Trials & Litigation
Jury Awards Punitives in Hormone Case Against Wyeth, But Amount Is Sealed
Posted Oct 27, 2009, 12:31 pm CST
By Martha Neil
A Philadelphia jury awarded punitive damages yesterday in Connie Barton's case over the Prempro hormone replacement therapy marketed by Wyeth.
But the amount of the award won't be known for at least a month, because a judge in the Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court case agreed that the amount would be sealed until another Philadelphia jury in a similar case has a chance to reach a verdict, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Barton, 64, won a $3.7 compensatory damages judgment last month after her counsel argued at trial that Prempro caused her invasive breast cancer. The punitive damages award concerns the plaintiff's claim that Wyeth ignored evidence that the treatment could cause cancer.
Pfizer Inc., which completed a merger with Wyeth last week, said in a written statement that the company is disappointed with the verdict and considering its options.
Attorney Zoe Littlepage represented Barton.
Additional coverage:
Bloomberg: "Pfizer Unit’s Prempro Punitive Damages Verdict Remains Secret"
Updated at 2:20 p.m. to link to Bloomberg article.