Nevada Judge Refuses to Remand Ambien Suicide Case to State Court

LAS VEGAS – A Nevada federal judge has refused to remand an Ambien suicide case to state court, finding the nondiverse healthcare practitioners were fraudulently joined because as marriage therapists, they cannot be held liable for failure-to-warn.

In a June 4 order, Judge Gloria M. Navarro of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada further found the complaint did not set forth a separate claim of medical malpractice against the providers.

On March 8, 2010, the president and chief operating officer of the Hard Rock Café and Casino in Las Vegas, Andrew Kwasniewski, 55, took Ambien for sleeplessness. …