Judge Remands Bextra Suit, Says Physician Not Fraudulently Joined

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A federal judge has granted plaintiffs' motion to remand a Bextra case, ruling that a Kentucky woman's negligence claim against her non-diverse physician may be colorable in state court. Hedges, et al. v. Pfizer Inc., et al., No. 5:05-442 (E.D. Ky.).

On Jan. 20, Judge Joseph M. Hood of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky declared that Mary Hedges did not fraudulently join as a defendant her physician, Mohammad F. Shahzad, in her lawsuit alleging harm caused by Bextra.

Hedges asserts product liability claims against Delaware and New York-based Pfizer Inc., the seller …