North Carolina Parents Seek Damages in Zoloft Wrongful Death Lawsuit

By John Curran

Update: If you’re looking for the Intuit TurboTax Class Action Settlement, please go here.

North Carolina resident Shiquondra Moore and the father of her child are suing on behalf of their deceased infant in a Zoloft wrongful death lawsuit filed July 16 against Pfizer Inc. and several subsidiaries involved in producing and marketing the antidepressant.

Moore says that she had been taking the medication when she became pregnant with her daughter Tatiana in 2010. When her daughter was born, Zoloft birth defects took the child’s life in less than three weeks, according to the lawsuit. Several studies cited in the Zoloft lawsuit have drawn causative and correlative links between Zoloft and other selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants and neonatal problems.

The likely link is persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn (PPHN), which can lead to low birthweight, premature birth and other Zoloft birth defects that can include heart defects and skeletal malformations. Information regarding this in other mammalian species was available prior to or at the time Zoloft was approved, and subsequent studies have strengthened the argument, Moore’s Zoloft birth defect attorney argues.

There are numerous counts alleged against Pfizer in the Zoloft lawsuit, including defective design, failure to warn and adequately test, nonconformance with representations, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, breach of various warranties, and violations of N.C. Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Had the drug maker updated the product safety information, Moore would not have taken the medication while pregnant, her Zoloft attorney states.

In addition, the birth defect lawsuit notes that GlaxoSmithKline, which produces similar SSRI antidepressants, has updated the labeling for Paxil (paroxetine) to include birth defects, while Pfizer continues to sell Zoloft without any such warnings about PPHN, heart defects and other potential issues.

Moore is seeking compensation from Pfizer for its alleged wrongdoing.

The Zoloft Wrongful Death Birth Defect Lawsuitis Shiquondra M. Moore, et al. v. Pfizer, Inc. et al., Case No. 13-cv-04112, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

File Your Own Birth Defect Lawsuit

Any parents who have seen their child face physical defects or development delays and know that the mother took one an SSRI antidepressant prior to and/or during a pregnancy may have legal options available to them. The first step is to obtain free legal consultation by filling out the short form at the Zoloft & SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation . Cases are being centralized and moving toward trial, so it is important to find out what one’s legal options are soon.

Updated July 25th, 2013

{loadposition content_ol-news}