November 20, 2012

Meningitis victims ask judge to freeze assets

New England Compounding Center is under investigation for distributing a tainted steroid that's sickened more than 400 people, more than 30 of whom have died.

Denise Lavoie / The Associated Press

BOSTON — Lawyers for a man and woman who contracted meningitis, allegedly from contaminated steroid injections made by a Massachusetts pharmacy, asked a judge Tuesday to freeze up to $461 million in assets from the pharmacy, a sister company and its owners.

The attorneys for a New Hampshire man and a Pennsylvania woman argued the assets should be frozen while lawsuits are pending.

New England Compounding Center, based in Framingham, is under investigation for distributing a tainted steroid that's sickened more than 400 people, more than 30 of whom have died. A sister company, Ameridose, has voluntarily closed for inspection.

Lawyers for the NECC argued freezing assets would be a radical move so early after the suits were filed, when allegations against the company haven't been proven.

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV didn't immediately rule.

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