A Massachusetts family has been awarded approximately 63 million in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson according to the Associated Press.
Close to a decade ago, Samantha Reckis had a life-threatening reaction to Motrin and lost 90 percent of her skin due to a rare side effect known as toxic epidermal necrolysis according to the report. Reckis, who was only 7 at the time, also suffered bran damage that caused short-term memory loss and was blinded.
The incident happened the day after Thanksgiving in 2003 when her parents gave her the drug to reduce a fever according to the Associated Press. Reckis, who is now 16, had taken Motrin before and had no problems.
Physicians were stunned with the reaction, which forced Reckis to go in a coma as the disease affected her mouth, eyes, intestinal tract, throat, reproductive and respiratory systems.
The Reckis family filed the lawsuit against the company and its subsidiary, McNeil-PPC, in January 2007, stating that their daughter had been blinded by the ibuprofen brand according to the Associated Press. Her family also stated that Johnson & Johnson didn't warn consumers that the drug could potentially cause life-threatening reactions.
"The Reckis family has suffered a tragedy, and we sympathize deeply with them," said a McNeil spokesperson in a press statement. "A number of medicines, including ibuprofen, have been associated with allergic reactions and as noted on the label, consumers should stop using medications and immediately contact a healthcare professional if they have an allergic reaction."
The trial lasted five weeks before a Plymouth Superior County jury awarded Reckis approximately $50 million in compensatory damages. Each of her parents received $6.5 million each. The verdict is upheld by a trial judge, but if the verdict is upheld, the amount, with interest, could reach $109 million according to The Boston Globe.
Johnson & Johnson recalled approximately 12 million bottles of Motrin in 2011 after determining "some caplets may not dissolve as quickly as intended when nearing their expiration date." Later that year, a Pennsylvania girl was awarded $10 million after she had an adverse reaction to Children's Motrin which caused her to lose 84 percent her skin, go blind, and suffer brain damage as well according to the Associated Press.
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