California Zantac Plaintiffs Get Suits Sent Back to State Court

Dozens of California residents alleging that Zantac and generic antacids caused their cancers may litigate claims in state court, a Florida federal court overseeing multidistrict proceedings said.

The plaintiffs raised viable negligence claims against California retailers, meaning they were properly named as defendants and the federal court lacks jurisdiction based on diversity of citizenship, Judge Robin L. Rosenberg of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida said Feb. 19.

Plaintiffs allege ranitidine, the drugs’ active ingredient, is unstable and breaks down into NDMA, a probable human carcinogen.

Hundreds of personal injury suits alleging years of antacid use ...