Bendectin on Trial: A Study of Mass Tort Litigation

Beginning in the mid-1970s, the manufacturer of Bendectin was sued repeatedly over allegations that the drug - prescribed for pregnant women to overcome the effects of morning sickness - had caused birth defects. Yet in twenty years no one has collected any damages. Joseph Sanders offers a comprehensive study of the litigation surrounding this drug and its manufacturer. Sanders looks at the cases from the different perspectives of the parties involved: attorneys, scientists, and juries. He discusses the role of lawyers in the development of claims and in the litigation, how scientific evidence was used in these trials, and the part judges played in managing and resolving these cases. Bendectin on Trial will appeal to scholars of the American judiciary and those interested in the role of courts in product liability matters.