Hormone-replacement drug manufacturers must pay$ 27 Million punitive damages

Brent Adams

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 645

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

A federal jury awarded an Arkansas breast cancer victim $ 27.2 million punitive damages award yesterday on top of $ 2.7 million in compensatory damages after she developed breast cancer from taking the defendants' hormone replacement drugs.

The jury found that the defendants had not adequately warned Donna Scroggin that the drugs caused an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

She had taken the drugs, Premarin Prempo and Provera to ease the symptoms of menopause.

The jury verdict ordered Wyeth, the manufacturer of Premarin and Prempro to pay $ 19.4 million of the punitive damage award and Upjohn , a unit of Pfizer, the manufacturer Provera to pay thte balance of $ 7.8 million.

Wythe faces 5,300 similar suits in state and federal courts across the country.

The victim's lawyer, James Morris of Brent Coon & Associates stated that he was pleased that the jury recognized that "this was beyond just negligence".

The defendants who plan to appeal claim that there is no basis in fact or law for either the compensatory award of the punitive damages award.