drug company.

This is not the first time that the drug manufacturer has faced legal trouble. In 2013, Johnson & Johnson paid a $2.2 billion settlement for charges brought against them by the U.S. Department of Justice for the illegally marketing drugs, including Risperdal, “off-label.” If a drug is prescribed “off-label” it means that it is being prescribed in a way that has not been approved by the FDA.

The attorneys at Banville Law understand the pain and suffering gynecomastia can cause men who are affected by it. The firm is devoted to ensuring that anyone who has used Risperdal and suffered from adverse health effects that they attribute to the drug will have the opportunity to explore their legal options. They are currently offering complimentary legal consultations to affected parties who may be eligible for substantial compensation.

For more information on Risperdal lawsuits, or to ask questions, please contact the lawyers of Banville Law by calling (888) 997-3792.