California Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Case Moves Forward

August 18, 2011, 5:00AM. By Charles Benson

Los Angeles, CAA Stevens-Johnson Syndrome lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of Motrin is reportedly moving ahead, as jury selection has commenced, according to City News Service.

The news source reports that 22-year-old Christopher Trejo claims he contracted the severe skin disease after taking the pain reliever, and the man initially filed the claim against Johnson & Johnson, McNeil Consumer Healthcare and the McKesson Corp. in September 2008.

Court papers indicate that Johnson & Johnson is the parent company of Motrin manufacturer and distributor McNeil, with McKesson reportedly having distributed the drug in California.

Trejo, who lives in the Santa Monica, California area, is reportedly seeking compensatory and punitive damages over accusations that the defendant companies placed an "emphasis on corporate profits at the expense of the health and safety of consumers" when they allegedly failed to indicate the serious risks of Motrin on its label.

The case, which has been transferred for trial to Los Angeles Superior Court, is expected to last between 25 and 40 days, according to attorneys for the plaintiffs. In the lawsuit, Trejo claims that when he was 16 years old, he took Motrin purchased in the US after suffering from a fever visiting Honduras in October 2005.

"Christopher carefully read the label on the drug's bottle for any warnings and adverse side effects," the court papers said, according to the news source. "Relying on the drug's label, Christopher continued taking the medication as instructed."

However, after taking the medication for four days, Trejo claims he began experiencing a reddening of his eyes and discovered bloody bumps inside his mouth. While hospitalized due to these symptoms in Honduras, Trejo was reportedly diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a life-threatening disease, the news source reports.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare disorder in which the patient's skin and mucous membranes severely react to an infection or medication. The progression of the disease typically includes flu-like symptoms, painful rashes, blisters and skin death, the Clinic says.

With treatment focusing on limiting the complications, recovery from the disease can often take weeks to months, depending on the severity, according to the Mayo Clinic. When determined to be caused by a medication, patients are urged to avoid taking such drugs in the future.

According to court papers, Trejo claims he still suffers both physically and psychologically as a result of the disease, and believes he will continue to suffer for the remainder of his life, the news source reported.