Judge Grants Drug Companies' Motion to Sever Claims of Misjoined Plaintiffs

MINNEAPOLIS - U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis recently granted the pharmaceutical defendants' motion to sever claims of misjoined plaintiffs involved in Baycol products liability suits pursuant to ruling issued in Pretrial Order No. 31. In re: Baycol Products Liability Litigation, MDL. No. 1431 (D. Minn.).

According to the order, the misjoined plaintiffs will be given 45 days to refile their individual claims or their claims shall be deemed abandoned.

Pretrial Order No. 31, which was signed by Judge Davis on July 5, 2002, denied the plaintiffs' motion to bundle up to 50 plaintiffs per complaint. In his decision, Judge …