Judge's Order Closes Loophole for Removing Accutane Cases

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The judge overseeing several coordinated pharmaceutical dockets has issued a decision that will prevent defendants in the Accutane litigation from continuing their practice of removing state court claims before they are served. In re Accutane, No. ATL-L-3156-05MT (N.J. Super. Ct., Atlantic Cty.).

Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Carol E. Higbee issued the decision Nov. 30 on the court's own motion, effectively closing the loophole that she said has the potential to create manifest injustice upon the rights of those filing state court cases that belong in state court.

Higbee said that in recent months, several Accutane …