Judge Allows Plaintiffs to Introduce New Expert on Cardiac Injuries

SEATTLE - In what is being described as an 'unusual' ruling, a federal judge has granted a motion, allowing plaintiffs to introduce a new expert to provide testimony regarding PPA-related cardiac injuries after the credentials of the proposed expert were called into question. In re: Phenlypropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1407 (W.D. Wash.).

U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein's April 16 order also denied a motion to continue Daubert hearings and submit additional expert reports.

The testimony of cardiologist Dr. William Shell was withdrawn at an April 7 status conference regarding the scheduled Daubert hearings after it was discovered …