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[url]http://www.cnn.com/2001/LAW/06/07/paxil.lawsuit.ap/index.html[/url]
Shooter's family awarded $8 million in drug suit
June 7, 2001 Posted: 12:58 PM EDT (1658 GMT)
CHEYENNE, Wyoming (AP) -- An $8 million jury verdict against the maker of the antidepressant Paxil vindicates a "loving and caring" man who went on a deadly rampage, his son-in-law said Thursday.
Tim Tobin, whose wife and baby daughter were among the victims, told NBC's "Today" show that he felt obligated to pursue the federal lawsuit in memory of Donald Schell. Schell, 60, also killed his 55-year-old wife, Rita, before killing himself on February 13, 1998.
"He was a real loving and caring man, and we were a real close family, and I didn't want to see it left like it had been left," Tobin said.
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He and other relatives blame the rampage on two Paxil tablets they say he took to treat depression.
On Wednesday, a federal jury agreed, finding SmithKline Beecham 80 percent liable for wrongful death and awarding Tobin $5 million for the deaths of his wife, Deborah, 31, and daughter, Alyssa, 9 months.
Michael Schell, the Schells' adult son, was awarded $1.5 million, and $500,000 each will go to Rita Schell's mother and two sisters.
The jury found the popular anti-depressant could cause someone to commit suicide or homicide and contributed to Schell's rampage.
An appeal is expected by the company, now GlaxoSmithKline PLC, which pointed to Schell's years of mental illness.
"This case was about depression, not about Paxil," company attorney Charles Preuss said. "Paxil is a very effective medication in helping depression, and our only regret is that Mr. Schell did not have Paxil for a longer period of time."
Senior Vice President David Wheadon acknowledged on "Today" that some patients have acted violently after taking Paxil but said no scientific data has shown Paxil to be the cause.