MOTUS V. PFIZER, INC.
196 F.Supp.2d 984 (2001)
NATURE OF THE CASE: Pfizer (D) moved for summary judgment in Motus' (P) action alleging
that D failed to adequately warn about a drug's side effects, which caused her husband to
commit suicide.
FACTS: Dr. Trostler had been seeing P for about 4 months and concluded that P was
moderately depressed. Dr. Trostler did not think that Mr. Motus was suicidal or sufficiently
depressed to warrant sending P to a mental health professional. Dr. Trostler prescribed P 25
milligrams of Zoloft for seven days, followed by 50 milligrams of Zoloft for fourteen days.
Dr. Trostler did not warn P that taking Zoloft could cause him to have suicidal thoughts or
experience akathisia. He did not discuss with P any contraindications of taking Zoloft, and
was not aware of any contraindications that would have suggested P was not a good candidate
for Zoloft. Dr. Trostler told P to call him if his condition worsened or if he experienced
any side effects, and he also had P schedule a follow-up appointment twenty days later. Six
days later, on November 12, 1998, P committed suicide by shooting himself. Dr. Trostler
could not recall reviewing any information from D before deciding to prescribe Zoloft to P,
although he 'may have' relied on some unspecified written information from an 'article or
seminar.' When asked: 'In deciding to prescribe P Zoloft, did you rely specifically on any
statements made to you by Pfizer representatives?,' Dr. Trostler replied, 'No.' When asked:
'Did you rely on any materials provided to you by Dr sales representatives in making your
decision to prescribe Zoloft to P?' Dr. Trostler replied, 'No.' D moved for summary judgment
in that P cannot prove causation.
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
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