Court Denies Plaintiffs' Request for Less-Restrictive Protective Order

TAMPA, Fla. - The federal judge presiding over consolidated Accutane products liability cases on Feb. 7 ordered the continued presumption of confidentiality for all discovery documents, including those bearing upon science and safety. In re: Accutane Products Liability, MDL 1626 [No. 8:04-MD-2523-T-30TBM] (M.D. Fla.).

Judge James S. Moody Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida ordered, '[t]he outstanding protective order in Bishop, et al. v. Hoffman-LaRoche Inc., et al., 8:02-cv-1533, shall remain in effect for the multi-district proceedings. Accordingly, all documents shall be presumed to be confidential, unless and until Plaintiffs come forward to show …