Many young boys have been adversely affected by the drug Risperdal. This antipsychotic taken by many young boys has been shown to produce male breasts. This condition, known as Gynecomastia, has caused much psychological trauma in many of the consumers of the drug Risperdal. The company Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen Pharmaceuticals have been accused of hiding the risks associated with this medication. In fact, because of this accusation and other charges in the case State of Arkansas v. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals the state court judge proclaimed a $5,000 fine against the makers of the drug for each Risperdal prescription which was purchased through the state Medicaid program over a 3.5 year period. They were also ordered to pay $2,500 for each of the promotional letters Janssen sent out to doctors in Arkansas to encourage the use of Risperdal among patients; in Arkansas alone, Janssen sent out more than 4,500 letters. In November of 2013 these lead to a total of $2.2 billion to settle with the US Department of Justice. In this settlement, the makers of the drug plead guilty to one criminal misdemeanor charge which involved their illegal promotion of the drug Risperdal as treatment for elderly dementia patients. However, they did not admit to the civil charges over their alleged marketing of Risperdal for pediatric uses.
Legal Commentary
Our firm has represented numerous individuals and families who have become victim to Risperdal’s dangerous side effects, and the following psychological trauma. This male breast growth has been said to be the cause of many psychological symptoms which negatively impacts their quality of life. If you or a loved one have taken Risperdal and have experienced abnormal breast growth, we encourage you to consult with one of our Risperdal attorneys as soon as possible. A successful civil claim pursued against the responsible party will ensure the victims are not burdened with costly medical expenses, and will hopefully compensate them for their pain, suffering, and lost wages for time missed from work. Further questions can be directed to the Law Firm by emailing the lead Risperdal lawyer, Majed Nachawati at mn@fnlawfirm.com, or by calling our office at 1.866.705.7584.
About the Author
Majed Nachawati is a preeminent Pharmaceutical Products Liability Lawyer with a focus on representing Risperdal victims and families harmed by dangerous drugs on a nationwide basis. Mr. Nachawati has resolved numerous cases through trial and settlement that have resulted in seven and eight figure confidential settlements. He is on the Grievance Committee for the State Bare of Texas. He is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas and Arkansas, and is in most federal courts in the nation and holds specific licenses in the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas. Mr. Nachawati is a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Board of Directors for Public Justice, a Leaders’ Forum and PAC member of the American Association for Justice. Mr. Nachawati has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly Magazine for the past four consecutive years for legal excellence, in connection with pharmaceutical injury cases. Mr. Nachawati is also a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Nachawati can be reached by email at mn@fnlawfirm.com or by calling 1.866.705.7584.