Over 22 Million Dollars Awarded to the State of West Virginia
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - Richardson Patrick Westbrook & Brickman, LLC (RPWB) announced today that a $22.5 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit brought by the state of West Virginia against Eli Lilly & Company, the manufacturer of the drug Zyprexa. The suit alleged that Lilly marketed the drug which is FDA approved for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for unapproved or off-label uses. West Virginia wanted reimbursement for Medicaid money spent on the drug.
RPWB attorney Blair Hahn represented West Virginia in the lawsuit. Hahn says, "The settlement is a good result for the state. It is many multiples more than the state would have received in the consolidated settlement." Hahn added that a state of West Virginia's size would have received about $1.5 million in the earlier settlement. Blair Hahn was a member of the attorney team who spearheaded the effort to reach the $700 million agreement over the diabetes-causing anti-depressant.
The West Virginia Zyprexa agreement says that Lilly will pay $15.75 million to West Virginia. Of the state's share, $14.75 million will fund behavioral mental health services and $1 million will be used for the state's consumer protection programs.
Lilly is facing lawsuits in several other states with the same allegations as the West Virginia suit. RPWB's Blair Hahn is continuing to represent the states of Utah and Idaho in pending litigation against Ely Lilly & Company.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 8/25/09
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mason Scott
mscott@rpwb.com
