Fen-Phen Lawsuit Settlement Diverted to Lawyers
Saturday, May 17th, 2008 |Deadly diet medication Fen-phen lawsuits have been ongoing for over 7 years was initially thought to have settled for 60 million USD. However, recent information shows that lawyers for the plantiffs in this legal action may have pocketed in excess of 150 million dollars.
A federal action has been filed against Melbourne Mills Jr., Shirley Allen Cunningham Jr. and William Gallion and the lawyers for those affected by Fen-Phen may be facing 20 years of federal prison time for fraud.
The original $50 million dollar settlement called for the 440 plantiffs to receive the following:
…about $500 in reimbursement for drug costs; a free echocardiogram; and either $6,000 in cash or $10,000 worth of medical follow-up…
However, according to court documents, one plantiff received over $600,000 in a cash settlement for opting out of the class-action case. The testifying of one of the under-attorneys in the case suggested that all plantiffs received considerably more than the original amount, but still far short of the $200 million that was given by the court-ordered class-action settlement.
This is the type of case that, unfortunately, leads to tort reform that hurts people involved in drug lawsuits. However, it will play out in the court system and the eventual findings and sentencing should set the record straight.
http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/407547.html
Source: Lexington Herald
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