MDL Judge Refuses to Extend Ruling Denying Class Certification to Cases Not Addressed by June 2002 Order

SEATTLE - According to U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein's Jan. 10 order, the plaintiffs leading four proposed personal injury class action suits against the manufacturers of products containing PPA will be given an opportunity to distinguish their class allegations from cases that were denied certification by her June 5, 2002, ruling. In re: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1407 (W.D. Wash.).

The order states that the plaintiffs' response must be brief and cannot reiterate the arguments previously made by plaintiffs seeking class certification. In addition, the plaintiffs must show how their cases differ from those that have been …