3rd-Party Payor Claims Barred by Some States' Consumer Protection Laws

SAN FRANCISCO - The judge overseeing the federal Bextra and Celebrex MDL has dismissed the purchase claims of several third-party payor plaintiffs, saying that certain states' consumer protection laws deny plaintiffs standing to bring the claims. In Re: Bextra and Celebrex Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1699 (N.D. Calif.).

In a July 5 order, Judge Charles R. Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California also granted defendants' motion to dismiss five "association" plaintiffs for lack of standing, and an additional plaintiff on res judicata grounds.

However, the judge denied the motion …