Johnson & Johnson Receives Several Subpoenas Over Recurring Recalls
After its plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was shut down in April, and after eight drug recalls since last September involving tens of millions of Tylenol pain reliever and other highly used nonprescription medicines both for adults and children, Johnson & Johnson has now been given several subpoenas from federal prosecutors.
The New York Times reports that the court orders are asking for documents relevant to all of the recent recalls of Johnson & Johnson products made by McNeil Consumer Healthcare in addition to material from inspections of two of the manufacturer’s factories, one in Lancaster, PA, and another in Fort Washington, PA.
When examining the Lancaster plant, Food and Drug Administration investigators found several serious problems, some of which related to a pattern of failing to follow rules for manufacturing and quality, carelessness in cleaning and maintaining equipment, failing to investigate problems that could negatively impact the composition of products, and inaccurate record-keeping. The liquid children medication and other nonprescription medicine recalls as well as the plant closure are expected to cost Johnson & Johnson $600 million this year.
The subpoena also alluded to the many lawsuits seeking class-action status against Johnson & Johnson related to the contaminated recalled products. Consumers who have endured health complications or injury from using a defective or contaminated pharmaceutical product, whether over-the-counter or prescription, have valid legal rights and may be able to hold negligent drug manufacturers liable for their negligence.
Michael Monheit is the managing lawyer at Monheit Law, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has practiced law since 1989. Michael Monheit was the managing attorney of the law offices of Herbert Monheit — now Silverman and Fodera — a firm... Michael Monheit→