Risperdal Whistleblowers Will Receive $168 Million Related to the Johnson & Johnson Department of Justice Settlement

The U.S. Justice Department reached a settlement with Johnson & Johnson, which is the maker of Risperdal. The settlement of $2.2 billion and a misdemeanor plea comes after a long investigation into the marketing of the pharmaceutical product, Risperdal. It is an anti-psychotic drug known to deliver harmful side effects, especially to young boys and young men most often prescribed the medicine.

In this case, the Department of Justice engaged several whistleblowers around the country to help the investigation and act as Johnson & Johnson informants. In fact, collectively, the whistleblowers will receive upwards of $167 million for their efforts.

The whistleblowers took great risk in assisting the Department of Justice in this investigation. Some of the whistleblowers went undercover, wore a wire, helped in prepping the department lawyers for depositions and otherwise risked their livelihood and their careers.

At the same time, civil lawsuits around the country are pending against Johnson & Johnson for patient injuries associated with the use of the drug Risperdal.

Many of the lawsuits filed in the mass tort cases claimed that Risperdal caused male patients to develop breasts. This condition is known as Gynecomastia. In some cases, men have needed mastectomies or liposuction to remove the breast tissue. The emotional effects of this condition are severe. Many of the patients who have suffered because of the Risperdal drug use are suffering emotional and mental illnesses.

Some of the lawsuits that were filed against Johnson & Johnson claim that it knew or hid from patients and physicians the fact that the drug had these terrible side effects. Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. was the direct manufacturer maker of the Risperdal drug.

Young men and boys who have been injured with the multiple side effects of the taking of Risperdal are eligible to file Risperdal lawsuits.

Historically, Risperdal was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993 for use in patients with manic episodes or mixed delusional episodes as patients with schizophrenia. In 2007, the FDA approved the use of this drug for treatment for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia for children and teenagers.

In addition to Gynecomastia, Risperdal has been associated with tardive dyskinesia, which is a muscle and movement disorder that may lead to uncontrolled movements of the limbs and face.

In addition, there have been reports that Risperdal has in rare cases caused increased heart rate, breathing problems, muscle stiffness, weakness, fatigue, seizures and loss of bladder control.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling mass tort cases, pharmaceutical defect cases and drug defect cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Chicago (Bucktown, Bronzeville, McKinley Park, Chinatown, Edgebrook, Lincoln Park, Printer’s Row, Rogers Park, Rosehill, Pill Hill), Hinsdale, Glencoe, Joliet, Evergreen Park, Evanston, Norwood Park, Palatine, River Forest, Schaumburg and St. Charles, Ill.