Texas Judge Says Federal Law Does Not Preempt State Tort Claims in Zoloft Case

TYLER, Tex. -- Pfizer's motion for summary judgment in a Zoloft case was denied on March 31 by a federal judge who found that state law tort claims were not preempted by federal law. Cartwright, et al., v. Pfizer Inc. No. 6:04-cv-292 (E.D. T.X.).

Plaintiff Matthew D. Cartwright sued Pfizer on May 8, 2004, in the U.S. Eastern District Court of Texas, alleging that Zoloft (sertraline), an antidepressant, was responsible for the May 30, 2002, suicide death of his wife, Bethany J. Cartwright.

He contends that Pfizer has misrepresented the results of clinical trials and failed to adequately warn …