Risperdal Lawsuit News: Johnson & Johnson Facing At Least 13,000 Product Liability Claims Over Atypical Antipsychotic Medication, Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reports

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Oct 26, 2016, 11:29 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson continues to face a growing number of Risperdal lawsuits over the side effects allegedly associated with the atypical antipsychotic medication. According to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), at least 13,000 product liability claims involving Risperdal have been filed in courts around the U.S. Johnson & Johnson continues to receive information with respect to potential costs and the anticipated number of cases, and noted that it has established an accrual with respect to Risperdal litigation. However, the company acknowledged that changes to this accrual may be required in the future as additional information becomes available.

"Our Firm is representing Risperdal plaintiffs who allegedly developed gynecomastia due to the side effects associated with this medication. We continue to receive inquiries from others seeking to file similar claims, and are not surprised that this litigation has continued to grow," said Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing the victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm continues to provide free legal reviews to individuals who allegedly developed gynecomastia due to their use of Risperdal.

Risperdal and Gynecomastia

Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Court records indicate that many of the product liability claims involving Risperdal were filed on behalf of men and boys who allegedly experienced excessive breast growth (gynecomastia) associated with its use. According to these plaintiffs, Risperdal causes gynecomastia due to its effect on prolactin, a hormone that plays a role in female breast development and lactation in nursing mothers. Elevated levels of prolactin have also been linked to the growth of female-like breasts in men and boys. Plaintiffs claim that Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit concealed data linking Risperdal to gynecomastia, and failed to provide doctors and patients with appropriate warnings regarding this risk.

Court documents indicate that more than 2,000 of the pending Risperdal lawsuits have been filed in a mass tort litigation now underway Pennsylvania's Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where a number of gynecomastia cases have recently gone to trial. The litigation's largest verdict thus far -- $70 million – was awarded in July to a teenager who experienced excessive breast growth shortly after he began taking Risperdal in 2003, at the age of 5. At the time, the drug had not been approved for any pediatric indications. (Case No. No. 130402094)

The Pennsylvania litigation concluded its first gynecomastia trial in February 2015, with the jury awarding that plaintiff $2.5 million. (Case No. A-196444) A month later, another jury declined to award a second plaintiff any damages, after determining that there was not enough evidence to conclude that Risperdal had caused his breast growth. However, they did find that the safety warnings provided to patients and doctors were inadequate. (Case No. 130301803)

In November 2015, a third gynecomastia plaintiff was awarded $1.75 million, although the Court later reduced the verdict to $680,000. (Case No. 130401990) A month later, a fourth Risperdal trial ended with a verdict for the plaintiff in the amount of $500,000. (Case No. 130401984)

Risperdal patients who allegedly suffered gynecomastia due to its use may be eligible to take legal action of their own. To learn more about filing a Risperdal lawsuit, please contact Bernstein Liebhard LLP by visiting the Firm's website, or by calling 800-511-5092.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list.

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ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2016 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, 800-511-5092. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:
Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
info (at)consumerinjurylawyers(dot)com
http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/
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