An Alabama man who filed a product liability lawsuit against Roche Holding AG, who manufacturers the acne medication drug Accutane, was awarded over $25 million after he developed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and had to undergo five surgeries – one to remove his colon. Thousands of Accutane lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer for failing to warn consumers about the serious side effects of the drug.
15 years of needless suffering
That's what Andrew McCarrell, now 38 years old, has endured. According to new reports, McCarrell started using Roche's Accutane in 1995 to treat an acne problem. However, he later developed IBD and had to undergo five, separate surgeries – one to completely remove his colon. He hired an Accutane injury attorney and filed a personal injury lawsuit against Roche alleging that the company failed to warn consumers about the risks of using the drug.
He was initially awarded $2.62 million in May of 2007, but an appeal's court overturned that verdict and ordered a new trial. This time, McCarrell was awarded $25.16 million – $25 million in compensatory damages and another $159,000 for past medical expenses. Unfortunately, McCarrell is not the only one to suffer injuries from Accutane use.
Thousands of lawsuits filed against Roche
Although Accutane is no longer on the market because of the legal battles plaguing Roche, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the drug giant for failure to warn consumers about Accutane's side effects, which include severe inflammatory bowel disease, birth defects, suicide, depression, psychiatric disorders, lupus and the potential for violence in patients taking it. It is estimated that over 13 million people used the drug since it was introduced in 1982 – some of whom have already been compensated for their injuries.
Accutane Lawsuit Verdicts Nearing $85M
Juries hearing Accutane lawsuits have consistently ruled in favor of plaintiffs who have been injured by the drug. Plaintiffs before McCarrell have been awarded approximately $56 million; add McCarrell's $25 million verdict and the total comes to $81 million. Although one plaintiff's verdict of $7 million was later overturned by a Florida appeals court, juries have ruled in favor of Accutane plaintiffs in every single product liability lawsuit or personal injury lawsuit which has gone to trial.
If you've been injured by Roche's Accutane, find out how to hire an experienced attorney familiar with Accutane litigation. He or she will be able to discuss your situation, evaluate your options and provide information about what types of compensation for which you might be entitled.