Ill. Federal Judge Coordinates Lipitor Diabetes Cases for Discovery, Pretrial Proceedings

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A federal judge has coordinated, for purposes of discovery and pretrial proceedings, all cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois accusing Pfizer Inc. of failing to adequately warn of the risk of diabetes posed by the cholesterol drug Lipitor.

On Oct. 7, Judge Michael J. Reagan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois found such coordination will promote efficiency and judicial economy and will avoid inconsistent rulings.

Plaintiff Kimberly Hines asked the District Court to coordinate her case with two similar actions, Ehlers v. Pfizer …