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Family Sues Pfizer Over Generic Zoloft Birth Defects
By Robert J. Boumis
A California family is suing pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer over their son’s birth defects, alleging that taking Zoloft during the pregnancy caused the complications. The Zoloft birth defect lawsuit was filed on July 18, 2013.
Amie Juarez, the mother, was prescribed sertraline (generic Zoloft) during her pregnancy with her son, identified in the court documents only as “J.J.” Once he was born, J.J. was diagnosed with a birth defect called aortic stenosis. This birth defect required multiple surgeries to correct.
Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body. The aorta is also the blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart. In this birth defect, the heart has to work harder to force blood through the narrowed blood vessel. This can cause chest pain, trouble breathing, and fainting. This condition can be life threatening in infants, and may require surgical intervention – as it did with J.J.
The Zoloft lawsuit alleges that the manufacturers knew about the risk of birth defects associated with Zoloft and continued to manufacture the drug anyway. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that standard post-market surveillance had revealed a link between taking Zoloft and related drugs during pregnancy and birth defects. Additionally, the Zoloft lawsuit asserts that animal trials indicated that Zoloft had “profound effects on the pre-natal development of study animals.”
Juarez alleges in the Zoloft birth defect lawsuit that despite this knowledge, Pfizer continued to promote and market the drug, actions tantamount to negligence and fraud. According to the lawsuit, Juarez would have never used the drug during her pregnancy if she had known about the risks associated with Zoloft side effects.
The lawsuit seeks a number of types of damages, amounting to more than $75,000. The damages cover a number of bases, including medical expenses, economic damages, loss of earnings, emotional distress, attorney fees, interest, and punitive damages. The Zoloft lawsuit seeks these damages, alleging that Pfizer and their co-defendants are liable for J.J.’s condition and the consequences of it.
The case is Amie Juarez, et al. v. Pfizer Inc., et al., Case No. Case 2:13-cv-05183-ABC-CW, United States District Court, Central District of California.
Get a Free Legal Review of Your Potential Zoloft Lawsuit
If you have found yourself in a similar situation, you need to remember that you have rights. Having a child with a birth defect can completely change your life. The medical expenses pile up, and the stress can be constant. But you need to remember that no matter what else is happening you still have rights, and there are important steps that you can take to regain control over your situation.
You can start by visiting the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Depakote & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter your information for a free review by a legal expert with a background in this type of litigation. Your initial consultation is free of charge. From here, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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