J&J Jumps to Settle First Risperdal ‘Man Boobs’ Lawsuit

For many, the term “man boobs” is a slur used to make fun of larger men or might give others nostalgia for the good old days when Seinfeld was still on prime time. For some, however, male breasts are a very real and tragic thing, especially when they’re caused by a drug. One of the drugs at the center of litigation concerning the development of male breast tissue in young males is Risperdal.

Risperdal is an anti-psychotic largely used to treat disorders like schizophrenia and manic states, but it’s also recently been unearthed that it can cause certain men to get man breast side effects, too. Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Risperdal, was quick to settle a lawsuit brought forth by Aaron Banks who claimed he got man boobs from the drug. Risperdal side effect warnings never included this potential threat, which is the foundation for the growing number of Risperdal lawsuits being filed around the country. Banks was about to start his trial in Pennsylvania when J&J came forward to settle the case. It was the first of dozens of Risperdal lawsuits that claimed Risperdal causes gynecomastia, the scientific word for man boobs.

With gynecomastia, large mammary glands in males (which are natural) become abnormally overdeveloped. Banks and other Risperdal lawsuit plaintiffs claim that J&J didn’t adequately warn about this risk. In his Risperdal lawsuit, it’s pointed out, “There are boys who grew breasts as large as D cups. There’s a major design defect here, which the judge was going to allow us to pursue, not just the fact that labeling understated risks.”

Banks’ attorney noted that “It’s been a disaster for him and many others who suffered from this.” In many cases, Risperdal victims are young men, some as young as 10 years old, and dealing with these kinds of side effects can be even more traumatic. Now 21 years old, Banks took the drug between 1994 and 2004, beginning when he was just 9 years old. The drug was not approved for children at the time Banks was prescribed it.

As an older teen, Banks opted to have his male breasts surgically removed. The Risperdal lawsuit settlement terms aren’t being revealed, but it’s tough to imagine the kind of trauma a young boy who grows breasts may face. When it comes to growing male breasts, Risperdal works by stimulating prolactin production — this hormone is released via the pituitary gland and stimulates breath growth in both women and men.

Initially, J&J downplayed the risks of these Risperdal side effects, says Banks’ Risperdal lawsuit. It also didn’t suggest that testing was a good idea. “If your prolactin goes up, you have a higher chance of developing adverse events and kids are much more subject to this,” the lawsuit said.

J&J’s move to settle the lawsuit before trial wasn’t surprising as it meant CEO Alex Gorsky didn’t have to take the stand. Banks was after Gorsky’s testimony since Gorsky was the CIP of Marketing from 1998 through 2001. At the end of 2011, Gorsky moved to become the president of Janssen until 2003, where he was the key person responsible for the sale of Risperdal. Earlier in 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice was also after Gorsky because of his connection with a kickback case that involved the Omnicare nursing home pharmacy.

A Close Battle

Banks’ story is just one of many in the war against Risperdal man boobs. While Gorsky’s testimony would be exceptionally interesting and potentially helpful, he may continue to sidestep taking the stand if J&J continues to settle Risperdal lawsuits. It’s estimated that the company may pay as much as $2.2 billion because of the Risperdal’s side effects on male breast development, but that’s only taking into account the young men who have come forward so far. If lawsuits continue to strengthen, that number may be much higher and Gorsky may be forced to take the stand after all.

The Banks case set a precedent for other victims. His attorney is continuing to pursue Gorsky in hope that the court will demand the CEO to provide testimony. Not surprisingly, J&J is fighting these efforts. A petition to revoke the drug has also been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as the generic versions, unless proper labeling including a Black Box warning is added. As for J&J, they’re largely keeping quiet but have released the statement: “Since the early 1990s, Risperdal has and continues to improve the lives of countless people throughout the world who suffer from debilitating mental illness.”

Did You Take Risperdal as a Boy and Developed Man Boobs?

Earlier in 2013, J&J agreed to the payment of $181 million for claims in 36 states that said Risperdal was promoted for unapproved uses. If you took the drug as a young boy and experienced Risperdal side effects like male breast growth, breast pain, nipple pain or nipple discharge, you might have a Risperdal legal claim. Find out more at the Risperdal Side Effects, Male Breast Growth Class Action Lawsuit Investigationright now. After submitting your information, an attorney will contact you if you have a case for a Risperdal claim review.