Fw: Resperdal

[Guest guest]

Here is an interesting article regarding lawsuits with Resperdal and other

antipsychotics.  Although not referencing LBD, I think it could be pertinent to

the side effects of some of these drugs. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2011 10:00:00 AM  

S.C. wins Risperdal case, damages to be determined

BY JOHN O'BRIEN

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Legal Newsline) - The state of South Carolina has won its

case against Janssen Pharmaceutica, as a jury decided Tuesday that the company

illegally marketed the prescription antipsychotic Risperdal.

Janssen was alleged to have promoted the drug for off-label uses and misled

consumers about weight gain-related side effects like diabetes. The verdict was

reported by Courtroom View Network, which broadcast the trial online.

The case is one of many Risperdal cases filed by states around the country. At

issue was a letter Janssen sent to doctors about the drug's effects and the

drug's label.

Representing South Carolina Attorney General Alan 's office are

Perrin of Houston; on, White, & Coggins of Spartanburg; and

of Columbia, S.C.

" As far back as 1994 the FDA told these guys you can't make comparative claims

(against first-generation atypical antipsychotics) outside of the label... They

knew... You can't bury studies, " said during closing statements,

according to Courtroom View.

" You can't hide information... Yet you've got their own executives saying (in

emails shown to the jury), 'That's what happened here.'... The label is only as

fair and truthful as the company and the people writing it. "

Damages will be determined by the judge after a hearing on April 18. The case is

in the state's 7th Judicial Circuit Court.

Perrin has pursued similar cases around the country. Some were filed over

Risperdal, others over Eli Lilly's antipsychotic Zyprexa and AstraZeneca's

antipsychotic Seroquel. In Louisiana, the firm represented the State in its case

against Janssen which resulted in a $258 million jury award that is being

appealed.

Janssen successfully appealed a $4.5 million ruling against it in a Risperdal

case in West Virginia. The Pennsylvania case against it was dismissed after a

state judge rule in June that the State did not have enough evidence.

Among those who have hired Perrin are former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed

Rendell, who received $75,000 in contributions and $16,000 in air travel from

the firm, and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who received $75,000 in

contributions. Hood hired the firm for a case against Lilly.

In 2009, Lilly settled with McMaster for $45 million. Under scrutiny, McMaster

agreed to return the campaign contributions he was given by firms he hired for

the case. He hired two of the same firms for the Risperdal case.

White of the on firm and had both donated to McMaster's

campaigns. McMaster and State Ethics Commissioner investigator Hazelwood

argued over whether it was legal for McMaster to accept the contributions.

Eventually, McMaster, who later ran unsuccessfully for governor, gave back

$32,500 in donations from five lawyers he has hired to work on State lawsuits.

White gave $2,000 to McMaster in 2008, and gave McMaster $7,000 ($3,500

in 2006 and 2008. Other members of on White who gave to McMaster include:

Danny ($2,000 in 2007 and $2,000 in 2008); Ben on ($2,000 in 2007);

and Coggins ($3,500 in 2006).

The firm itself gave McMaster $3,500 in both 2006 and 2008. Alan is South

Carolina's current attorney general.

From Legal Newsline: Reach O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@....