Judge Permits Limited Joinder in Federal Avandia Cases

PHILADELPHIA - The judge overseeing the nation's federal Avandia litigation has permitted plaintiffs to join in personal injury lawsuits provided they are domiciled in the same jurisdiction. In Re: Avandia Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1871 (E.D. Pa.).

Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled May 14 that permitting certain consolidated filings would promote court efficiency and limit expense and inconvenience to the parties.

Judge Rufe added that the decision is provisional and that a corrective order could not be ruled out should joinder prove inefficient or …