Outbreak Victims Pleased with Ruling

By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Victims of the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak say they are pleased at the decision of a Michigan district court judge to put two former pharmacists on trial for 11 counts of second degree murder.
"I am very pleased with this outcome," said Peggy Nuerenberg, whose mother, Mary Plettl died in the outbreak.
Livingston County District Court Judge Shauna Murphy ruled Wednesday that there was sufficient evidence presented in the preliminary examination to send the case against Glenn Chin and Barry Cadden to circuit court for trial. The two are charged with 11 counts of second degree murder in the deaths of 11 Livingston County residents.
Cadden was president and part owner of the New England Compounding Center, the company that shipped thousands of vials of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate to Michigan and dozens of other states.
Chin, who worked directly under Cadden, was the supervising pharmacist in the clean room where the fungus laden steroid were produced.
Though Nuerenberg said she is looking forward to the trial, she said she was concerned that it might take place in a closed courtroom due to the pandemic. Wednesday's session before Murphy was closed to the public although it was livestreamed on You-tube.
"I am concerned about how this trial will proceed. I don't want any part of it to take place virtually," Nuerenberg added.
Donna Borton, whose husband was strickened after being injected with an NECC steroid, said she was looking forward to the trial.
"Now, not only the 11 victims named in the charges, but all victims get a second chance at seeing justice prevail. This was a long time coming," Borton said.
The Bortons and Nuerenberg were among those who attended preliminary examination hearings in Murphy's courtroom. That was before the Covid-19 pandemic which closed Michigan court sessions to the public.
The case is being prosecuted by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
“Putting profits ahead of concern for patient safety can have disastrous and tragic results,” Nessel said in a statement issued today. “We look forward to the next step in the pursuit of justice for these victims and their families.”
Cadden and Chin already have been convicted on federal racketeering, mail fraud and conspiracy charges and had already been sentenced to nine year and eight year sentences respectively, when the second degree murder charges were filed by former Michigan District Attorney Bill Schuette.
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