Diet Drug MDL Judge Says Court Can't Oversee Distribution of Settlement Fees

PHILADELPHIA - The judge overseeing the federal diet drug MDL has denied a joint motion by Wyeth and the Claims Facilitating Committee to supervise a settlement fee escrow account, saying the court has no authority to do so. In Re: Diet Drugs Products Liability Litigation, MDL Docket No. 1203, Sheila Brown, et al. v. American Home Products Corp., No. 99-20593, (E.D. Pa.).

A Pondimin (fenfluramine hydrochloride) and Redux (dexfenfluramine) nationwide settlement allowing certain class members to opt out of the settlement and sue Wyeth individually was approved in August 2000 by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of …