Parents Join Zoloft MDL Over Child’s Congenital Heart Defects

Parents Marisa Chapman and Matthew Chapman have filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, joining ongoing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the drug company over allegations that Zoloft (Sertraline HCL) can cause serious birth defects. The Zoloft MDL contains hundreds of birth defect lawsuits alleging that Pfizer concealed the risk of Zoloft side effects from pregnant women.

The Chapmans are the parents of a child, identified in court documents as “E.C. “Born in 2011, E.C. suffered from several serious heart defects. These congenital heart defects included several places in the heart where the walls of the heart failed to fully form, leaving holes between the various chambers. Congenital heart defects like this can lead to oxygenated and deoxygenated blood mixing within the heart, which in turn causes all of the tissues in the body to receive a reduced amount of oxygen. Such defects often require surgical intervention. According to the Zoloft lawsuit, Mrs. Chapman was prescribed and used Zoloft during her pregnancy with E.C.

The lawsuit alleges that Zoloft caused these E.C.’s birth defects and that Pfizer was aware of these risks. The Zoloft lawsuit also claims that Pfizer failed to adequately protect the public from these risks.

To support this allegation, the birth defects lawsuit states that as early as 1996, scientific research had indicated that SSRIs (the class of antidepressants that include Zoloft) had already been linked to a number of serious birth defects, including heart defects. According to the  lawsuit, the research studies that indicated this included animal trials, epidemiological surveys, and clinical trials. The lawsuit further alleges that despite this knowledge, Pfizer and co-defendants failed to include warning information with Zoloft that would advise patients of these risks. The lawsuit seeks over $75,000 in damages.

The Chapmans’ lawsuit joins an existing Zoloft MDL against Pfizer and related entities over alleged Zoloft birth defects. An MDL is a type of group lawsuit similar to a class action lawsuit. The main difference is that in a class action lawsuit, all of the allegedly-injured parties are represented by a single lawyer (or more often, a team of lawyers), while in MDLs, every plaintiff has their own legal representation. MDLs and class action lawsuits are designed to save everyone involved money, as plaintiffs can pool their resources, defendants only face a single lawsuit, and the legal system only has to expend resources on a single suit.

The Zoloft birth defect lawsuit is Marisa Chapman et al., Individually and as Next Friend of E.C., a Minor vs. Pfizer Incorporated et al, Case No. 2:14-cv-00743-CMR, filed within the MDL In RE: Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2342, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Help for Victims of Congenital Heart Defects

If you, or someone you care about had a child with severe birth defects like congenital heart defects after using Zoloft or other SSRIs, you have almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. Serious birth defects force parents to emotionally shift gears from joy at a new child’s birth to concern and strain as they struggle to cope with the new reality of the situation. In addition to the emotional challenges of such a situation, parents face very tangible financial strains, such as hospital bills, lost wages, and possibly the cost of ongoing medical care. When facing such challenges, many people feel overwhelmed, or even depressed.

But you need to remember that regardless of the challenges you’ve found yourself facing, 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 page on Zoloft & 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 it, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.