jury verdict

A federal jury awarded a $9 billion verdict in the first bellwether trial over whether Actos increases the risk of getting bladder cancer, The National Law Journal's Amanda Bronstad (and my current colleague) reports. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Doherty presided over the Louisiana federal trial. Eli Lilly & Co., which was found 25 percent liable, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., which was found 75 percent liable, are the defendants. Lilly co-promoted Actos with Takeda for several years.

Bronstad also reports that the jury awarded $1.475 million in compensatory damages and $9 billion in punitive damages: $6 billion against Takeda and $3 billion against Lilly. The high ratio between the compensatory and punitive damages is certainly going to invite a challenge.