Lawyers for drugmaker ask for rehearing of state opinion

Attorneys for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals are requesting a rehearing of a Nevada Supreme Court opinion that upheld an $80.7 million award to three women who allegedly contracted breast cancer after taking a hormone drug.

The motion for rehearing was filed by lawyers for Wyeth, now owned by Pfizer. The Monday filing said the drugmaker's legal team had argued issues not addressed by the Supreme Court. Included in those issues was the question of whether plaintiffs' attorneys had erred when they cited Wyeth executives' high salaries in making a case for pain and suffering awards.

Lawyers for the pharmaceutical company also contend that the Nevada Supreme Court did not properly address jury instructions regarding one of the three women's life expectancy in its November decision.