Teen Wins $63M in Case Against Motrin


Samantha Reckis was seven years old and showing signs of a fever the day after Thanksgiving in 2003. Her parents gave her Children’s Motrin to help fight it off. But as days passed, Samantha’s fever only worsened and her parents watched as she got sicker and sicker.

Samantha suffered a rare reaction to the children’s ibuprofen called toxic epidermal necrolysis. The condition is fatal to about 40% of those who contract it. It causes the top layer of skin to separate from the lower layers of the skin and is induced via allergic reaction to medicines like sulphonamides, penicillins, and barbituates.

Samantha lost 90% of her skin, became legally blind, and suffered brain damage resulting in short-term memory loss. She had 19 different surgeries and had to be put in a medically induced coma to keep her alive after her reaction. Her respiratory system was seared, leaving her with just 20% lung capacity.

Her parents felt that the warning labels on Motrin’s bottle were not sufficient, only offering small technical warnings and not warning consumers of potentially serious side effects like toxic epidermal necrolysis. They sued the company, and so far have been awarded a total of $63 million in the case--$50 million to Samantha and $6.5 million to each of her parents. It’s possible that amount will be increased to $109 million after the trial judge reviews the awards.

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., is currently considering an appeal for the verdict. “The Reckis family has suffered a tragedy, and we sympathize deeply with them,” they said in a statement. “[But] Children's Motrin, when used as directed, is a safe and effective treatment option for minor aches and pains and fever and we believe the medicine is labeled appropriately.”

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