Supreme Court Notebook

Court: Generic drug ‘pay to delay’ may be illegal
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says deals between pharmaceutical corporations and their generic drug competitors, which government officials say keep cheaper forms of medicine off the market, can sometimes be illegal.
The justices voted 5-3 to allow the government to challenge what it calls “pay-for-delay” deals or “reverse settlements.” That’s when big pharmaceutical corporations pay generic drug competitors to delay releasing their cheaper versions of brand-name drugs.
The Obama administration says these deals profit drug companies, but harm consumers by adding to drug costs. The pharmaceutical companies say they need to preserve revenue from patented products to recover development costs. And both the large companies and the generic makers say the marketing of generics often is hastened by these deals.
Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the case.

U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Pugh appeal
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from Eddie James Pugh IV who was convicted for his role in a 2008 double kidnapping and slaying.
Pugh was sentenced to life without parole in 2010 in Jackson County for capital murder.
Authorities say Pugh was one three men who kidnapped, shot and wounded New Orleans native Rahman MoGilles and shot and killed Byron Kelsey McCoy.
Prosecutors say the trio allegedly forced MoGilles and McCoy into a vehicle and drove them into Mississippi. McCoy died of gunshot wounds and MoGilles was wounded. They set fire to the vehicle containing McCoy’s body.
The Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld Pugh’s conviction in 2012.
Pugh had challenged some physical evidence in case and alleged flaws in his indictment.