Last week, a jury in Philadephia found that Wyeth and Upjohn, drug manufacturing companies, acted with conscious disregard for the safety of women who took the drugs, Prempro. and Provera.  The jury found that these companies deliberately mislead doctors and patients regarding the dangers of hormone replacement therrapy and the link between the drugs and the development of breast cancer.  The Plaintiff in this case had taken the drugs for 11 years and subsequently developed breast cancer.  The punitive damage award is in addition to the $6.3 million dollars it awarded to her for compensatory damages.

 

Thus far, Wyeth and Upjohn have been hit with over $165 million dollars in damages since 2006, when similar cases began to go to trial.  Punitve damages can be awarded when it is proven that a company or inidividual acted with deliberated indifference and disregard to others and many times, punitive damages are awarded as "punishment" for the bad behavior of the defendant.

 

If you have been injured by a medical mistake, misdiagnois or medication error, contact the attorneys at Belsky, Weinberg & Horowitz at 410-234-0100.  We offer a free consultation and no fees to you unless we win.