Jurors began deliberations Monday in the case of a Westchester man who alleges he acquired a rare, severe skin disorder by taking the pain reliever Motrin.
The trial stage of the products liability lawsuit began about six weeks ago.
Christopher Trejo, 22, filed his lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2008 against Johnson & Johnson and McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Johnson & Johnson holds the Motrin trademark and is the parent company of McNeil, which manufactures, sells and distributes Motrin.
During closing arguments, attorney Brian Witzer scoffed at defense assertions that his client's condition could just as easily be connected to his having taken aspirin and Tylenol.
"They have no evidence of that,'' said Witzer, who argued that Motrin warning labels were inadequate.
Witzer recommended an award of about $102 million. Half would consist of punitive damages he said are warranted to punish the two companies.
Defense attorney Thomas Pulliam countered that Trejo's attorneys did not prove their client's disorder, toxic epidermal necrolysis, was caused by Motrin, an ibuprofen product.
"The evidence shows Motrin is anything but dangerous. It's an extremely safe drug,'' Pulliam told the jury on Friday.
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