Risperdal Lawyers to Meet with Philly Judge in Gynecomastia Lawsuits

As a growing number of Risperdal lawsuits continue to be filed on behalf of boys and young men diagnosed with gynecomastia breast growth, the Pennsylvania judge presiding over several hundred cases pending in that state is scheduled to meet with lawyers involved in the litigation next month.

Risperdal (risperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic manufactured and sold by Johnson & Johnson, which has been associated with the growth of breasts among boys receiving the medication.

Known as gynecomastia, the side effect of Risperdal has left some former users requiring surgical removal of breasts and left many young men with devastating psychological injuries.

There are currently about 430 product liability lawsuits pending against Johnson & Johnson in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas that involve claims that inadequate warnings were provided about the link between Risperdal and gynecomastia breast growth.

According to a notice posted on the calendar for the Pennsylvania state court’s Complex Litigation Center, a conference will be held on Tuesday May 13, at 10:30 a.m.

Status of Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuits

Gynecomastia is a medical condition associated with the abnormal development of breasts among males. The condition is typically associated with disease or metabolic disorders, but it is also known to occur as a side effect of certain medications.

All of the Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits filed in Pennsylvania and in other courts throughout the country involve similar allegations that Johnson & Johnson withheld information from consumers and the medical community about the risk of unnatural breast development among boys and young adults.

Since other side effects of Risperdal are known cause weight gain, many doctors have failed to adequately diagnose gynecomastia promptly after the symptoms arise. Risperdal lawyers representing boys and young men involved in the litigation allege that accurate information about the risk had been provided, plaintiffs could have avoided the serious physical and psychological injury caused by the breast growth.

In September 2012, it was reported that Johnson & Johnson reached a Risperdal settlement in a case brought by a 21 year old man, who alleged that side effects of the medication caused him to suffer severe psychological trauma and undergo surgery to have the breasts removed. That agreement was reached shortly before trial was to begin in the case.

Shortly after that, agreements were reached to settle Risperdal lawsuits brought on behalf of at least five other boys who alleged that they experienced unnatural male breast growth.

Most of the litigation pending throughout the United States is pending in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, but a number of cases are also consolidated in the New Jersey court system as part of an MCL, or multi-county litigation, which is centralized before Judge Jessica R. Mayer in Middlesex County.