A Zoloft birth defects lawsuit was recently filed against Pfizer Inc.  alleging the pharmaceutical company failed to warn about dangerous side effects associated with taking Zoloft, specifically the possibility of birth defects.

The lawsuit is brought by Cassie C. on behalf of her minor child. According to  Zoloft  birth defects lawsuit, Cassie was prescribed Zoloft by her treating physician during the first trimester of her pregnancy in 2004. Cassie suggests that neither she nor her doctor were aware of the serious risks of birth defects associated with taking Zoloft while pregnant.

In November 2004, after doctors performed an ultrasound, Cassie was informed that her unborn child had a bilateral clubbed foot. This diagnosis was confirmed when Cassie gave birth to her daughter in March 2005.

Due to her birth defect, Cassie’s daughter has had to undergo multiple surgeries. Cassie’s daughter will have to have her condition monitored by medical professionals for the rest of her life.

The Zoloft birth defects lawsuit alleges strict products liability, failure to warn, design defect, breach of express and implied warranty, negligence, fraud and misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.

Zoloft is a popular anti depressant that entered the market in 1992.   According to the lawsuit, although Pfizer knew that Zoloft could cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy, the company did not discourage the use of Zoloft in pregnant women.

In reality, the lawsuit suggests, the company did the opposite,  encouraging the promotion of the drug to women of childbearing ages who were either trying to conceive or who were already pregnant.  In 2005, Zoloft was one of the most prescribed antidepressants on the market and brought in over $3.3 billion dollars in sales.

Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. It is believed that these medications work by affecting serotonin levels in a person’s brain. Along with depression, Zoloft is often prescribed to treat panic attacks, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and different anxiety disorders.

Zoloft lawsuits have been filed. Product liability attorneys are looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Zoloft lawsuits against Pfizer.

Victims who win awards and settlements against Pfizer will receive compensation to pay off past and future medical bills. Lawsuits like these also help hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their actions.

The Zoloft lawsuit is case No. 2:15-cv-01184-CMR, in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.