Plaintiff May Not Add Malpractice Claims Against Therapist in Ambien Suicide Case

LAS VEGAS — A Nevada federal judge has refused to allow a plaintiff to bring malpractice claims against a marriage counselor in an Ambien suicide case against Sanofi-Aventis U.S., finding Sanofi's liability may be resolved without the therapist’s presence.

On Oct. 29, Judge Gloria M. Navarro of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada further ruled that the plaintiff may appeal the court’s earlier ruling that the marriage counselor was fraudulently joined as a defendant.

On March 8, 2010, the president and chief operating officer of the Las Vegas Hard Rock Café and Casino, Andrew Kwasniewski, took …