RENO, NEV. — Jurors awarded $99 million in punitive damages Monday to three Nevada women who claimed hormone-replacement drugs distributed by pharmaceutical giant Wyeth caused their breast cancer.
The Washoe County District Court jury initially issued a $134.5 million judgment last week, but Judge Robert Perry slashed that to $35 million after it became clear some of the jurors were under the mistaken belief that the award was to include punitive damages intended to punish the company.
The judgment signed by Perry remains the largest award to date against the Madison, N.J.-based company, which faces about 5,300 similar lawsuits across the country in state and federal courts.
All involve Premarin, an estrogen replacement, and Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin.
An attorney said Wyeth would appeal.
