Award in Case of Skin Patch Overdose

The family of Janice DiCosolo, a Cicero woman who died from an overdose of fentanyl as a result of using a painkilling Duragesic skin patch, has been awarded $16.5 million. The Cook County jury ruled that Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. and ALZA Corp, both subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson, knew about the defect in the patch. A spokesman for the two companies offered his condolences to DiCosolo's family but said the companies are planning an appeal. DiCosolo died in February 2004.