Over a Dozen Plaintiffs File Depakote Birth Defect Lawsuit
By Andrea Gressman
It has been reported that over a dozen plaintiffs have joined together to file a Depakote birth defect lawsuit against the drug maker. The new lawsuit was filed on September 6, 2012, in the St. Clair County Circuit Court as Case No. 12-L-462. Each of the plaintiffs claim their babies were born with problems caused by the mother’s use of Depakote while they were pregnant. Some of these birth defects include neural tube defects, spina bifida and other problems.One of the plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit is Susan DeMatteo. She, like the other plaintiffs, claims that the manufacturer of Depakote did not properly warn the medical community or the general public about the birth defect risk associated with taking the drug during pregnancy. All of the plaintiffs are seeking an undisclosed amount of compensation for this alleged negligence.
History of Depakote & Birth Defects
Depakote is a drug frequently used for psychiatric disorders, like bipolar disorder. However, it is also prescribed to treat migraines. The drug is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories.
Depakote has a long history of being linked to birth defects. In 2010 the New England Journal of Medicine published a study that revealed Depakote was linked to causing spina bifida as a side effect in babies when their mother took the drug during their pregnancy. In fact, the mother’s side effect risk of having a baby with spina bifida increased up to 12 times due to Depakote.
On May 7, 2012, the FDA published an announcement stating that the United States Department of Justice and the Office of Criminal Investigations had reached a settlement agreement with Abbott Laboratories Inc. Under the agreement, Abbott pled guilty as and paid $1.5 billion for its involvement in promoting Depakote for purposes that the FDA had not approved the drug to treat.
If these Depakote side effects sound similar to you or someone you know, you may have the option to file a Depakote birth defects lawsuit. Find out more by getting a free legal review from a Depakote lawsuit attorney. Visit the Depakote Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page right away. A Depakote birth defects lawyer will advise you of your legal options with regards to your personal situation. They are standing by and ready to help you navigate yourself through this process.
Updated March 12th, 2013
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