The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that state juries may award damages for harm from unsafe drugs, even if their manufacturers satisfied federal regulators. The ruling is a major setback for business groups that had hoped to build a barrier against injury lawsuits,
The ruling could have significant implications beyond drug manufacturing -- many companies have sought to shield themselves from litigation in recent years.
In a 6-to-3 vote, the court upheld a jury verdict of $6.7 million in favor of a Vermont woman whose arm had to be amputated after she was injected with an antinausea drug. The drug’s manufacturer, Wyeth, had argued that the drug’s compliance with FDA’s labeling requirements should shield it from lawsuits.