-Caveat Lector- http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/columbine/article/0,1299,DRMN_106_1489184,00.html
Rocky Mountain News To print this page, select File then Print from your browser URL: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/columbine/article/0,1299,DRMN_106_ 1489184,00.html Columbine victim pursues lawsuit against drug firm Mark Taylor claims drug Luvox partly at fault for rampage By Jeff Kass, Rocky Mountain News October 19, 2002 Mark Taylor is a 19-year-old Columbine High School shooting victim who travels the country giving motivational speeches. Lisa Van Syckel, 41, calls herself a "proud, stay-at- home mom" who lives in New Jersey. Taylor has visited Van Syckel only once, yet the two are engaged in a common cause: to unlock the remaining secrets of the nation's deadliest school shooting and take on a $12 billion segment of the prescription drug market. Van Syckel is helping finance a civil lawsuit filed by Taylor against the manufacturer of the drug Luvox, which is designed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. Put simply, Taylor claims the drug contributed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris' deadly rampage April 20, 1999. Van Syckel, who says her daughter, now 17, had a violent reaction to a drug similar to Luvox, is part of a nationwide network that uses the Internet to share information and campaign against drugs they consider dangerous. Van Syckel says she has contributed $31,000 to help fund Taylor's lawsuit and pledges to do whatever it takes to get it to trial. "I believe Mark Taylor is a victim. I believe Eric Harris is a victim, and the families have a right to find out the truth at trial, and I believe this lawsuit will allow all of the secrets of Columbine to come out," she said. Taylor's lawsuit targets Georgia-based Solvay Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures Luvox. Introduced in 1994, Luvox belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Such drugs increase serotonin, a naturally occurring brain chemical. Low levels of serotonin are thought to contribute to various disorders. While Luvox is indicated for obsessive-compulsive disorder, SSRIs such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft target depression. The vast majority of the medical establishment stands behind the drugs. "The message I would want to give you is how extremely beneficial (the drugs) have been," said Denver psychiatrist Tony Robucci, chairman of the public information and education committee of the Colorado Psychiatric Society. "I have cards saying thank you for giving me back my life." But critics cite the drugs in connection with various, high-profile crimes: Oregon school shooter Kip Kinkel was at one point on Prozac, Connecticut lottery shooter Matthew Beck took Luvox and 60-year-old Donald Schell used Paxil. The Wyoming man killed his wife, daughter, granddaughter and himself. While critics blame the drug for such violence, others blame the underlying disorders they are meant to address. "It's neither. It's both," said Houston-based Andy Vickery, an attorney who has led the fight against such psychiatric drugs. Vickery said only 3 percent to 5 percent of those who take psychiatric drugs such as Luvox have adverse side effects. In turn, an even smaller percentage turn violent. But in his view, the drugs are "the trigger" for the outbursts. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration entered the courtroom battle in a case involving Zoloft. Flora Motus sued drug manufacturer Pfizer because her husband, who suffered from depression, committed suicide after being on Zoloft for about a week. But government attorneys filed a friend of the court brief saying it would violate federal law for the Zoloft warning label to say the drug causes suicide. The attorneys argued that research does not prove that claim and that false statements could deter people from using a helpful drug. Taylor's lawsuit continues the national debate. Taylor, 16 on the day of the Columbine shooting, was near the school parking lot when he was overrun by Harris and fellow gunman Dylan Klebold. "Mark Allen Taylor was shot by Eric Harris first by shotgun and then by rifle in excess of seven rounds in his leg, arm, chest and abdomen," according to the lawsuit. Harris killed himself alongside Klebold after fatally shooting 13 and wounding more than 20. In early 1998, according to filings in Taylor's suit, Harris was on the SSRI antidepressant Zoloft for two months, but became "a bit obsessional." Harris was switched to Luvox. The drug was in his system at the time of the shooting, according to his autopsy. Taylor's October 2001 lawsuit says Luvox caused Harris to become manic, psychotic, suicidal and brought about "emotional blunting," or a lack of inhibition. The lawsuit adds that Solvay failed to warn of "risks and dangers" associated with the drug. The Luvox warning label does note that studies involving primarily depressed patients show mania occurred in about 1 percent of those on the drug. The label also notes that those with depression are inherently at risk for suicide. Solvay says in court filings it provided "reasonable warnings." The company adds that the drug is safe, effective and approved by the FDA. "Luvox was designed, manufactured and distributed in accordance with all applicable standards, customs, and the state of the art prevailing at the time," the company said in court papers. Four other Columbine victims' families had joined Taylor in the lawsuit but have since dropped out. Those contacted said it was for financial reasons. Taylor persisted. Taylor has been crisscrossing the country lecturing to Christian-based groups and others on self- improvement and his lawsuit. He said an appearance might bring him $500 or so in donations and proceeds from tape sales of talks given by himself and Ann Tracy, a Salt Lake City biopsychologist and critic of the type of psychiatric drug taken by Harris. "I don't get paid much, but we touch a lot of people," he said. Van Syckel and Taylor connected through Tracy. "This is the case I really wanted to see go to court," she said. Her Web site, www.drugawareness.org, solicits donations for Taylor's suit. It asks that money be sent to Taylor's Lincoln, Neb.-based attorney, John DeCamp. Van Syckel's donations, $20,000 worth, are touted on the site. That includes $10,000 for Taylor's attorney and $10,000 for an expert opinion on SSRI drugs. Van Syckel said she recently sent an additional $11,000 for another expert report. Boulder product liability attorney Bob Schuetze said suits like Taylor's face serious obstacles. "Most people would recognize that they are very difficult cases because you have to prove, No. 1, the product was defective, and the product was a cause of the injury," he said. Copyright 2002, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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