Lilly settles Zyprexa document disclosure case

BOSTON, Sept. 7 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday it has agreed to settle a dispute with a former plaintiffs' expert witness in product liability lawsuits related to its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa.

Under the settlement agreement with Dr. David Egilman, Egilman admitted violating a protective order in the Zyprexa litigation and illegally passing confidential Lilly documents to an Alaska attorney in an attempt to evade the protective order, Lilly said.

"Dr. Egilman acknowledged that his selective leaks of these documents, excerpts of which were published and discussed in a series of articles in The New York Times, presented an incomplete picture of Lilly's activities," the company said in a statement.

In return for his admission, Lilly said it agreed to forego seeking criminal and civil penalties, though Egilman will pay Lilly $100,000.

(Reporting by Toni Clarke)

((Editing by Tim Dobbyn; Reuters Messaging, toni.clarke.reuters.com@reuters.net, 617-367-4165)) Keywords: HEALTH LILLY/

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