Share
On Friday, June 29th 2012, counsel for the plaintiffs in yet another Hoffman La-Roche Accutane Trial, led by Seeger Weiss partner David Buchanan and Troy Rafferty of Levin Papatonio, PA were able to secure an $18 million verdict.
The plaintiffs in the drug injury lawsuit were Katie Rossitto and Riley Wilkinson, two former Accutane users who took the prescription acne medication in the 1990s and developed ulcerative colitis as a result. Ulcerative colitis, a debilitating, permanent gastrointestinal disease, is among the reported side effects of Accutane use. The New Jersey jury ultimately sided with Mr. Buchanan and the plaintiffs, finding that Hoffman La-Roche, the defendants and makers of Accutane, withheld its knowledge and conclusions about the risk of ulcerative colitis from doctors and patients. In response to the verdict, Mr. Buchanan, of Seeger Weiss LLP, stated: “We’re extremely pleased for Katie and Riley. They’ve suffered greatly at the hands of Roche’s drug, and the jury’s verdict provides a measure of justice for each of them.”
Notwithstanding claims relating to this product, the drug/medical device remains approved by the U.S. FDA.