US: Louisiana AG hires 17 antitrust attorneys for pharma suit

Louisiana Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell is going after pharmaceutical companies for alleged consumer fraud. Caldwell appointed nine private law firms along with 17 private antitrust attorneys working for those firms to work on behalf of the state.

The AG’s office accuses AstraZeneca of violating anti-trust laws by delaying the introduction of a generic version of Toprol-XL, a drug that treats chest pain and high blood pressure.

“Because of the enormity of the project, the state has retained the services of multiple law firms, some of whom have worked with the state previously and have a proven track record of success, some of whom are experts in this particular field of antitrust litigation and all of whom are excellent and experienced trial attorneys,” Caldwell’s spokesman Aaron Sadler said.

Caldwell has long been under fire for hiring outside private law firms for civil cases brought on behalf of the state by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.

Full content: The Louisiana Record

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