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Mass Torts
Two new mass torts for Philadelphia: Vena Cava Filters and Essure
PHILADELPHIA – As the year begins to draw to a close, filings in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas’s Complex Litigation Center have increased with the presence of two new mass tort programs for Vena Cava Filters and the Essure birth control device, both of which feature a number of out-of-state plaintiffs and counsel.
Mass Torts
Attorney: $8 billion Risperdal verdict is 'another black eye' to Philadelphia's reputation
PHILADELPHIA – Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals have called a Philadelphia jury’s gigantic verdict of $8 billion in punitive damages against it for alleged malice connected to the marketing of anti-psychotic drug Risperdal “grossly disproportionate” and “a violation of due process” and are seeking to immediately overturn it.
Mass Torts
Breaking: In first test, Philadelphia jury punishes J&J with $8 billion verdict; Thousands more cases remain
PHILADELPHIA – In an unprecedented conclusion to the first-ever punitive damages trial tied to Risperdal, a 12-person jury found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals liable for allegedly knowing and consciously disregarding the potential of the drug to cause gynecomastia to patients like plaintiff Nicholas Murray, and rendered a staggering verdict of $8 billion.
Mass Torts
Despite emails between J&J doctor and statistician, doctor says she played no role in Risperdal reanalysis
PHILADELPHIA – Cross-examination of a Johnson & Johnson doctor in the Risperdal punitive damages trial continued on Tuesday, with the physician stating that despite a number of email messages between herself and a statistician, that she played no role in the reanalysis of the drug’s data in 2015.
Mass Torts
Plaintiff counsel: Independent biostatistician tapped to review Risperdal data was actually J&J consultant
PHILADELPHIA – A plaintiff attorney in the punitive damages trial for Risperdal argued Friday that an independent biostatistician who reviewed the drug’s data for a reanalysis conducted in 2015, was in fact a former consultant for Johnson & Johnson who had worked on other litigation the company was involved in.
Mass Torts
Big Risperdal trial in Philadelphia turns to statistical reanalysis; J&J facing punitive damages in gynecomastia cases
PHILADELPHIA – Testimony in the punitive damages trial for Risperdal on Thursday turned to both a statistical reanalysis of original clinical trial data as well as a 2003 article on the drug, which plaintiff counsel quoted one of its own original authors referring to as both “despicable” and “the poster boy of bad behavior.”
Mass Torts
'Kline Science': J&J official disputes plaintiffs lawyers' take on Risperdal trial data
PHILADELPHIA – In continuing testimony taken during the first punitive damages trial surrounding anti-psychotic drug Risperdal in Philadelphia, a doctor who worked for Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals testified that the elevated prolactin levels of some boys participating in the drug’s early clinical trials were relevant, but not concerning at that time.
Mass Torts
At first-of-its-kind trial in Philadelphia, J&J says there were no 'spin' tactics with Risperdal
PHILADELPHIA – In continuing testimony taken during the first punitive damages trial surrounding anti-psychotic drug Risperdal in Philadelphia, a Johnson & Johnson senior director said that the company and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals were not responsible for attempting to “spin” information provided to the media about the medication.
Mass Torts
J&J senior director says Risperdal targeting to child doctors wasn't off-label promotion
PHILADELPHIA – Johnson & Johnson did not market anti-psychotic drug Risperdal off-label to pediatricians and pediatric psychologists prior to receiving Food & Drug Administration approval, according to a senior official testifying in a trial meant to determine if the pharmaceutical giant will be penalized with punitive damages.
Mass Torts
Ex-FDA commissioner says Risperdal was promoted for kids before it was approved; J&J maintains it was safe
PHILADELPHIA – Testimony in the Risperdal punitive damages trial continued Thursday with a former Food & Drug Administration commissioner who said Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals sought to promote use of Risperdal in children and adolescents, before it was given such approval – but the company maintains it was safe for that age group.
Mass Torts
Philly judge shoots down J&J's mistrial motion on first day of Risperdal punitive damages trial
PHILADELPHIA – On the first day of a trial that could expose Johnson & Johnson to millions of dollars in punitive damages, the company moved for a mistrial after plaintiffs attorneys reminded jurors of its massive value but was denied.
Mass Torts
J&J wants to use plaintiff's own doctors to fight against punitive damages in Risperdal case
PHILADELPHIA – In pre-trial bench memorandums filed over the weekend, Johnson & Johnson believes the testimony of prescribing physicians would provide additional context for its actions in trying to repel a punitive damages claim made against it by a man who alleges he was disfigured by Risperdal’s side effect of gynecomastia.
Mass Torts
Trial to determine jackpot-potential of Risperdal lawsuits starts today in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – On Monday, a new punitive damages trial will begin in a Philadelphia courtroom for a case involving anti-psychotic drug Risperdal that initially ended with a $1 million-plus plaintiff verdict in 2015, in a jurisdiction with a history of high-dollar results.
Mass Torts
Pa. plaintiffs dismissed from lawsuit claiming Abilify caused addictions to sex, binge eating and gambling
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Litigation continues for a group of Pennsylvanians who sued both Bristol Myers-Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceutical in connection with prescription medication Abilify, after multiple plaintiffs were dismissed from the suit earlier this year for defying court orders and failing to provide basic information about their claims.
Mass Torts
Philadelphia judge denies J&J's attempt to avoid upcoming Risperdal punitive damages trial
PHILADELPHIA – A state court judge decided that a new punitive damages trial will proceed in a Risperdal action that initially resulted in a $1 million-plus verdict in 2015 – above Johnson & Johnson’s attempt to dismiss the case through a motion for summary judgment.
Mass Torts
Philly judge recommends Superior Court affirm $41M pelvic mesh verdict against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia judge who presided over a case where a Lancaster woman claimed she suffered permanent injuries to her genitalia after the installation of a pelvic mesh implant manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon, Inc., is recommending the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirm the action’s $41 million verdict on appeal.
Mass Torts
Pa. Supreme Court declines to hear Janssen's appeal in $2.5 million Risperdal case
HARRISBURG – According to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, it will not hear an appeal of the first Risperdal case to be decided in the hands of a Philadelphia jury and its $2.5 million verdict for the plaintiff will stand.
Mass Torts
Eight-day hearing on viability of witnesses in talc lawsuits set to conclude
TRENTON, N.J. – Eight days of scientific expert witness testimony in a New Jersey federal court, centered on whether Johnson & Johnson’s talc-containing baby powder causes women to develop both ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, will conclude Wednesday and ultimately determine if 12,000 lawsuits on the subject move forward.
Mass Torts
Facing 12,000 lawsuits, J&J has expert testify that there is no link between talc and ovarian cancer
TRENTON, N.J. – The fate of about 12,000 lawsuits claiming Johnson & Johnson’s talc-containing baby powder causes women to develop both ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, will be decided after eight days of expert witness testimony in a New Jersey federal court.
Mass Torts
Janssen win in Philly Risperdal case overturned by appeals court
HARRISBURG – The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has reinstated a Risperdal lawsuit which was thrown out after 11 days of trial proceedings in a Philadelphia court in December 2016 and said its original granting of nonsuit was improper.