Former GSK In-House Counsel Lauren Stevens Acquitted
Earlier today, Honorable Roger W. Titus, who is the judge presiding over the Lauren Stevens trial, granted the defendant's motion for a judgment of acquittal, bringing the case to an end. Stevens had been accused of obstruction and making false statements in connection with GSK's responses to a voluntary request from the FDA for information concerning GSK's marketing practices for the drug Wellbutrin. In dismissing the case, Judge Titus found that "the evidence in this case can only support one conclusion, and that is that the defendant sought and obtained the advice and counsel of numerous lawyers. She made full disclosure to them. Every decision that she made and every letter she wrote was done by a consensus. Now, even if some of these statements were not literally true, it is clear that they were made in good faith which would negate the requisite element required for all six of the crimes charged in this case."
Judge Titus further stated that he "believe[d] it would be a miscarriage of justice to permit this case to go to the jury" and recognized that "[t]here is an enormous potential for abuse in allowing prosecution of any attorney for the giving of legal advice. I conclude that the defendant in this case should never have been prosecuted and she should be permitted to resume her career." Attached is a copy of Judge Titus's decision.
