Taxotere MDL Judge Denies Bellwether Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude Sanofi’s Fact Witness

NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana federal judge overseeing the Taxotere MDL has denied a bellwether plaintiff’s motion to exclude the testimony of Sanofi-Aventis’ 39(b)(6) witness, ruling that he is qualified to offer his analysis and opinions on the “Tax 316” clinical trial.

In an Oct. 21 order, Judge Jane Triche Milazzo of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana concluded that as a fact expert, Dr. Michael Kopreski may give lay opinion testimony about Sanofi’s clinical trial because he participated in the company’s day-to-day affairs as the former head of its oncology pharmacovigilance department.

Plaintiffs in the …