June 21, 2010, 06:15:00PM. By Lucy Campbell

Email

Washington, DC: Pfizer has lost its appeal of a ruling that ordered a retrial on punitive damages awarded to a woman who developed breast cancer after taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) The appeal was rejected by the US Supreme Court.

In 2008, a jury in Arkansas awarded Donna Scroggin compensatory damages of $2.7 million and punitive damages of $19.4 million against Wyeth and $7.8 million against Pharmacia & Upjohn. Ms. Scroggin was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, after taking various HRT for 11 years.

Pfizer, who now owns both Wyeth and Pharmacia, appealed the rulings and lost. The US appeals court upheld the jury's compensatory damages, but ordered a new trial on punitive damages against Wyeth. Pfizer appealed that ruling and lost. The company had wanted an entirely new trial.

In 2002, the National Institutes of Health determined a link between the use of HRT and breast cancer.

READ ABOUT drugs and medical devices LAWSUITS  or  MORE drugs and medical devices LEGAL NEWS ARTICLES

LawyersandSettlements.com - A trusted, independent legal news provider bringing quality news and information on all legal cases and lawsuits filed in United States of America to its readers since 2002. Over 250,000 legal help requests including Personal Injury Cases, Drugs & Medical Cases, and Defective Product Cases have been forwarded to lawyers all across to the country.