Comments on: Abbott Labs Settles Texas Lawsuit Over Pricing http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/abbott-labs-settles-texas-lawsuit-over-pricing/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:40:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: PharmacistMike http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/abbott-labs-settles-texas-lawsuit-over-pricing/#comment-373763 PharmacistMike Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:16:27 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15370#comment-373763 Piper, Thanks for the defense. The fact that lawyers received $10 seems excessive in my book. Ima Misfit, I can see your point in Big Pharma trying to outspend their troubles. I just wish the monies could be spent for something else besides a court room game of chase. Oh well. Piper,

Thanks for the defense. The fact that lawyers received $10 seems excessive in my book.

Ima Misfit,

I can see your point in Big Pharma trying to outspend their troubles. I just wish the monies could be spent for something else besides a court room game of chase. Oh well.

]]> By: Ima Misfit http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/abbott-labs-settles-texas-lawsuit-over-pricing/#comment-372228 Ima Misfit Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:54:27 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15370#comment-372228 Piper, You're right, PharmacistMike makes a good point. I just gagged a bit at the thought of justifying the attorney's fees in this case, but here goes. This particular case was filed in TX in 2001 (I believe). It was then moved to Boston, along with dozens of other cases that were part of the AWP multi-district litigation. Then it was remanded back to Texas. Abbott filed numerous motions to fight each of these moves. Abbott follows Big Pharma’s tried and true strategy of keeping these cases out of court by hiring a slew of high-priced attorneys who file a barrage of senseless motions and responses. The pharma companies fail to comply with subpoenas, and when they do produce documents, they send hundreds of thousands that are meaningless. The attorneys then have to sift through them all in order to find those few relevant documents. Big pharma uses their endless supply of money and lawyers to outspend the plaintiffs and to keep these cases from going to trial. You can bet that the plaintiff's attorney’s fees of $10 million pales in comparison to the fees paid by Abbott to their lawyers. Piper,

You’re right, PharmacistMike makes a good point.

I just gagged a bit at the thought of justifying the attorney’s fees in this case, but here goes.

This particular case was filed in TX in 2001 (I believe). It was then moved to Boston, along with dozens of other cases that were part of the AWP multi-district litigation. Then it was remanded back to Texas. Abbott filed numerous motions to fight each of these moves.

Abbott follows Big Pharma’s tried and true strategy of keeping these cases out of court by hiring a slew of high-priced attorneys who file a barrage of senseless motions and responses. The pharma companies fail to comply with subpoenas, and when they do produce documents, they send hundreds of thousands that are meaningless. The attorneys then have to sift through them all in order to find those few relevant documents.

Big pharma uses their endless supply of money and lawyers to outspend the plaintiffs and to keep these cases from going to trial.

You can bet that the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees of $10 million pales in comparison to the fees paid by Abbott to their lawyers.

]]> By: Piper http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/abbott-labs-settles-texas-lawsuit-over-pricing/#comment-372204 Piper Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:44:29 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15370#comment-372204 Misfit: Mike did not dispute your point, he was saying the lawyers did not deserve the full $10 million fee. Rather, they should have received just $2 million of it and donated the remaining $8 million to some worthy cause in Texas. He certainly has a point. Given that whistleblowers make it pretty easy to convict, I can't imagine those guys were working to hard for the money.... Misfit:
Mike did not dispute your point, he was saying the lawyers did not deserve the full $10 million fee. Rather, they should have received just $2 million of it and donated the remaining $8 million to some worthy cause in Texas. He certainly has a point. Given that whistleblowers make it pretty easy to convict, I can’t imagine those guys were working to hard for the money….

]]> By: Ima Misfit http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/abbott-labs-settles-texas-lawsuit-over-pricing/#comment-372041 Ima Misfit Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:26:06 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15370#comment-372041 PharmacistMike, In Qui Tam cases like this one, attorneys fees are paid on top of the settlement amount. So the actual settlment for the alleged fraud was $18 million, and in addition, Abbott was required to pay attorney fees of $10 million. PharmacistMike,

In Qui Tam cases like this one, attorneys fees are paid on top of the settlement amount. So the actual settlment for the alleged fraud was $18 million, and in addition, Abbott was required to pay attorney fees of $10 million.

]]> By: PharmacistMike http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/abbott-labs-settles-texas-lawsuit-over-pricing/#comment-372034 PharmacistMike Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:04:23 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15370#comment-372034 Reading stories like this really chap by behind. Yes, it's great that the state got the $18 million but do the lawyers really need the $10 million for the case? No. Texas now has lawyers in mansions and people that still need medical care. Likewise, Abbott, a large employer is losing growth potential. If you want to punish Abbott make them donate $8 million to charity and pay the lawyers $2 million as that should have been plenty. Reading stories like this really chap by behind. Yes, it’s great that the state got the $18 million but do the lawyers really need the $10 million for the case? No. Texas now has lawyers in mansions and people that still need medical care. Likewise, Abbott, a large employer is losing growth potential. If you want to punish Abbott make them donate $8 million to charity and pay the lawyers $2 million as that should have been plenty.

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