MORRISTOWN, N.J., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Green & Savits announces that its client, former Pfizer Vice President Peter Rost, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit on December 12, 2005, against Pfizer, Inc., Hank McKinnell, and other senior officers. Dr. Rost has been an outspoken advocate for drug re-importation and was fired on December 1, 2005, after his False Claims Act lawsuit against Pfizer was unsealed; that suit resulted in an ongoing criminal investigation conducted by the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
A copy of Rost’s complaint, case no. 05-CV-10384, filed in US District Court, Southern District of NY, and supporting documents, can be viewed on Green & Savits’ website: http://www.greensavits.com/rostvpfizer.shtml. The complaint alleges that Pfizer and the defendants violated the NJ Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the whistle-blowing prohibition of the False Claims Act, New Jersey common law public policy prohibiting retaliation against whistleblowers and retaliated against a grand jury witness in violation of federal law.
According to the complaint, when Pfizer acquired Pharmacia in 2002, Rost was then a Vice President at Pharmacia who was initially informed by Pfizer that “there is no question whatsoever on our side with your being considered for several positions.” Pfizer then decided in January and February 2003 not to offer any position to Rost and, thereafter, another Pharmacia employee who had raised issues of illegality regarding the marketing, selling and distribution of Genotropin, a prescription growth hormone. Defendants then terminated Rost’s employment on December 1, 2005.
A letter sent by defendant Jeffrey Kindler, Pfizer’s Vice-Chairman and General Counsel, dated May 28, 2003, and received by plaintiff on June 9, 2003, acknowledged and validated Rost’s disclosure of illegal conduct, “I recognize that, with your assistance, Pharmacia examined these issues in 2002 and made significant changes to correct the issues you raised. Nevertheless we are making additional changes to the endocrine care business based on our review, which we are also in the process of disclosing to the relevant government authorities.”
According to documents made available on the Green & Savits’ website, defendants also hired a private detective to discredit Rost and questioned his emotional stability by investigating whether Rost had purchased a weapon in NJ. The complaint also alleges that defendants monitored Rost’s and other employees’ phone and e-mail.
Contact: Jon Green, Esq., 973 695 7777
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Green & Savits LLC
CONTACT: Jon Green, Esq., of Green & Savits LLC, +1-973-695-7777; or PeterRost, M.D., +1-973-273-4668
Web site: http://www.greensavits.com/
