J&J found not liable in Motrin lawsuit

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson on Thursday won a lawsuit brought by the family of an 11-year-old girl who became blind after using the drug Children's Motrin in 2003.

The painkiller is made by Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) McNeil consumer healthcare unit.

The jury voted 9-3 against liability, after a six week trial. Jurors decided that J&J had put a drug on the market known to cause sickness and illness, without warning customers, but also found that it had not been proved that Children's Motrin caused the girl, Sabrina Johnson, to go blind.

Her family had sought almost a $1 billion in damages.

"There will be no award," Browne Green, an attorney for the plaintiffs told reporters.

He said in a statement that the case would be appealed.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court had alleged that the company failed to label the over-the-counter pain reliever with a warning that it could lead to a rare, but potentially fatal allergic reaction with severe rash of the skin and mucous membranes.

J&J had argued that the condition, known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, could not be directly attributed to Motrin.

Ibuprofen, a widely used pain reliever, is the active ingredient in Motrin, Advil and a variety of other medicines.  Continued...