$25 Million Tylenol Settlement For Metal Contamination
The Sanders Firm is pleased to report that the makers of Tylenol have agreed to a $25 million settlement after pleading guilty to selling a contaminated liquid product to consumers. As representatives of Tylenol victims, our legal team will fight for compensation for those who suffered injuries or tragic loss as a result of contaminated drugs. Lawsuits can still be filed, although time is limited, so contact a Tylenol lawyer at The Sanders Firm as soon as possible for a free evaluation of your case.
Tylenol settlement follows guilty plea
After pleading guilty to selling liquid Tylenol contaminated with metal particles, Tylenol manufacturer McNeil Consumer Healthcare has agreed to pay $25 million to resolve the case. The subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson pled guilty to a single criminal charge after issuing a voluntary recall of liquid Tylenol and liquid Motrin in 2010. Manufacturing errors also resulted in a number of previous recalls between 2008 and 2010 on products like Benadryl, Rolaids and Motrin, in addition to Tylenol.
The first report of metal contamination was received by the company in 2009, when a consumer found what was described as “black specks” in the bottom of a liquid Tylenol bottle. Upon further investigation, the specks were identified as chromium and nickel particles.
Previous recalls had been issued on other products due to a musty odor reported by consumers. The reason for the odor was found to be contamination of a chemical used as a pesticide and wood preservative. Consumers complained of Tylenol side effects related to the contamination, including nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.
More than two dozen recalls
In total, Johnson & Johnson issued 26 recalls between 2008 and 2012, some under pressure of the FDA. In 2010, U.S. consumer sales for Johnson & Johnson products fell by more than 19 percent, totaling more than $900 million. The company was also forced to close one of its plants in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, the plant where the liquid formulas were manufactured.
Earlier this month, McNeil Consumer Healthcare pled guilty to the charge of manufacture and process of adulterated over-the-counter medication in a federal court in Philadelphia. In addition to the $25 million settlement, McNeil has agreed to adhere to additional safety measures before reopening its facility in Fort Washington.
Getting legal help
Brand name products like Tylenol are a staple for most family’s medicine cabinets, because they have been safely used for generations. When the medication you purchase and give to your children is tainted with potentially dangerous substances, you are unknowingly exposing your children to a risk you weren’t even aware existed. If you or your child gets sick as a result of that error, someone needs to be held liable for your pain, suffering and medical bills.
At The Sanders Firm, we understand the consequences a tainted product can bring upon your family. Illness, medical bills and other losses can take their physical, emotional and financial toll. That’s why we fight so hard for families that have been affected by these products, to get them the compensation they are entitled to.
If you were a victim of a tainted product manufactured by Johnson & Johnson or their subsidiary, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, we can help. Contact a lawyer at the Sanders Firm for a free case evaluation and to learn more about your options for filing a Tylenol lawsuit at 1.800.FAIR.PLAY. Resources
- Reuters, Tylenol Maker to Pay $25 Million for Selling Metal-Contaminated Drugs, https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/10/us-johnson-johnson-tylenol-idUSKBN0M629S20150310
- Time, Tylenol Maker Admits to Selling Liquid Medicine Contaminated with Metal, https://time.com/3740245/tylenol-mcneil-consumer-healthcare-metal/
