Miss. Supreme Court Stays Propulsid Cases Pending Decision on Interlocutory Appeal

JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi Supreme Court has agreed to stay proceedings in five Propulsid product liability cases pending a decision on venue and class action issues raised by the manufacturer. Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc., and Johnson & Johnson, Petitioners/Defendants v Hattie Jackson, et al., Respondents/Plaintiffs, No. 2003-M-00440 (Miss. Sup. Ct.).

The March 28 rulings, signed by Presiding Justice James W. Smith, Jr., affirmed Janssen Pharmaceutica's argument that the high court needs to determine whether plaintiffs who reside outside the county where the trial is taking place are allowed to join in the lawsuit. The court also needs to examine whether …