South Dakota Couple Alleges Pfizer Had a Responsibility to Warn of Zoloft Side Effects

The parents of a three-year-old boy are suing Zoloft manufacturers and distributors for their son’s Zoloft birth defects. South Dakota residents Andrea and Jeffry D. Heronimus filed their lawsuit with the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas on behalf of their son, Conor, on May 15, 2012. In their complaint, the Heronimus’ allege that defendants Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Wyeth LLC, Pfizer, Inc., Greenstone et al., and Wolters Kluwar, et al. are responsible for their son’s Zoloft heart problems.

Woman says she was unaware of drug risks in Zoloft lawsuit

The complaint states that Andrea Heronimus was treated with the SSRI antidepressant Zoloft, as well as the drug Effexor, while pregnant with her son. Conor was subsequently born on May 17, 2009 with congenital heart defects and other related conditions. While being treated with the drug, Andrea claims she was unaware of the risks for birth defects and other pregnancy complications that have been found with Zoloft. She further claims that these issues should have been prominently displayed on the product’s warning label or informational insert. However, any such warning was absent, leading her and her doctor’s to believe the drug was safe for use by pregnant women.

Research ties drug with Zoloft birth defects

Medical research and clinical studies have implicated Zoloft in a number of congenital birth defects, including Zoloft persistent pulmonary hypertension, clubfoot, craniosynostosis and other complications. The drug first received FDA approval in 1991. According to the Heronimus’ complaint, this approval was granted under the condition that the drug makers continuously ensure the drug’s warning labels are accurate and regularly updated to incorporate possible side effects. The lawsuit also claims that the defendants have a duty to report all data regarding adverse complications related to their drug. As a result of the defendants omission of data relating to birth defects, they “negligently, intentionally and fraudulently” misled consumers.

The Heronimus’ complaint has been consolidated with the ongoing Zoloft multidistrict litigation occurring in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. They are suing for damages in excess of $50,000.

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