Judge Reduces Punitive Damage Award in Metabolife Case

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - On April 24, a federal judge reduced the amount of punitive damages awarded to one of the six plaintiffs in the nation's first Metabolife products liability trial by $550,000. Johnny McClain, et al., v. Metabolife International Inc., et al., No. 01-AR-1801-S (N.D.Ala.).

However, rather than ordering plaintiff Shirley Franks to remit the money and run the risk of incurring a new trial, U.S. District Judge William A. Acker, Jr., submitted an order reducing the $1 million award for the supplement maker's violation of the Alabama Extended Manufacturers Liability Doctrine (AEMLD) to $450,000.

Judge Acker's ruling reduced the …