Jury Awards $1.1 Billion to Family in Fen-Phen Suit

BEAUMONT, Texas - The family of a woman who died from primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) was awarded more than $1 billion on April 27 by a Jefferson County jury that found the fatal lung condition was caused by her use of the diet drug Pondomin. Cappel, et al. v. American Home Products, et al., No. E-0167334 (Texas Dist. Ct., Jefferson Cty., 172nd Jud. Dist.).

Following a seven-week trial, the eight-woman, four-man jury deliberated for nearly six days before reaching its unanimous decision. The family of Cynthia Cappel-Coffey was awarded $113 million in compensatory damages and $900 million in punitive damages, …