Plaintiff Who Lost $12 Million Gambling Can't Prove Causation

AUSTIN, Texas - The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has affirmed an award of summary judgment to GlaxoSmithKline, ruling that a plaintiff failed to proffer scientifically reliable evidence supporting allegations that his $12 million gambling habit was caused by Requip. Wells v. SmithKline Beecham Corp., No. 09-50244 (5th Cir.).

The appellate court ruled March 22 that a Texas federal court did not abuse its discretion in ruling that Max Wells failed to provide sufficient evidence of general causation.

"Perhaps Requip is a cause of problem gambling, but the scientific knowledge is not yet there. Wells urges the law …