MDL Judge Dismisses Plaintiffs for 'Egregious' Failure to Prosecute

SAN FRANCISCO - The judge overseeing the federal Bextra/Celebrex MDL has dismissed with prejudice the claims of 97 plaintiffs, finding that the plaintiffs' failure to comply with discovery obligations was compromising the MDL's proceedings. In Re: Bextra and Celebrex Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1699 (N.D. Calif.).

In a Nov. 3 order, Judge Charles R. Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a motion by Pfizer Inc., Pharmacia Corp. and G.D. Searle to dismiss plaintiffs for failing to comply with Pretrial Order No. 6.

Judge Breyer said that the …