Despite Janssen Pharmaceutical’s call for a new trial over a recent lawsuit, the $2.5 million Risperdal lawsuit award will still stand.

The verdict was upheld by Judge Ramy Djerassi in August 2017 in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Djerassi noted in his opinion that Janssen’s attempt to have the Risperdal lawsuit award overturned and a new trial granted was “extraordinary,” and that the timing of the demand “seemed calculated for maximum surprise” at the last possible moment.

Had the company’s argument had better legs to stand on, it should have been brought up far earlier, back before the first trial had even begun, the judge said.

Background of Risperdal Medication

Risperdal (also known by its generic name, risperidone) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1993. It was originally approved as a treatment for schizophrenia, but has since also been approved for the treatment of bipolar mania, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and certain symptoms of autism.

Since its release, Risperdal has become one of the more popular antipsychotics available today.

Risperdal is one of a group of medications known as atypical antipsychotics, which work to treat conditions by helping to restore the balance of various natural substances in the brain.

Complications of Risperdal

Any medication will have certain side effects, and Risperdal is no exception. Mild side effects of Risperdal include involuntary motion, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, and skin rashes. Mild side effects should go away on their own without too much trouble and without further treatment.

But Risperdal has been linked with a more serious and long-lasting complication: gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia is essentially the abnormal growth of breast tissue in males. Hundreds of boys and young men who have been prescribed Risperdal to treat a variety of mental and mood disorders have developed male breast growth as a side effect of the medication. In some cases, boys had such excessive breast tissue grown that the breasts became the size of “D” cups.

Breast growth from Risperdal has become such an issue in the lives of some of these young men that they ended up undergoing surgery to remove excess tissue.

Seeking a Risperdal Lawsuit Award

A Risperdal lawsuit award may amount to a substantial sum. This most recent verdict of $2.5 million in favor of the plaintiff is not uncommon, but sometimes a Risperdal lawsuit award is far more. One lawsuit, which went to trial and ended before a jury in July 2016, led to a Risperdal lawsuit award of $70 million for a Tennessee boy.

Only one Risperdal lawsuit has been found in favor of the defendant. Others have ended in settlements before going to trial, often also resulting in substantial monetary awards.

Thousands of Risperdal lawsuits like this one are being filed all over the country. So far, Janssen has been hit with around 14,000 lawsuits, though a number of lawsuits are being grouped together. For instance, the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, where this lawsuit went to trial, has around 6,000 Risperdal lawsuits currently pending.

If you or someone you love has suffered from Risperdal complications like gynecomastia, you may be able to file a Risperdal lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by gynecomastia, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses or lost wages.