Zoloft Defense Trial
South Carolina vs Pittman

TRIAL CLIPPINGS

Post Trial Press Conference
Larry King Live
Fox News Channel

Post Trial Press Conference, February 14, 2005
Court TV

Statements by Karen Barth Menzies

To follow up on what Mindy [Christopher's aunt] said, I think that this is a really serious test of whether the justice system is prepared, whether they’re equipped to fairly deal with violence that’s been caused by Zoloft or an SSRI, much less in a 12 year-old child.

I think none of us can deny throughout this entire trial that this drug had a very significant effect on this boy, who prior to taking this medication was not violent and what can we do about it? I think even the judge was concerned about what we could do about it.

Not one expert from either side disagreed that Zoloft could cause psychosis, hallucinations, mania, the type of behavior Chris suffered. And in our approach of the Solicitor [and their experts] from the very beginning, was to try to advise them as well, meet with them - - give them the information that’s been withheld from them by the drug companies - - by Pfizer.

I think this won’t be the last case we see about this.

Reporter questions Ms. Barth Menzies regarding Pfizer's statement denying Zoloft can cause violence:

I saw it on the news. . .that Pfizer still denies that Zoloft can cause violence.

Reporter question regarding Pfizer's internal documents and the defense teams attempts to get them entered as evidence:

I believe they would. There is a document about Zoloft as it relates to hallucinations that Dr. Kapit relied upon very significantly and in his testimony that was objected to and we were not permitted to put that in.

Reporter question of document re*?

K: That’s one. That’s probably the strongest. There are numerous others that we identified for the record, but were not allowed to bring into the case as evidence.

FOX News Channel, February 16, 2005

Pittman Trial
Will they appeal the ruling?

The Pittman’s attorney Karen Barth Menzies is with us as is Christopher’s sister, Danielle Pittman Finchum.

FOX: Now, thank you both very much for being here...
Danielle, to you first, what is your reaction to the verdict?

Danielle: I was in complete and utter disbelief. I can’t believe that with all the facts and all of the information that was presented, that the jury could possibly find him guilty. I know in my heart my brother’s not guilty. And I think if justice would have been served, he would have been found not guilty also.

FOX: To you Karen...Danielle mentions the facts established. I guess the jury did not feel that it had been established that Zoloft caused the killings.

Karen: Well, what I think they do recognize is that it was very prevalent in the whole trial, that Zoloft played a very significant role. I think they were grappling with the concept that a medication can cause a person to become homicidal. You know that I think, unfortunately we’re being faced with these very difficult issues about medicine and what doctors are really told about these drugs.

FOX: Karen, to follow up with you, is that the basis for your appeal or is it that he was very young when the crime was committed?

Karen: Well, it’s two-fold. It involves both of those aspects. There’s a very serious concern that South Carolina statutes that permit a child of 12 years-old to be tried as an adult, we feel is unconstitutional and we’ll be raising that to the appellate court in combination with his inability, as a 12 year-old, on the prescription medication, to be able to tell right from wrong.

FOX: Alright and one last question for you Danielle..do you feel like if your brother had never taken Zoloft, this would have never happened?

Danielle: I have no doubt this never would have happened if he hadn’t taken this. It was a mind altering drug. It altered the way he thought, he altered him as a person. . ..

CNN: Larry King Live, February 15, 2005

15-Year-Old Sentenced to 30 Years for Murdering Grandparents

LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, a jury convicts a 15-year-old for murdering his own grandparents, rejecting a defense of a popular antidepressant that made him do it. Christopher Pittman, 12-years-old when he killed his sleeping grandparents with a shotgun, is sentenced to the minimum 30 years, after tearful pleas for mercy by his family.

KING: Joining us now are Andy Vickery and Karen Menzies, the defense attorneys for Chris Pittman. Karen, by the way, specializes in lawsuits against antidepressant makers. We asked the prosecutors of this case to join us. They declined. . ..

KING: Karen, were you surprised?

KAREN MENZIES, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I'm very disappointed, Larry. I think the jury was faced with a difficult issue. The problem is, as everybody recognized throughout the trial, Zoloft changed Chris' behavior, and he did in fact suffer side effects that as of last month the FDA is finally requiring Pfizer to warn about.

KING: So why did you lose, Karen?

MENZIES: Well, I think it's difficult for people to get -- to fit an answer to the question, if he shot them, we've been misled with these medications for over 10 years now, that they're safe and helpful, when in reality, for some people, they can cause severe side effects like psychosis. We've all understood that physicians, treating physicians like Dr. Nauman, have not been informed that Zoloft can cause violent and homicidal behavior.

. . .

KING: Karen, did you object to the use of the shotgun in the courtroom by the prosecutor?

MENZIES: No, we didn't, Larry. And Danielle's exactly correct, that from the very start, we have not tried to hide from anyone, including the solicitor, any of the information that's available on the facts of this case. We think the facts, if fully considered by the jury, and I'm fearful that certain jurors certainly have not considered all of the facts in their context. But no, we've tried to be open and upfront and with all the facts that we can.

KING: Joe Pittman, were you satisfied with the defense given by Andy and Karen?

J. PITTMAN: Absolutely. They did a marvelous job. I'm very proud of them. They couldn't have done a better job, I don't think. I'm sure that they critiqued themselves, but sitting back and watching everything, and knowing what they put into this, they couldn't have done a better job in my opinion. I think they gave it their all. And I know that they are not going to give up on Chris, because they put their heart and their soul into this. And I know they care. And that's what matters is we've got to care about our youth and we've got to do something to protect them. And that's why they're there. They're angels from heaven.

KING: Danielle, what did you think of their defense?

DANIELLE PITTMAN: I thought they did an awesome job. My brother honestly could not have asked for a better team. And I am going to be eternally grateful to the efforts that they have done. I love all of them that are on there, and they've just been really understanding and they've been there for us.

. . .
KING: Karen, do you say to yourself, there's something I could have done that I didn't do?

MENZIES: Well, listening to what Mindy just said, we had an opportunity here, if Dr. Nauman, for example, had been properly warned about the side effects of this drug, and if Chris' nanna had gone to the doctor and complained about these side effects, and if he was properly educated, he would have done something about it. The last thing he would have done would be to increase the dose, which is what apparently happened.

So I guess to the extent that I could bring that out better for the jury, the fact that these drugs do -- none of the experts disagreed with that, all the experts, including the solicitor's experts, agree that Zoloft can cause mania, psychosis, hallucinations, and, you know, Larry, I think that's why the family here is willing to talk to you tonight so soon after the verdict, is they don't want to see this happen to other families, because they were not properly educated.

. . .

KING: Karen, can you say you got emotionally involved with your client?

MENZIES: Oh, getting to know Chris and the family members, the integrity that this entire family has, and Chris specifically, he feels tremendous remorse for what happened. He realizes, I think now, like one of the other witnesses on Paxil described, that he had no idea what he was doing at the time. Now he looks back on it, and you know, you have to say, if only I hadn't taken that medication.