(September 22, 2016, 1:40 PM EDT) -- EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Saying that bellwether trials and global settlement talks for Depakote birth defect cases have failed, an Illinois federal judge on Sept. 21 vacated the next three bellwether trial dates and said she will instead pursue joint trials for the 698 plaintiffs (In Re: Depakote, Rhealyn Alexander, et al. v. Abbott Laboratories, Inc., No. 12-52, S.D. Ill.).

(Opinion and order available. Document #28-161006-011Z.)

U.S. Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel of the Southern District of Illinois said, “Given the number of litigants in this...