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2003 AUG 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The maker of the discontinued Lymerix Lyme disease vaccine has agreed to settle class-action lawsuits alleging that it could cause an arthritic condition in some people, but those who received the vaccine will get nothing from the settlement.
SmithKline Beecham, now GlaxoSmithKline, took Lymerix off the market in February 2002, which the plaintiffs' attorneys said accomplished the main goal of the lawsuits.
The only money to change hands will be fees of $926,250 and costs of $137,997 that GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay the lawyers, an amount that concerned Chester County Judge Jacqueline C. Cody.
A half dozen class-action lawsuits filed in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were consolidated in her court, and Cody said 34 attorneys and paralegals submitted bills for work.
Some law firms cited personnel turnovers as part of the reason, but Cody said she trimmed the amount requested by 5% before approving the fees and costs.
Stephen A. Sheller, an attorney for the plaintiffs, didn't criticize the scrutiny of the attorney fees, though he said the lawyers wouldn't become wealthy ...
Source: HighBeam Research, Vaccine makers settle with drug recipients.