Since the first Case Management Order, setting the initial policies and protocols for the litigation, was entered in October, Zoloft litigation under the honorable Cynthia M. Rufe in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has continued to move forward.
On November 15, 2012, the Court issued a Joint Discovery and Scheduling Plan. Thus, discovery has already begun, with Pfizer beginning the process of producing documents and identifying witnesses for trial. Furthermore, the scheduling for Daubert motions (arguments for admissibility of expert testimony) have been set, as has the date for the first trial, which is to begin no later than September 12, 2014.
On January 17th, the Court issued Pretrial Order No. 17, which established that an initial discovery group of 25 cases was appropriate. Selection of these 25 cases will be divided among Plaintiffs’ Counsel and Defense Counsel and will serve as the initial group for discovery and trial preparation.
While this does not mean that all 25 of these cases will be tried, or even that the initial 25 selected cases will be the final ones evaluated for trial, it does mean that a framework is in place that will significantly advance this litigation.
Although progress is being made and discovery is under way, there is still a lot of work ahead. We will continue to fight for those who have suffered injuries caused by Zoloft.
The Legal Examiner and our Affiliate Network strive to be the place you look to for news, context, and more, wherever your life intersects with the law.
Comments for this article are closed.