Lawsuit Alleges Pfizer Concealed Zoloft Birth Defect Risks

Mother Stephanie Minichini has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., alleging that the drug Zoloft caused her child to develop birth defects. Mincihini’s daughter, identified in court documents only as “Minor Plaintiff,” was born in 2011.

During her pregnancy, Minichini took Zoloft (Sertraline HCL) under the guidance and prescription of her physicians. Per the Zoloft lawsuit, the fact that Pfizer did not list birth defects as a potential side effect was part of the reason she chose to use this drug. The birth defects lawsuit asserts that Minichini would have never used the drug had she been aware of the risks of birth defects allegedly associated with Zoloft.

The birth defects lawsuit asserts that the manufacturers of Zoloft reasonably should have known of these risks before Minichini became pregnant. The Zoloft lawsuit further alleges that Pfizer was aware of the risks of serious side effects from the drug’s earliest trials, and postmarket reports indicated that the drug was associated with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly heart defects like persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). The lawsuit also points out that under U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, a drug’s manufacturers have an obligation to seek out information on their drug and ensure its safety.

The Zoloft lawsuit alleges that Pfizer’s action constitute fraud, negligence, and a failure to warn. The complaint asserts that Pfizer’s actions have inflicted emotional distress, financial costs, and medical costs on Minichini and her child, some of which may require lifelong medical care. In addition to these elements of the case, the Zoloft birth defects lawsuit asks for punitive damages, damages designed to punish the defendant and prevent further misconduct. The case seeks more than $75,000 in various types of compensation.

The Zoloft birth defects lawsuit is Stephanie E. Minichini, Individually and as the Guardian of Minor Plaintiff, v. Pfizer Inc., et al., Case No. 2:13-cv-06491-CMR, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It has been added to ongoing multidistrict litigation In Re: Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2342, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

If you or someone you care about gave birth to a child with birth defects after using SSRI antidepressants, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. In addition to the emotional challenges of such a situation, raising a child with birth defects often entails substantial financial challenges including lost wages, medical bills, and lost income potential. But regardless of the challenges you’ve found yourself facing, you need to remember that you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of 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 information about your situation for a legal review by a trained expert with a background in this type of litigation. The initial consultation is completely free of charge and from here, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your specific situation.