11th Circuit Revives Duragesic Claims Against J&J, Walgreen

ATLANTA - The estate of a Florida man who died of fentanyl toxicity after using a prescription pain patch can proceed with wrongful death claims against two Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries and Walgreen Co., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has ruled. Lori Jo Bailey v. Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc., et al., No. 06-80702-CV-KLR (11th Cir.).

Lori Jo Bailey brought the action on behalf of Chad Edgar Beal, who died in March 2004. The Duragesic patch allegedly prescribed to Beal was manufactured by Alza Corp. and distributed by Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc. Walgreen Co. sold the patch to Beal.