Last month, we wrote about the Accutane trial of actor James Marshall, in which Marshall alleged that his use of the prescription acne medication caused him to contract inflammatory bowel disease and ultimately ended his career. Marshall's case was merged with the cases of two women who were also suffering from bowel problems such ulcerative colitis due to their use of Accutane. Last week, a jury delivered its verdict, awarding $2 million to one of the three plaintiffs in the case.

More than 3,000 people in Texas and around the country have filed Accutane lawsuits against Roche, the drug's manufacturer. Research has linked Accutane and isotretinoin, the generic version of the drug, to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease and resulting medical ailment such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. There is little that can be done to treat and cure the diseases that result from Accutane use. Approximately 15 million Americans have taken Accutane.

In 2009, Roche pulled the drug from the market amidst widespread claims of bowel problems related to use of the drug. Roche has already paid out millions of dollars to plaintiffs in settlements and court awards, with several lawsuits pending.

In the most recent case, the three co-plaintiffs were Marshall, who was forced to have his colon removed because of inflammatory bowel disease, and two women who suffered similar bowel problems. The first plaintiff had filed suit complaining of severe gastrointestinal damage that left her unable to control her bowels during the night. In addition, she developed ulcerative colitis and symptoms indicative of lupus due to her use of Accutane. The jury found that Roche's failure to warn the plaintiff of Accutane's potential risk of bowel problems was responsible for her ongoing illness, and awarded her $2 million.

The jury found that Accutane was not a substantial factor in Marshall's development of inflammatory bowel disease because of an alleged pre-existing medical condition. And although the jury found that Accutane was responsible for the third plaintiff's bowel disease, it ruled that Roche's failure to warn her of the risks of the disease did not make the manufacturer liable for the harm she suffered.

Source: Aboutlawsuits.com, "Accutane Ulcerative Colitis Lawsuit Results in $2M Award", 11 April 2011