Verdict in Topamax Case Leads to $10 Million in Damages

Janssen Pharmaceuticals has been ordered to pay more than $10 million in damages in a verdict rendered by a court in Philadelphia recently. The case involved a five year-old boy who developed birth defects after his mother took Topamax during her pregnancy. Topamax is an anticonvulsant which is used to control certain types of seizures and to prevent migraine headaches in adults. In March of 2011, however, the FDA issued a warning concerning use of the drug in pregnant women. The FDA publication stated that infants born to women taking the drug during pregnancy raised their risk for birth defects such as cleft palate by 21 times as compared to children whose mothers had never taken the drug.

The verdict was the second multi-million dollar verdict in the last few weeks against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, concerning Topamax. The pharmaceutical company was accused of failing to advise medical practitioners about the risks involved in prescribing the drug to pregnant women even when the company had knowledge of those risks. The birth defects that ensue in infants born to mothers who take Topamax during pregnancy typically require several surgeries to correct. Such birth defects also carry psychological trauma as well as a financial impact to the children and their families, all of which could have been avoided with proper information and warning.

Personal Injury Firm in Colorado Springs, Colorado

The above case is an example of a dangerous or defective product which resulted in serious injury to consumers. When pharmaceutical companies or other consumer product manufacturers place profits over the health and welfare of the public, they may find themselves being held accountable for the damages that ensue. In the past few decades, we have seen many prescription drug manufacturers found to be liable for various forms of injury, health damage, and even deaths connected with their products.

If you believe you have been harmed by using a dangerous or defective pharmaceutical or other consumer product, you should discuss your case with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. Clawson & Clawson, LLP, based in Colorado Springs, provides proven legal representation to those who have been injured or have lost a loved one through negligence. The legal team at the firm has more than 90 years of combined legal experience in this field and has received recognition for their services with a 10 out of 10 "Superb" rating by Avvo as well as "Best Attorney" in the 2012 "Best of Colorado Springs." Don't try to settle your claim by going directly to an insurance company. Enlist the services of an experienced attorney who can help you get a fair and just settlement or verdict. Contact the firm to start your claim today. You pay nothing until compensation is recovered on your behalf.