Renaissance Technologies Wins Dismissal of Civil RICO Lawsuit Over Levaquin

On March 31, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a lawsuit brought by five individual plaintiffs against several defendants, including Cravath client Renaissance Technologies, a major investment firm, alleging violations of federal and state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (“RICO”) statutes in connection with Johnson & Johnson’s marketing of the antibiotic Levaquin. Cravath argued Renaissance’s motion to dismiss on July 28, 2016.

The Cravath team was led by partner Lauren A. Moskowitz and included senior attorney Samira Shah and associates Michelle M. Swan, Charles E. Loeser and Samuel A. Stuckey. Retired partner Roger G. Brooks argued the motion to dismiss. The case is Aston, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., No. 16‑cv‑86 (D.D.C.).