Connecticut Parents Seek Damages in Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuit

Connecticut Parents Seek Damages in Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuit

By John Curran

A Connecticut child has suffered from numerous heart problems as a result of the SSRI antidepressant Zoloft, according to a new birth defect lawsuit filed on July 16 by parents Carol and Paul Clarizio. The lawsuit has joined the Zoloft birth defect MDL known as In Re: Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) Products Liability Litigation, where hundreds of other cases have been centralized

Like other Zoloft birth defect lawsuits consolidated in the MDL, the Clarizios say the mother took the popular depression drug unaware of the potential risks to her fetus. In spite of data stretching as far back as the medication’s approval in 1991, Pfizer Inc. has not added the risk of Zoloft birth defects and other problems in children to its drug warning label, leading to a count of “failure to warn” by the two parents on behalf of their daughter.

When she was born on June 23, 2006, doctors diagnosed her with two septal defects and omphalocele, where organs remain outside of the abdominal cavity. These Zoloft birth defects required “numerous surgeries” and ongoing monitoring for future issues, note the Clarizios in their Zoloft lawsuit. This came roughly a decade after a study was published on Prozac, another member of the SSRI antidepressant class, indicating the possibility of premature birth and related pregnancy side effects.

These have all been linked causally to persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn (PPHN), a condition which leads to decreased oxygen consumption and potential birth defects related to development such as omphalocele. While GlaxoSmithKline, for one, has updated a similar medication to include birth defect risks, Pfizer continues to market its drug as safe for women looking to become pregnant.

As a result of medical evidence and advertising efforts contrary to scientific research, the complaint filed by the Connecticut’ family’s Zoloft birth defect attorney also includes counts of defective design, negligence, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, fraud, fraudulent concealment, as well as breach of implied and expressed warranties.

The Zoloft Birth Defects Lawsuit is Carol and Paul Clarizio v. Pfizer Inc., Case No. 13-cv-04106, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Get a Free Zoloft Birth Defect Review

Families who have children with disabilities as a result of septal defects and other birth defects may have had these issues come as a result of SSRI antidepressants including those sold by Pfizer. Learn whether or not you are eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries by getting a free consultation with a Zoloft birth defect attorney. Get one now by filling out the short form at the Zoloft & SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation .

Updated July 29th, 2013

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