US jury's Neurontin ruling to cost Pfizer $141 mln | Reuters

NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) violated federal racketeering law by improperly promoting the epilepsy drug Neurontin, a Boston jury found on Thursday, and the world's largest drugmaker was ordered to pay $47 million in damages. Under federal RICO law (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act) the penalty is automatically tripled, so the finding will cost Pfizer $141 million.

via reuters.com

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“The message, if there was a message, is that they acted in a fraudulent manner,” said Hank Pierotti, foreman of the eight-person federal jury in Boston, after the verdict. “If you’re fraudulent, you deserve to be punished.”