Federal Judge Retains Jurisdiction Over Rituxan Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES - Claims brought against a clinical coordinator in a Rituxan suit are not viable, therefore the defendant's citizenship must be ignored for diversity jurisdiction purposes, a California federal judge has ruled, denying plaintiffs' motion to remand the case to state court. Puricelli, et al. v. Genentech Inc., et al., No. 10-1793 (C.D. Calif.).

On Nov. 15, Judge Jean C. Hamilton of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California determined that the coordinator did not market the drug as being safe and effective and had no reason to know that the use of Rituxan allegedly presented …