-August 1, 2007
Parents of children who were prescribed the drug Paxil to treat their depression are now able to receive a refund even if they didn’t save their receipts. The catch: claims have to be filed before August 31, 2007.
The popular antidepressant has been linked to increased thoughts of suicide in children and has been the issue of much debate in recent years.
Drug Risks Cause Lawsuits
A class action lawsuit was filed against GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil, by parents of children who had taken the medication. Parents accused the producers of marketing the drug and promoting it for children knowing of its harmful effects.
GlaxoSmithKline settled the suit last year agreeing to pay the plaintiffs $63.8 million for the money they spent on Paxil. However, the settlement made it hard for the parents and legal guardians of the children to receive the money.
Unfair Settlement?
For parents to receive a full refund, they were required to submit Paxil receipts with their claims.
Without their receipts, they could only recover $15 for each prescription they received and there was also a $300, 000 limit on how many of the plaintiffs received the refunds.
Since the settlement was unfair, Public Citizen attorneys and the Prescription Access Litigation Project took action and objected the settlement.
New Terms
Under the new agreement, parents who no longer have receipts can still file a claim to recover up to $100. However, the claim must be received by August 31. “Parents who gave their children Paxil should file claims as soon as possible and receive the refund to which they are entitled,” says Public Citizen attorney, Jennifer Soble.
(Source: Public Citizen)
Have you or someone you know been harmed by Paxil? If so, please contact us to speak with an experienced attorney who will protect your legal rights.
