Miss. High Court Reverses $1.95 Million Risperdal Verdict, Orders New Trial

JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Supreme Court has reversed a $1.95 million Risperdal verdict on the plaintiff’s failure-to-warn claim, finding the prescribing doctor was adequately warned that the anti-psychotic drug could cause tardive dyskinesia.

In an Oct. 19 opinion, the high court also ordered a new trial on the plaintiff’s negligent misrepresentation claim, finding the jury instructions omitted essential elements of the claim and improperly briefed the jurors on negligent marketing and advertising, which are not cognizable claims under Mississippi law.

Louise Taylor began suffering psychotic episodes when she was 71 and her psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Rhoden, prescribed her Risperdal …