ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis father is suing a pharmaceutical company for alleged negligence in designing and manufacturing its Reglan/metoclopramide product that severely and permanently injured its user.
Jonathan Raskas, personally and as administrator of the estate of Ralph Raskas, filed a complaint June 29 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. c/o Corporate Creations Network Inc., Actavis Elizabeth LLC and John Doe alleging the defendants failed their duty to establish reasonable quality systems for the design of Reglan/metoclopramide, including a duty to ensure the product did not pose a significant increase risk of bodily harm and adverse events.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Dec. 23, 2016, Ralph Raskas committed his third suicide attempt that eventually led to his death. Jonathan Raskas claims his son developed a movement disorder when he began using Teva-manufactured Reglan/metoclopramide, which caused serious health risks, including akathisia, Reglan-induced tremors, permanent neurological movement disorders and the idea of suicide.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they allegedly failed to effectively communicate the risks and/or prevalence of neurological side effects of metoclopramide to the Food & Drug Administration and propose stronger warning labels, and they failed to establish reasonable quality systems for the design, production and distribution of the Reglan/metoclopramide.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for actual and punitive damages, costs incurred and other legal and equitable relief that the court deems just and proper. He is represented by Francis J. Flynn Jr. of Carey, Danis & Lowe in St. Louis.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1722-CC10695