The latest Risperdal lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals settled recently on May 13 for an undisclosed amount.  However, both Janssen and attorneys say it does not affect the upcoming cases in the Risperdal mass tort.

This Risperdal lawsuit is the latest of its kind among the myriad of complaints brought against Janssen Pharmaceutical for their controversial antipsychotic drug, Risperdal.

Risperdal Uses

Risperdal has been prescribed in the past to treat schizophrenia. But Risperdal has also been used to treat other mental disorders. Researchers discovered that Risperdal could help patients with bipolar disorder or people with autism that exhibit irritable or aggressive traits.

However, over the years it has been suggested that when Risperdal is taken by younger males, including boys and teens, the drug can have a disastrous side effect.

Risperdal Side Effects in Males

Risperdal has been liked with increased production of prolactin, the hormone that regulates female breast growth. In males, prolactin can cause patients to develop breasts or even begin to lactate. Male breast growth is also known as gynecomastia.

This concerning Risperdal side effect has been shown to be evident in an affected man throughout his life, but it can be more pronounced in younger men and teens.

Risperdal Lawsuit Settles for an Undisclosed Amount

There has been a large number of Risperdal lawsuits and most have been combined into a mass tort.

Robert M. v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals was the next Risperdal lawsuit in line for trial. This Risperdal lawsuit claims that the company failed to warn consumers about the serious risks associated with the drug.

However, settlement in this Risperdal lawsuit isn’t an indication that there is an end in sight to the Risperdal mass tort or that this decision will affect other Risperdal settlements. One attorney says, “There’s no global settlement talks. The [Robert M.] case involved the [Robert M.] case.”

Janssen has also communicated that the settlement in the Risperdal lawsuit is not an indicator of larger talks regarding the mass tort.

Other Risperdal lawsuits are scheduled to go to trial. In the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, 12 Risperdal cases are listed for trial which means that over 100 Risperdal depositions are in process.

Another Risperdal lawsuit is slated to go to trial this month. A.Y. v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals is not expected to settle like Robert’s, however, this case may serve as a bellwether trial for the Risperdal mass tort.

Bellwether trials are common in MDL (multidistrict litigation) and serve as test cases. They may shape the processes for addressing the rest of the cases. An MDL is similar to a class action lawsuit but generally combine hundreds (even thousands) of cases into a streamlined, coordinated legal process.

As of now, only four Risperdal lawsuits have gone to trial but there are over 1700 cases that are pending in the Risperdal mass tort. Risperdal settlements have been approved for different amounts but awards have ranged from $500,000 to $2.5 million.