Patients lose civil trial related to 12 meningitis outbreak

TRAVERSE CITY (AP) — A jury says doctors at a Michigan clinic weren’t negligent in using tainted steroids that were part of a national meningitis outbreak.

More than 100 patients sued doctors and the clinic, Neuromuscular & Rehabilitation Associates in Traverse City. The Traverse City Record-Eagle says a jury ruled in favor of the doctors and the clinic
last week after a civil trial.

Their attorneys said the doctors relied on drug regulators and had no reason to believe steroids from a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy were tainted.

Dave Novak of Interlochen, whose died wife in 2013, says the verdict was disappointing. But he found the trial to be rewarding because he was able to connect with other victims.