MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Vermont's failed attempt at legislating data mining by pharmaceutical companies will cost taxpayers another $2 million in legal fees.
The data-mining law was meant to prevent drug companies from gathering information on doctor's prescribing habits. But the U-S Supreme Court found it unconstitutional.
Last fall, a judge ruled the state would have to pay $1.8 million to cover the cost of the lawyers for one of the plaintiffs, Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America. Now a judge has awarded another plaintiff-- IMS Health-- $2.2 million. It could have been worse-- IMS was seeking $4.2 million.
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Data-mining battle costs Vt taxpayers $1.8M
