CHICAGO - An Illinois state court jury on Nov. 18 awarded $16.56 million to the family of a woman who allegedly died from an overdose from a defective Duragesic fentanyl pain patch (John DiCosolo v. Janssen Pharmaceutica, et al., No. 2004-L-005351, Ill. Cir., Cook Co.). From Mealey's Emerging Drugs & Devices

CLEVELAND - The trial of national welding fume products liability litigation test plaintiff Eddie Byers began Nov. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and he continued to present his case Nov. 10 against Lincoln Electric Co., Hobart Brothers Co. and ESAB Group Inc. (In re: Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation [Eddie Byers, No. 04-17033], MDL 1535, No. 03-17000, N.D. Ohio). From Mealey's Litigation Report: Welding Rods