Calif. Federal Abilify Action Stayed Pending JPML’s Decision on Joint Transfer Motion

SAN FRANCISCO — A California federal judge has granted defendants’ request to stay an Abilify action pending the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation’s decision on whether to transfer all federal Abilify cases to one court for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

On July 14, Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California held that a temporary stay is appropriate because “it makes sense” for the multidistrict litigation court to have the opportunity to resolve issues “in a uniform manner.”

Stephanie Pamintuan sued Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., alleging …