An Army cardiologist was convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to pay fines and restitution after accepting inappropriate free meals and illegal payments from sales representatives from Guidant Sales, a medical implant device company. Representatives of Guidant told Federal Prosecutors that they used lavish meals in order to gain doctors' business - a practice that has become increasingly prevalent in the pharmaceutical and medical device sales markets in recent years. 

 

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Posted in Pharmaceutical Liability, White Collar Crime | Contact Us

The United States Department of Justice has officially adopted guidelines which make Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) an official alternative to a "guilty" or "not guilty" plea in select white collar criminal cases. DPAs allow companies that are under investigation to enter into agreements where the Justice department delays or cancels prosecution in return for an agreement by the companies to change any wrong behavior. The highly trained attorneys and staff at Simmons Law Firm have successfully negotiated DPAs in a number of cases over the last several years and stand ready to vigorously pursue alternatives such as DPAs for individuals and companies charged with white collar crimes.

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Posted in White Collar Crime | Contact Us

On June 3, 2011, South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Roger Couch issued a 17-page order requiring Janssen to pay the State of South Carolina over $327 million in civil penalties resulting from Janssen's willfully unfair and deceptive trade practices in connection with the Risperdal label and a Dear Doctor letter submitted by the company in 2003.

A filed copy of Judge Couch's order can be found below:

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Posted in Pharmaceutical Liability | Contact Us

A South Carolina trial court judge has awarded the State of South Carolina over $327 million in penalties against Janssen related to the marketing of Risperdal, an antipsychotic medication.

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Posted in Pharmaceutical Liability | Contact Us

The United States Health and Human Services Inspector General released a report in response to a Congressional inquiry regarding the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing homes.  This report revealed some interesting conclusions:

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Posted in Pharmaceutical Liability, Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect | Contact Us

We all are familiar with the frequent television advertisements touting to consumers various prescription drugs.  The Food and Drug Administration has finally recognized the importance of the Internet as a source of frequent direct to consumer advertising of these prescription medications.

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Posted in Pharmaceutical Liability | Contact Us

Rules Now Expected May – July

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Posted in Qui Tam Whistleblower | Contact Us

South Carolina Judge to Rule on Amount Due State

April 2011 --  Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceutica faces billions in penalties following a verdict that the company engaged in “unfair and deceptive acts” in marketing its antipsychotic drug, Risperdal.

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Posted in Products Liability, Pharmaceutical Liability | Contact Us

October 2009 -- In the largest settlement any state has received from the drug maker, South Carolina will receive $45 million from Eli Lilly to resolve a lawsuit over the company’s marketing of the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa for off-label uses.

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Posted in Products Liability | Contact Us

Experts Say Company Has Ruined Brand with Faulty Products, Marketing

April 2011 -- South Carolina consumers aren’t the only ones who have a beef with corporate giant Johnson & Johnson, after a local jury found the company’s Janssen Pharmaceutica misled state doctors in the marketing of its controversial antipsychotic drug Risperdal.

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Posted in Pharmaceutical Liability | Contact Us