Audio Clip
By Rick Pluta
Last week, the Michigan Supreme Court refused to hear the state's case for recovering millions of dollars taxpayers spent on the drug Vioxx for Medicaid patients. The drug was pulled off the marketplace years ago after it was linked to an increased risk of heart attacks.
Democrats in the Legislature said that decision helps make the case for repealing the unique-in-the-nation state law that bars most product liability lawsuits against drug companies.
The Republican-led Supreme Court's refusal to take the case upholds lower court rulings that the state cannot try to recover what Michigan paid the drug-maker Merck for the painkiller Vioxx. That decision also affects future lawsuits to recover taxpayer dollars. A 1995 Michigan law bars product liability lawsuits for medications approved by the U-S Food and Drug Administration.
Democrats are using the opportunity to renew their drive to repeal the law.
"The manufacturer of a dangerous drug and not the taxpayer should be responsible for the cost of a dangerous product." Said State Representative Ellen Cogan-Lipton.
Business groups defend the law, they said it is a firewall against frivolous lawsuits against drug companies.
Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette both Republicans have been silent on what they'd like to see happen next.
Copyright 2010, MPRN
Last week, the Michigan Supreme Court refused to hear the state's case for recovering millions of dollars taxpayers spent on the drug Vioxx for Medicaid patients. The drug was pulled off the marketplace years ago after it was linked to an increased risk of heart attacks.
Democrats in the Legislature said that decision helps make the case for repealing the unique-in-the-nation state law that bars most product liability lawsuits against drug companies.
The Republican-led Supreme Court's refusal to take the case upholds lower court rulings that the state cannot try to recover what Michigan paid the drug-maker Merck for the painkiller Vioxx. That decision also affects future lawsuits to recover taxpayer dollars. A 1995 Michigan law bars product liability lawsuits for medications approved by the U-S Food and Drug Administration.
Democrats are using the opportunity to renew their drive to repeal the law.
"The manufacturer of a dangerous drug and not the taxpayer should be responsible for the cost of a dangerous product." Said State Representative Ellen Cogan-Lipton.
Business groups defend the law, they said it is a firewall against frivolous lawsuits against drug companies.
Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette both Republicans have been silent on what they'd like to see happen next.
Copyright 2010, MPRN
