2/13/15 UPDATE
The Miller Firm is happy to report the Philadelphia Jury today further awarded punitive damages for Mr. Kristufek for 1.3 million. The jury found Takeda’s conduct amounted to reckless indifference for the health of Actos users such as Mr. Kristufek. We view this as the icing on the cake of yesterday’s great news and the Miller Firm’s 5th positive jury verdict in 6 cases to date. Read the Bloomberg News Report HERE.
2/12/15
Jurors in Philadelphia awarded John Kristufek $2,318,000.00 in damages. The jury awarded $2,000,000 in non-economic damages and $318,000 in compensatory damages. Further, the jury found there was substantial evidence to support punitive damages. There will be an additional hearing related to information concerning punitive damages such as Takeda’s net worth (facts previously excluded from presentation to the jury). Upon this hearing, the jury will then decide the amount of punitive damages to be awarded.
We are obviously very excited for Mr. Kristufek and all our Actos clients. We hope this verdict will send a message to Takeda. We will report with more information and follow up on the punitive issues. Please read Bloomberg’s summary of the trial and other state court verdicts here.
We just wanted to highlight a quote from a product liability professor in the Bloomberg article we view as sage advice, “Given the number of trial losses Takeda has suffered over Actos, the company should seriously consider negotiating some sort of global settlement,” said Carl Tobias, who teaches product-liability law at the University of Richmond in Virginia. “They still face thousands of lawsuits over this drug.”
Until Takeda takes responsibility for the many victims of Actos, we will continue to pursue trials. We have upcoming trial settings in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Also, please stay tuned for the punitive damages award related to Kristufek that the jury will likely determine next week.