15th Annual Drug & Medical Device Litigation 2010

Preparing to Defend Cases in High-Risk Jurisdictions or in Emerging Hot-Button Areas for Manufacturers

The drug and device industries face a landscape that has been complicated by a reinvigorated FDA and by high profile federal and state enforcement actions. Matters relating to manufacturing issues and product recalls, as well as government probes into both pre-market and post-marketing practices, are emerging frequently in civil litigation. In addition, the explosion of social media has created a new playing field where product information can suddenly go “viral” and influence both patients and jurors. Meanwhile, a difficult economy has caused manufacturers and their outside counsel to seek more cost-effective ways to handle product liability litigation. With litigation budgets being closely watched, is it essential to be able to properly assess how real a threat a particular complaint presents to your client, and to be equipped to get rid of many cases quickly and effectively.