Judge Overturns First Loss in Xarelto Bellwether Cases

A Philadelphia judge overturned a $28 million verdict by the County Court of Common Pleas against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson.

Judge Michael Erdos ruled that no reasonable jury could have reached the same conclusion. In the case, plaintiff Lynn Hartman argued her use of Xarelto caused severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

The December verdict was the first loss for the companies in a series of “bellwether” suits involving the blood thinner. Johnson & Johnson currently faces about 21,400 Xarelto liability cases.