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JOHNSON et al v. SMITHKLINE BEECHAM CORPORATION et al

  1. August 05, 2025

    Judge Mulls Sanctioning Hagens Berman In Thalidomide Suits

    The Pennsylvania federal judge presiding over dozens of product liability actions against manufacturers of the morning sickness drug thalidomide Tuesday ordered Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP to explain why it shouldn't be sanctioned for allegedly conducting "grossly inadequate" pre-suit inquiries, obstructing discovery and doctoring evidence.

  2. May 24, 2021

    Hagens Berman Loses Privilege In Thalidomide Sanction Fight

    The law firm of Hagens Berman Sobel Shapiro LLP must turn over documents related to its dropping of thalidomide lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline, after a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Monday the firm waived any privilege attached to those documents when it shared them with an outside expert.

  3. May 19, 2021

    Hagens Berman Suffers Privilege Defeat In Thalidomide Row

    A special master has said that Hagens Berman Sobel Shapiro LLP waived its privilege when it gave an expert witness certain information related to its handling of lawsuits over birth defects allegedly caused by the drug thalidomide.

  4. July 22, 2020

    Special Master Rips Hagens Berman's Privilege Arguments

    A special master tasked by a Pennsylvania federal judge to find out if Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP dropped thalidomide birth defect claims against GlaxoSmithKline and others in good faith or simply to save its own skin lambasted arguments the firm made regarding potentially privileged material Wednesday.

  5. July 10, 2020

    Client Says Hagen Berman Pulled Fast One On Special Master

    A Minnesota woman told a Pennsylvania federal court that Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP used clients' protected information as "a sword and a shield" to hide its alleged wrongdoing in its report provided to a special master, who was investigating the firm's bid to drop clients suing GlaxoSmithKline and others for birth defects caused by thalidomide.

  6. May 08, 2018

    GSK Can't Make Hagens Berman Pay Special Master Fees

    A Pennsylvania federal judge on Tuesday denied a bid from GlaxoSmithKline and other pharmaceutical companies to have Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP foot the bill for costs incurred by a special master looking into whether the firm can stop representing thalidomide birth defect clients, saying the special master isn't done.

  7. February 03, 2017

    Hagens Berman Objects To Report On Thalidomide Suits

    Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP on Thursday raised objections to a report by a special master looking into whether it should be allowed to stop representing thalidomide birth defect clients in suits against GlaxoSmithKline, saying the document doesn't address the "ethical quandary" of lawyers having to testify about clients' cases.

  8. December 09, 2016

    Hagens Berman Says Special Master Inquiry Risks Privilege

    Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP on Thursday told a Pennsylvania federal judge that a special master looking into if it be allowed to withdraw from representing six thalidomide birth defects clients in suits against GlaxoSmithKline shouldn't be allowed access to privileged work product.

  9. August 11, 2016

    Hagens Berman Clients May Be Allowed To Drop GSK Claims

    A court-appointed special master recommended Wednesday that 31 of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP's thalidomide birth defects clients be allowed to drop their claims against GlaxoSmithKline, explaining that despite concerns about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the requests, it seemed they made the decision voluntarily.

  10. September 30, 2015

    Hagens Berman To Appeal Sanctions In Thalidomide Litigation

    Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP told a Pennsylvania federal court Tuesday it intends to file an appeal to the Third Circuit over sanctions imposed for litigating three time-barred thalidomide birth-defect suits against Grunenthal GmbH, a move that comes three months after it agreed to pay the drugmaker $145,000 and drop the claims.