Dueling Intimidation Allegations Filed in Neurontin Litigation

The continuing litigation about whether Pfizer’s anti-seizure medication Neurontin is linked to suicidal behavior in some patients has been marred by allegations filed by attorneys on both sides accusing the other of using intimidation and strong-arm tactics.

Neurontin, known chemically as gabapentin, is an anti-epileptic medication (also called an anticonvulsant) taken by patients to reduce or eliminate seizures in adults and children as young as 12. The drug has been associated with serious side effects, most notably suicide.

Attorneys representing victims of Neurontin recently accused Pfizer’s counsel of trying to intimidate a potential key witness in the case. Pfizer’s attorneys then returned fire with a similar complaint against David Egilman, an expert witness for the plaintiffs.

Pfizer Cries Foul

According to Pfizer, Egilman tried to force a physician who treated a Neurontin patient who committed suicide to deliver favorable testimony in the lawsuit brought on behalf of the deceased patient. Egilman allegedly provided the other physician with confidential Pfizer internal documents and emails in an attempt to sway her medical opinion in favor of the plaintiff’s case.

“Plaintiff is attempting to alter and tamper with the deposition testimony of Mr. Shearer’s treating physicians, and to saddle them with cherry-picked materials unrelated to the scope of their testimony as non-party fact witnesses,” wrote Pfizer’s lawyers, according to a report on Law.com.

Pfizer has asked a Boston federal judge to impose sanctions against the plaintiff’s lawyers for the alleged wrongdoing.

Plaintiff’s Lawyers Defend Expert’s Actions

Plaintiff’s attorneys, who previously accused Pfizer of using intimidation in an effort to influence medical expert opinions, dismissed the allegations about Egilman as mere courtroom maneuvering and insisted that the physician did nothing wrong.

“Dr. Egilman, an expert, writes to doctors to give them some information and see if they will visit him, and Pfizer thinks that is wrong?” said plaintiff’s attorney Mark Lanier. “Pfizer needs to let the truth out and quit trying to keep it under cover by intimidating witnesses with thugs and sanctions motions.”

Lanier reportedly represents about 600 Neurontin users who allege they were injured by the drug.

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