Furious Seasons

March 05, 2008

The Zyprexa Chronicles: Alaska V. Lilly Trial Opens

Trial began Monday in the case of the State of Alaska v. Eli Lilly over the latter's handling of Zyprexa. The first day and Tuesday involved jury selection and today Lilly's bigshot outside lawyer, Nina Gussack of Pepper Hamilton, is expected to make opening statements for Lilly. Lilly's legal team and corporate folks have taken over part of two floors in an Anchorage hotel.

The State is also represented by outside lawyers.

In addition, a firm specializing in broadcasting such proceedings to interested litigators around the country has set up shop in the court room. To watch a streaming Internet feed of the trial will cost $300 a day.

It's not clear how long trial will last, but there are no reports of either side trying to negotiate a last minute agreement.

More details as they become available.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at March 5, 2008 09:05 AM

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Comments

Breaking: http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/522836.html

Posted by: Lilly, N.C. at March 5, 2008 09:10 AM

Interested litigators? 300 dollars a day? That is wrong... that should be open to the public for free

Posted by: Billion at March 6, 2008 07:44 AM

I does seem like a dangerous precedent to allow only the wealthy to have access to the court room. This case is scary on so many levels but the good news is at least Lilly's quazillion dollar legal defense team couldn't get them out of going to court on Summary Judgment or some other high dollar technicality. Sure it would be better if they had settled and admitted wrong doing but these big corps never do that.

Posted by: Sally at March 6, 2008 05:05 PM

The trial is highly disturbing. It is all about money (isn;t it always with Pharma) and is not about a criminal trial. Killing my son with Zyprexa is murder and there should be a criminal trial as well as a civil trial.

Posted by: Ellen at March 7, 2008 07:20 AM

Ellen, I am so sorry about your son. You are right that there should be a criminal trial. I think it's possible that evidence may come out in the civil trial to justify filing criminal charges but I'm not sure. I certainly hope so.

Posted by: Sally at March 7, 2008 10:19 AM