State asks Alabama court to rehear drug ruling

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Attorneys for the state have asked the
Alabama Supreme Court to reconsider a decision that threw out jury
verdicts awarding the state more than $274 million from three
pharmaceutical companies.
    Juries had found in favor of the state in lawsuits accusing drug
companies AstraZeneca, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline of causing the
state to pay too much for prescription drugs for Medicaid
recipients.
    The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on Oct. 16 that the drug companies
did not defraud the state.
    The motion seeking a rehearing by the court was filed late
Friday.
    One of the attorneys for the state, Montgomery lawyer Jere
Beasley, said Monday the state is also asking the court to hear
oral arguments from attorneys for both sides if it reconsiders the
case.