Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Accutane Trial Verdict: $2.6 Million for Plaintiff

One of the first trials regarding the drug Accutane resulted in a Plaintiff's verdict in a New Jersey State Court.

The Plaintiff was Andrew McCarrell a software company employee. He was awarded $119,000 for past medical expenses and $2.5 million in compensatory damages to cover future medical costs, pain and suffering.

McCarrell took Accutane from June 1995 to October 1995 and suffered from achy knees and chapped lips while he was taking it. He later developed abdominal pain and was told her had inflammatory bowel disorder. He would later have his rectum and most of his colon removed.
After years using a colostomy bag, McCarrell had another surgery to connect the remains of the colon with the anus, resulting in permanent diarrhea because there is no colon to draw out excess water.

Three more trials are scheduled this year in Florida and Illinois.