Pfizer Inc. Says Brigham Young University Tainted Utah Jury Pool for Trial in Multibillion Dollar Celebrex Case

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is accusing BYU of tainting the jury pool for an upcoming multibillion dollar trial over the drug Celebrex by taking its side of the story to the media. Pfizer says BYU "went on the offensive" Wednesday when its lawyers made "inflammatory and prejudicial" statements to local broadcasts outlets, three of which aired stories. It asked a federal judge Friday to postpone the trial or move it to New York or Missouri. "As the court already recognized and informed the lawyers for both parties, this is a particularly difficult one for seating an unbiased jury," wrote Pfizer's Salt Lake-based attorney, Brent O. Hatch.