N.J. Appellate Court Overturns Awards of Summary Judgment to Accutane Makers in Hundreds of Cases

CAMDEN, N.J. — A New Jersey appellate court has reversed awards of summary judgment to Hoffman-La Roche Inc. and Roche Laboratories Inc. in hundreds of Accutane cases, ruling that in part that questions of fact exist as to whether the warnings accompanying the acne drug adequately warned of inflammatory bowel disease.

In a July 25 opinion, the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, also held that in cases filed by out-of-state plaintiffs, the trial court erred in applying New Jersey law. However, the appellate court upheld awards of summary judgment to defendants in cases filed by plaintiffs from jurisdictions in …