November 08, 2004

A coalition of organizations calling itself the Prescription Access Litigation Project files lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry over its pricing of drugs (see Overlawyered, Nov. 24, 2003); it's represented by big-gun Seattle litigator Steve Berman (Hagens Berman) of state tobacco-suit fame. In an action last month, PALP sued AstraZeneca under California unfair competition and false advertising law saying the company's advertising wrongfully persuaded consumers to switch to its anti-acid-reflux drug Nexium. "The coalition filing the lawsuit on behalf of consumers is made up of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., the California Alliance for Retired Americans and the Congress of California Seniors." Harbinger of more AFL-CIO/trial lawyer working relationships to come? (Stuart Elliott, "AstraZeneca Sued Over Advertising", New York Times, Oct. 19).