Punitive Damage Claims Do Not Raise Federal Issues, Federal Judge Rules

TRENTON, N.J. - A New Jersey federal judge on Sept. 18 remanded to state court an Elidel and Protopic injury lawsuit after a magistrate judge determined that the plaintiff's punitive damage claims do not raise federal issues warranting federal jurisdiction. Reilly v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., et al., No. 07-4665 (D. N.J.).

U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey adopted a July 30 report and recommendation in which Magistrate Judge Madeline C. Arleo determined that the punitive damage claims rest exclusively upon state law.

Traci Reilly sued Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. and …