Federal Judge Grants Summary Judgment in a Risperdal Lawsuit

Federal Judge Grants Summary Judgment in a Risperdal Lawsuit

Introduction

U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Wednesday over claims by a Bay State man that the antipsychotic drug Risperdal caused him to gain excessive weight during his teenage years.

The lawsuit, filed by a man and his parents, lacked the backing of a medical expert to support their claim that Risperdal intake led to his unusual weight gain. Risperdal lawsuits filed across the U.S. accuse Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates of illegally marketing the product even after being aware of its gynecomastia risk. Individuals affected also claim the drug makers failed to warn that it is no more effective and comparatively less safe than other antipsychotic medications.

Over 7,000 Risperdal product liability lawsuits are filed in the Pennsylvania State Court against Janssen and its parent company J&J. Two coordinated actions have been filed for Risperdal cases: one in Los Angeles Superior Court (Risperdal and Invega Product Liability Cases, JCCP 4775) and the other in Philadelphia (In Re: Risperdal Litigation, March 2010 Term, Case No. 100300296).