ALYCIA DEGEN focuses on the defense of class actions, product liability and mass tort litigation, and complex civil and appellate litigation in federal and state courts. Alycia leverages the appropriate experience throughout Sidley to find creative, cost-effective solutions to difficult legal issues, particularly in regulated industries. She has substantial experience in the areas of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, and other consumer products and services, as well as defending these companies against consumer fraud and unfair competition class actions and in related government investigations.
Examples of these engagements include:
Service as national and regional counsel to life sciences companies in product liability and consumer fraud litigation involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and over-the-counter drugs.
Represented pharmaceutical company in damages phase of a Hatch-Waxman patent infringement lawsuit in which Sidley obtained a $104 million judgment following a three-week bench trial. AstraZeneca AB v. Apotex Corp., (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 3, 2013) (appeal pending).
Represented pharmaceutical company in a series of putative nationwide and statewide class actions involving the alleged false advertising of a prescription drug. Obtained dismissal (affirmed on appeal or not appealed), summary judgment and denial of class certification (affirmed on appeal) in these cases. Pa. Employee Benefit Trust Fund v. Zeneca, Inc. (D. Del. 2010); Depriest v. AstraZeneca Pharms. L.P. (Ark. 2009); Prohias v. AstraZeneca Pharm., L.P. (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2007); Weiss v. AstraZeneca Pharm. (Cal. Ct. App. 2010). The Drug and Device Law blog identified the Depriest decision as #2 of the Top 10 Best Prescription Drug/Medical Device Decisions of 2009.
Obtained dismissal on grounds of federal preemption of class action challenging the marketing of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines.
Obtained summary judgment in a putative class action challenging the labeling and advertising of probiotic products.
Alycia served as law clerk to the Honorable Cynthia Holcomb Hall, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Pasadena, California, and as judicial extern to the Honorable William D. Keller, United States District Court, Los Angeles, California.
