Mirapex Settlements and Verdicts

Mirapex was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997 to treat Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome (RLS). The drug has since been associated with compulsive behavior, including gambling addiction, compulsive shopping, sexual addictions, and eating disorders.

Multidistrict Litigation

As a result of these impulse control problems that resulted in bankruptcies, broken marriages, depression, and suicide, many victims have filed lawsuits against the makers of Mirapex, Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim, in an attempt to hold these companies accountable for marketing a dangerous drug. To date, there are more than 300 Mirapex lawsuits scheduled to go to trial in the Mirapex multidistrict litigation in the US District Court in Minneapolis.

Jury Awards $8.2 Million in First Mirapex Trial

The first verdict was reached in the summer 2008 where the jury awarded the plaintiff $8.2 million. This first case was considered a bellwether case amongst lawyers. The first cases to go to trial in specific areas, such as defective drug litigation, are known as bellwether cases. Bellwether cases are a good indicator of how a jury will respond to issues that will also be presented in future cases.

The 2008 lawsuit is similar to pending Mirapex claims. The plaintiff began taking Mirapex in December 1997, and went on to suffer a gambling addiction from March 2002 to February 2006, during which time he gambled away $260,000. The plaintiff accused the drug makers of knowing about the drug's potential to cause compulsive behavior, but did not issuing any warnings, or taking any steps to investigate the true scope of the problem. The federal jury agreed with the plaintiff, and awarded him all of his gambling losses, along with $7.8 million in punitive damages. This case is encouraging for other victims since future lawsuits may be decided in favor of the plaintiff.

In most Mirapex lawsuit cases, the victims that suffered side effects had no prior history of obsessive or compulsive behaviors.

Consult a Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been harmed by Mirapex, you should contact a Mirapex attorney to find out whether you are eligible for compensation for your injuries.