A Risperdal trial over the side effects of Johnson & Johnson’s neuroleptic medication recently concluded with the jury awarding $8 billion to the plaintiff.

The lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Nicholas M. in 2013, when he was 19 years old. Nicholas claimed that he developed gynecomastia (male breast growth) as a result of taking Risperdal for the treatment of autism. He alleged Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals failed to warn the medical community about the side effects, and that Janssen marketed the drug improperly as a treatment for psychological problems in children.

Case Background

The medication, known generically as risperidone, was first approved in 1993 for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Risperdal was granted FDA approval in 2006 for managing autism-related behaviors, such as aggression, temper tantrums, moodiness and the self-infliction of injuries.

Nicholas said he was first given Risperdal in 2003, when he was nine years old, then later developed breasts. In males, breast growth is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance. Evidence presented at the Risperdal trial indicates that Risperdal may stimulate the production of prolactin, which is the hormone responsible for breast development and lactation in females.

There was no adequate warning about this side effect, Nicholas claimed.

In a statement to the press, Nicholas’s  counsel said, “This jury resoundingly told Johnson & Johnson that its actions were deliberate and malicious … The conduct that the jury saw in the courtroom was clear and convincing that J&J disregarded the safety of the most vulnerable of children.”

They added that Johnson & Johnson, once one of the most trusted brands in America, is “a company that has lost its way.”

The Defendant Responds

Commenting on the verdict, Johnson & Johnson said, “The jury did not hear evidence as to how the label for Risperdal clearly and appropriately outlined the risks associated with the medicine, or the benefits Risperdal provides to patients with serious mental illness.” They added that “the plaintiff’s attorneys failed to present any evidence that the plaintiff was actually harmed by the alleged conduct.”

The defendant also said that the current punitive damages are in “stark contrast” to the $680,000 in compensatory damages awarded in 2016.

This Risperdal Trial – and Others

Johnson & Johnson has been called to account numerous times in recent years over a number of rugs and medical devices.

In August 2019, a judge in Oklahoma ordered the health care products company to pay the state $575 million for the role it has played in the opioid addiction epidemic. It is currently defending itself in litigation over its talc-containing products over claims that they were contaminated with asbestos fibers.

This is not the the first Risperdal trial for Johnson & Johnson, either. The company has faced thousands of similar Risperdal claims, many of which have been consolidated in a state court in Philadelphia.

In 2013, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay over $2 billion in fines to resolve multiple civil and criminal allegations, including that the company illegally marketed Risperdal for controlling behavior in dementia patients and children with behavior disorders.

If you or your son took Risperdal and experienced any of the following Risperdal side effects listed below, you may qualify to pursue compensation for your injuries:

• Male breast growth
• Man boobs
• Gynecomastia
• Painful breasts
• Nipple pain
• Nipple discharge

See if you qualify by filling out the form on this page for a free case evaluation by a Risperdal gynecomastia attorney. 

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