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Drawing the Line Between Fact- and Expert-Witness Testimony

By Joshua Becker and Sarah O'Donohue
June 02, 2015

As is often the case in product liability lawsuits, the recent bellwether trial in the Risperdal litigation involved several disputes about the admissibility of expert testimony. However, one such dispute is notable because the “expert” testimony in question was actually from a fact witness.

Expert or Lay/Fact Witness

Austin Pledger brought suit against the manufacturer of Risperdal, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., for failure to adequately warn that patients taking the antipsychotic drug could experience abnormal breast growth. When defense testimony began at trial, Janssen called to the stand a biochemist who is employed by the company's parent. The biochemist served as the team leader for Janssen's research and development for Risperdal between 1999 and 2009. He testified that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) repeatedly approved Risperdal and its expanded use in treatment of children, like Austin, who had been diagnosed with autism.

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