An antipsychotic drug manufactured by Johnson & Johnson had a significant side effect that was swept under the rug, leaving Nicholas Murray, 26, with a pair of woman-like breasts.
The man has been fighting the corporation in court for quite some time now, and Johnson & Johnson have now been ordered by a Philadelphia jury to pay $8 billion in punitive damages as a result of their faulty product.
Murray was previously awarded almost $700,000 in his case against the company, and it looks like the courts took his situation seriously enough and found enough evidence to continue pursuing the major manufacturer.
The drug in question –- Risperdal (Risperidone) — reportedly gave the man a pair of breasts after he started taking it over a decade ago, having been prescribed the medication by doctors after being diagnosed by a psychologist when he was a child.
Court documents revealed that Murray was just around ten years old when he first started taking the drug after being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Attorneys representing the victim have accused the company of acting in deliberate malice in court. Johnson & Johnson say that could not be proven directly.
However, Murray’s lawyers, Tom Kline and Jason Itkin, did manage to convince the court that the company was acting irresponsibly and was not considering the well-being of children potentially affected by its products.
The attorneys applauded the verdict in the following statement: “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. This is an important moment, not only for this litigation but for J&J, which is a company that has lost its way.”
In a press release, Johnson & Johnson denied the accusations that they have been manipulating children and misrepresenting the true nature of their products for profit.
However, J&J did not address the claims that they failed to warn men taking Risperdal of the risk of gynecomastia, the development of enlarged breasts in males.
The company said: “…grossly disproportionate with the initial compensatory award in this case, and the company is confident it will be overturned.”
The statement went on to say: “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.”
Law experts predict that the amount of money will be lowered after the company appeals the case.
There has been a significant outrage over the situation, with many people explaining how they felt misled by the behavior of the corporation and its overall attitude towards the scandal.
