Judge Awards Judgment in Accutane Cases After Expert is Excluded

TAMPA, Fla. - Having already excluded their expert's general causation testimony, a federal judge in Florida has dismissed the lawsuits of several plaintiffs who claimed they developed bowel disease as a result of ingesting Accutane. In re Accutane Products Liability Litigation, No. 04md2523 (M.D. Fla.).

Judge James S. Moody on July 20 awarded summary judgment to Hoffmann-La Roche in nine cases where the plaintiff's allegations were supported by expert Dr. Ronald Fogel. Fogel is the only expert designated to testify on the issue of general causation in all nine cases, which allege inflammatory bowel disease caused by the acne drug.