States set sights on J&J for Tylenol recalls

Attorneys general from several states have joined the line of those requesting documents from Johnson & Johnson regarding recent Tylenol recalls. The Wall Street Journal reports that "multiple" AGs have made "civil investigative demands." No states were named.

It's all in a day's work for J&J and its McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit, which are also currently handling similar requests from the U.S. Congress and the FDA. Requests are likely coming also from company lawyers as they ramp up for lawsuits, some at the class-action level, from consumers and shareholders.

Also received: grand-jury subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia, seeking documents concerning not just the recalls but also the FDA inspections of Pennsylvania manufacturing plants in Fort Washington and Lancaster. The Lancaster facility is not involved in the Tylenol recalls, but rather the recipient of an ill-timed Form 483 inspector observation report citing quality mishaps similar to those at the Fort Washington Tylenol plant.

- here's the WSJ story

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