Judge Peels 'Protected' Label from Ortho Evra E-Mail Correspondence

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - A state court judge overseeing more than 300 Ortho Evra lawsuits has de-classified five documents that included correspondence between the product's manufacturer and an internet domain name registry over the availability of web addresses that in some cases suggested that the product is dangerous. Brown v. Johnson & Johnson Inc., et al., No. MID-L-5446-05 MT (N.J. Super. Ct., Middlesex Cty.).

In a March 23 decision, Judge Bryan D. Garruto of the Middlesex County Superior Court said the content of the discussions, conducted mostly via e-mail, failed to meet any of the requirements for keeping the documents …