Antidepressant lawsuits

By June 2006, Forest Laboratories, the manufacturer of Lexapro and Celexa, was a defendant in several drug lawsuits. At the time, Lexapro and Celexa accounted for 68% of the company’s sales.

Although no information is available on settlements, many of these antidepressant lawsuits claimed that Lexapro was either wholly or partly responsible for patients attempting suicide. Celexa was also involved in at birth defects litigation threat.

In May 2007, a possible birth defects class action lawsuit was brought against GlaxoSmithKline concerning the use of Paxil by pregnant women in Canada. The manufacturer was also sued in separate proceedings over Paxil promotion for off-label use in children.

Speaking with an antidepressant attorney about the details of your legal claim may help you decide if the claim is viable.

Potential Recovery

In 2001, a federal jury in Cheyenne, Wyoming ordered GlaxoSmithKline to pay $6.4 million to the relatives of Donald Schell, 60.

Schell swallowed two Paxil tablets and developed hallucinations, which caused him to shoot his wife, his daughter and granddaughter to death and then turn the gun on himself.

During their investigation, the pharmaceutical drug attorney found internal company documents which showed that that Glaxo was aware that a small number of people could become agitated or violent from Paxil.

An out-of-court Prozac negligence lawsuit was settled in November 2002 for an undisclosed amount after Diane and Melvin Cassidy of Monroeville, Pa., charged the manufacturer with negligence. Diane was prescribed the antidepressant Prozac for weight loss but instead the Prozac led to suicidal thoughts, causing her to slash her wrists and overdose on a painkiller. Intracranial bleeding from the painkiller left her paralyzed on one side and mentally impaired. Prior to their secret settlement, the couple sought $4.84 million in damages

 A $63.8 million class action settlement was awarded on Oct. 27, 2006. The pro rata class action alleged that GlaxoSmithKline promoted child and adolescent use of Paxil without fully disclosing all of the drug's safety risks. Although Glaxo agreed to pay, it did not admit to liability.

If you have suffered serious side effects, or lost a loved one as a result of Celexa or Lexapro, consult a antidepressant drug attorney who specializes in drug side effect cases immediately.

whocanisue.com is your trusted source for qualified drug side effect attorneys. Complete our short questionnaire now to be presented with local antidepressant attorneys who can help you get the compensation you deserve for your harm or loved one’s death.