Miss. Supreme Court Remands Diet Drug Liability Case, Says Trial Court Erred in Denying Wyeth's Motions

JACKSON, Miss. - Five of nine Mississippi Supreme Court justices concurred on June 30 that a state trial court abused its discretion when it denied Wyeth's motions to sever and transfer venue in a diet drug liability case. Wyeth Laboratories, et al, v. Lonelle James, et al. No. 2003-IA-01255-SCT (Miss. Sup. Ct.).

Lonelle James and 41 other plaintiffs sued Wyeth, 15 prescribing doctors and eight pharmacies in the State Court of Mississippi in Smith County. The plaintiffs alleged they sustained injuries from consuming Wyeth's diet drugs, Pondimin (fenfluramine hydrochloride) and/or Redux (dexfenfluramine).

Wyeth moved to sever and transfer the claims …