Pennsylvania Verdicts and Settlements Rising
According to an article published in The Legal Intelligencer on December 19, 2014, which was based on data compiled by PaLaw Magazine, verdicts and settlements in Pennsylvania are trending higher. The average figure of the largest verdicts in 2014 was higher than in 2013. According to the article, medical malpractice cases dominated the list of top verdicts and settlements in Pennsylvania for 2014, a trend that has been consistent since 1994. The Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and the federal U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which sits in Philadelphia, led the way as the courts with the most cases that made the top verdicts and settlements list.
According to the article, the top three settlements involved qui tam actions. Qui tam actions are essentially federal whistle blower claims, in which private citizens bring claims against a corporation or contractor that defrauded the government. The individual brings the claim on behalf of the government. The top three cases were United States v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which involved the prescription drugs Risperdal, Invega and Natrecor; United States v. Endo Pharmaceuticals, which involved the prescription drug Lidoderm; and Brown v. Amedisys, which involved false billings to Medicare.
At Stark & Stark we have extensive experience in working with all types of cases such as those listed above right in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. If you or a loved on has been injured, contact Stark & Stark today for a free consultation.