Court Sanctions Hoffmann La Roche and Counsel for 'Dilatory Tactics'

TAMPA, Fla. - The U.S. magistrate judge overseeing discovery in an Accutane personal injury case sanctioned Hoffman-La Roche and its counsel for what it called delaying tactics in an unsuccessful 'meet and confer' meeting in Switzerland with plaintiffs' attorneys. Bishop v. Hoffmann-La Roche, No. 8:02-cv-1533-T-30TBM (M.D. Fla.).

Counsel for Julia Bishop and Karen Johnson, the mother and grandmother of 15-year-old Charles Bishop, complained to the court that a discovery meeting in Basel, Switzerland, that was authorized by the court for the purpose of facilitating discovery, was thwarted by the actions of Hoffmann-La Roche's Swiss representatives.

Plaintiffs' counsel said five …