Philadelphia Judge Declares Mistrial, Overturns $1.5 Million Prempro Verdict

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia judge has declared a mistrial following a jury's award of $1.5 million in the first-ever state court verdict in cases alleging injury caused by the hormone replacement therapy drug Prempro. Nelson v. Wyeth, No. 040101670 (Pa. Ct. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Cty.).

Judge Norman Ackerman of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas granted the mistrial Oct. 11, one week after jurors awarded $1 million in compensatory damages to Jennie Nelson, who claimed she developed breast cancer as a result of taking Prempro. Jurors also awarded $500,000 to Nelson's husband during the initial damages phase of the …