That post explained that the Appellate Division has proposed a “relaxed” standard for the admissibility of expert opinions, and that the application of this standard (i.e., the types of evidence that experts may rely upon in rendering their opinions) should evolve as more epidemiological studies (or the “gold standard” of scientific evidence) become available.  The post explained that this has not occurred in the Accutane litigation.  With the recent Appellate Division decision, it is clear that the New Jersey appellate court is attempting to impose its own unique standard that disregards the hierarchy of evidence, allowing animal studies and single-person case studies to be afforded the same weight as vast epidemiological studies.  With the submission of four separate amicus curiae briefs to the Supreme Court of New Jersey by companies and groups spanning different industries and health-related interests, it has become clear that this Blog is not alone in feeling displeasure over the Appellate Division’s recent decision.  This is something that the New Jersey Supreme Court definitely needs to review, both as to the questionable legal basis for the decision and its negative impact on some of the state’s largest employers.

Before delving into the substance of the amicus briefs, it is useful to revisit court decisions relevant to this case. In Rubanick v. Witco Chemical Corp., 125 N.J. 421 (1991), the New Jersey Supreme Court established the applicable standard for reviewing expert testimony in toxic tort cases. To read the article in full, please visit druganddevicelawblog.com.