Mealey's (December 21, 2015, 12:15 PM EST) -- MUSKOGEE, Okla. — An Oklahoma federal judge on Dec. 14 allowed Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. to conduct limited discovery in whether the Cherokee Nation or one or more of its state-incorporated entities are the real party in interest in a Risperdal misbranding lawsuit (The Cherokee Nation v. Johnson & Johnson, Inc., et al., No. 15-280, E.D. Okla.; 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166796).

(Cherokee opinion and order available. Document #28-151217-010Z.)

In April, the Cherokee Nation filed a lawsuit in the Sequoyah County District Court,...