Date: 04-15-2012

Case Style: State of Arkansas v. Johnson & Johnson d/b/a Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Case Number:

Judge: Tim Fox

Court: Circuit Court, Pulaski County, Arkansas

Plaintiff's Attorney: Fletch Trammell

Defendant's Attorney: James Simpson

Description: State of Arkansas sued Johnson & Johnson d/b/a Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for false and deceptive advertising associated with the sale of Risperdal, an antipsychotic drug. Arkansas paid for 250,000 prescriptions for the drug during a 3.5 year period. Risperdal, a second generation antipyschotic, is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and irritability in autism patients. Risperdal and similar antipsychotic drugs have been linked to increased risk of strokes and death in elderly dementia patients, seizures, weight gain and diabetes.

Arkansas claimed that Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals lied to patients and doctors because they cared more about profits and people and violated the Arkansas Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act or the Arkansas consumer fraud act.

Defendants denied wrongdoing and asserted that the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Some patients given the drug gained 60 to 100 pounds and developed diabetes.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: According to the Associated Press: "Other states that have sued over Risperdal include Texas, which reached a $158 million settlement with Janssen in January but did not admit fault. Texas had sought damages of about $1 billion. In December, a South Carolina judge upheld a $327 million civil penalty against Johnson & Johnson."