Pfizer Found To Have Violated Federal Racketeering Laws
A jury in Boston, Massachusetts found that Pfizer violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act (RICO) and ordered it to pay $47 million. The penalty is automatically tripled under RICO's treble damages provision.
The jury found that Pfizer illegally promoted its drug Neurotin for unapproved, or off-label, uses like for pain, bipolar disorder and migraine headaches. The plaintiffs argue the drug did not work for those problems and the jury agreed. Drug makers are not permitted to promote drugs for uses not approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
Six years ago, Pfizer pled guilty to criminal charges stemming from these same allegations and ended up paying $430 million to the federal and state governments. This is not Pfizer's first rodeo as this blog has reported other instances of Pfizer losing similar cases and having to pay fines and judgments here, here and here. Pfizer is a defendant in the Mirapex gambling lawsuit I am handling that have been blogged about extensively here.
As an attorney who represents individuals from all around the nation who have been injured or otherwise harmed by dangerous and defective drugs, this conduct is seemingly taking on a disturbing pattern.
