Plaintiff Counsel, Wyeth Want Additional $1.275 Billion Trust in Diet Drug MDL

PHILADELPHIA - Wyeth and a consortium of lawyers representing thousands of plaintiffs in the diet drug MDL have asked a federal judge to approve a new $1.275 billion trust fund to pay less severely injured claimants. In re: Diet Drug Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1203 (E.D. Pa.).

The new fund is in addition to a $3.75 billion trust that is currently funding settlements for those alleging heart valve injury from taking Pondimin or Redux diet drugs, products made by Wyeth predecessor American Home Products.

The fund would affect an estimated 40,000 claimants diagnosed with heart valve damage but who …