Jury Awards Plaintiff in Topamax Case with $4 Million

By November 14, 2013April 4th, 2022Pharmaceutical litigation, Topamax, Uncategorized

topamax_birth_defects_topamax_during_pregnancy_topamax_lawsuit_settlements_cleft_lip_clefte_palateIn the latest Topamax lawsuit news, a jury in Philadelphia recently decided to award the plaintiff in a Topamax birth defects lawsuit with $4.02 million in damages. The case involves the plaintiff, April Czimmer, who claims that her son was born with an oral defect after she used Topamax, an anti-epileptic drug, during pregnancy. Czimmer’s case is the first lawsuit pertaining to the link between Topamax and congenital birth defects to go to trial.

Czimmer claims that the pharmaceutical company behind Topamax, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, failed to warn health care providers and patients about the high risk of children developing birth defects when exposed to the drug in the womb. The amount of the damages award clearly demonstrates that the jury finds Janssen Pharmaceuticals neglectful of patient health and safety.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals filed a request to block punitive damages in the case, which was granted by the court. Thus, the damages award reflects what the jury believes Czimmer and her son are due for their pain, suffering, and medical expenses, both past and future.

The case is Czimmer v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., which was being heard in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

There are another 134 cases pending in the Philadelphia court, according to Bloomberg. Carey Danis & Lowe Topamax attorneys are curious to see how the Czimmer case will impact future Topamax cases.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a safety announcement in March 2011 about the increased risk of children developing oral defects, such as a cleft lip or a cleft palate, when exposed to Topamax in the womb. It was at the time of this safety announcement that the FDA re-categorized Topamax as a Pregnancy D drug, meaning that there is human evidence showing a strong link between Topamax and oral defects.

How can Carey Danis & Lowe can help you and your child?

The Topamax attorneys at Carey Danis & Lowe work with victims of defective drugs and medical devices. We understand the harm these products can cause, which is why we are currently investigating Topamax cases. Carey Danis & Lowe is here to help you and your family, and welcomes you to contact our St. Louis based law firm for a free case evaluation.

Furthermore, if you would like to learn more about Topamax birth defects, speak with one of Carey Danis & Lowe’s on-staff medical experts, who can answer all of your questions on the matter.

Share your Topamax birth defects story with us today by calling 800.721.2519, or by completing one of our confidential personal injury claim forms.

Carey Danis & Lowe previously reported on the Czimmer case in October. Learn more about the Czimmer Topamax birth defects lawsuit on our personal injury litigation blog.