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A distressed mother alleged in a recent lawsuit that Motrin caused her son to develop Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), which eventually led her son to take his own life.
Plaintiff Amy B. alleges that her 26-year-old son Kyle committed suicide after suffering from Stevens Johnson Syndrome for over a year. The SJS lawsuit claims that his severe Stevens Johnson rash was directly caused by taking Motrin to treat a fever.
However, a Connecticut federal judge found that the Motrin SJS lawsuit had not sufficiently shown that if Motrin had carried stronger warnings about Stevens Johnson Syndrome, Kyle would have not chosen to take the medication.
U.S. District Judge Michael Shea pointed out a number of problems with Amy’s lawsuit. These problems include that the plaintiff could not sufficiently establish that her son habitually read the warning labels on his medications.
Kyle had also previously taken Motrin several times in his life without developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome or any other adverse reaction, which did not help his mother’s lawsuit.
Amy claimed that, after developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome, her son told her that he would not have taken Motrin if the warning “had been more specific and he’d had more information than what was on [the label].”
Judge Shea ruled that this was not sufficient evidence. The judge also observed that there was something suspicious about the timing of the litigation.
Amy testified that, before his death, her son had brought up the possibility of litigation against Johnson & Johnson. Judge Shea expressed this might mean that his comments about the insufficient Stevens Johnson Syndrome warning were specifically geared towards filing a lawsuit.
“While the evidence of timing is vague on this point, too, the suggestion that the statement to [Amy B.] was made around the same time that [her son] was contemplating litigation is at least some evidence of a motive, if not to lie, then to shape his memories to fit the contours of a legal claim,” said Judge Shea in his ruling.
According to the lawsuit, Kyle developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome rash symptoms the day after he took two Motrin tablets in October 2010.
His mother originally filed her lawsuit in 2013 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and argued that J&J had chosen to neglect properly warning consumers about the Stevens Johnson Syndrome risk associated with Motrin, despite studies that found a Motrin carries a 5 times greater risk of SJS than ibuprofen.
While Johnson & Johnson did not include a warning about Stevens Johnson Syndrome on its U.S. Motrin labels, there was a warning included on the children’s Motrin tablets sold in Europe.
However, Judge Shea eventually found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined requests to include these kinds of Stevens Johnson Syndrome warnings on Motrin.
“The FDA rejected many of petitioners’ suggested changes — including specific references to SJS or TEN — ‘because most consumers are unfamiliar with these terms,’” Judge Shea stated, referencing the FDA’s response to not adding a SJS warning to Motrin labels.
What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?
Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a life-threatening allergic reaction associated with several medications, including Motrin. Stevens Johnson rash should be treated immediately.
If a patient’s simple skin rash begins to develop into SJS, the rash spreads quickly, covering a large expanse of skin. The rash blisters and peels, and is often quite painful.
Even when a patient survives Stevens Johnson Syndrome, they are often left with severe and permanent scarring.
If you or someone you know has experienced a Stevens Johnson rash after using Motrin or another drug, you may be able to file a lawsuit.
The Motrin Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit is Case No. 3:14-cv-01462, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, SJS lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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Help for Victims of Stevens Johnson Syndrome
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) after taking a prescribed or over-the-counter medication, you may be eligible to take legal action against the drug’s manufacturer. Filing an SJS lawsuit or class action lawsuit may help you obtain compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Obtain a free and confidential review of your case by filling out the form below.
An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.
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