Update: In re Fosamax (Alendronate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation

Litigation Practice Group Teleforum

In a recent decision, the Third Circuit held that hundreds of state-law claims alleging that bone fractures were caused by an osteoporosis medication were not preempted by federal law. While defendants argued, and the district court agreed, that the record showed that the FDA would not have approved stronger warnings in the product labeling, the Third Circuit concluded that the record raised factual issues that should go to a jury. In doing so, the court rejected defendants’ contention that preemption was a purely legal issue for the court to decide and suggested that the evidence must show that there was a “high probability” that the FDA would have rejected stronger labeling in order to invoke preemption. Was the appellate court correct? How does its decision fit with other recent preemption cases? Jay Lefkowitz and Doug Smith will join us to discuss these and other issues relating to the court’s decision.

Featuring:

• Jay P. Lefkowitz, P.C., Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• Douglas G. Smith, P.C., Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

In a recent decision, the Third Circuit held that hundreds of state-law claims alleging that bone fractures were caused by an osteoporosis medication were not preempted by federal law. While defendants argued, and the district court agreed, that the record showed that the FDA would not have approved stronger warnings in the product labeling, the Third Circuit concluded that the record raised factual issues that should go to a jury. In doing so, the court rejected defendants’ contention that preemption was a purely legal issue for the court to decide and suggested that the evidence must show that there was a “high probability” that the FDA would have rejected stronger labeling in order to invoke preemption. Was the appellate court correct? How does its decision fit with other recent preemption cases? Jay Lefkowitz and Doug Smith will join us to discuss these and other issues relating to the court’s decision.

Featuring:

• Jay P. Lefkowitz, P.C., Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• Douglas G. Smith, P.C., Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Call begins at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

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