Johnson & Johnson Must Pay Over $10 Million in Birth Injury Case

The parents of a boy who suffered birth injuries after being exposed to anti-seizure medication have been awarded more than $10 million by a Philadelphia jury, which decided against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

The five-year-old boy suffered from cleft lip and other birth injuries after being exposed to Topamax while his mother was pregnant.

The verdict came just weeks after another multi-million dollar verdict against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, also regarding birth injuries suffered after exposure to Topamax.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said that the verdicts confirmed that Janssen knew of the risks of birth injuries when Topamax was taken by pregnant mothers, but failed to warn physicians of the danger and continued to market the drug.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys also said that the large verdicts were appropriate, as the children’s birth injuries will necessitate numerous surgeries and will have long-lasting effects on their health.

A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson said the company was disappointed in the verdict and planned to appeal. The drug maker said that the evidence indicated that the mother and her doctor were aware of the side effects of the drug. Johnson & Johnson also said that the jury failed to consider critical factors, including other potential causes of the birth injuries.

Bob Briskman is a Chicago injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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