Free Republic

Brigham Young University has accused pharmaceutical giant Pfizer of cheating the school out of profits and credit for the development of Celebrex, a blockbuster anti-inflammatory drug that has earned the company billions of dollars. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City against Pfizer and several of its predecessor companies after years of unsuccessful negotiations, BYU said. The suit seeks unspecified actual and punitive damages, but notes Celebrex sales have exceeded $20 billion. It also seeks corrections in 75 patents in order to credit Professor Daniel L. Simmons for his discoveries. The suit alleges Simmons...

Makers of Astro-Turf Going Out of Business The makers of AstroTurf have filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection and reportedly will soon go out of business. The filing by Southwest Recreational Industries marks the climax of a long decline for the Leander, Texas-based company that once dominated the artificial turf industry. The bankruptcy casts uncertainty over projects scheduled across the country -- including a turf replacement at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. In its bankruptcy filing, the Austin-area company says it'll sell two small divisions that make portable sports flooring and equipment for volleyball, gymnastics and basketball. Otherwise, S-R-I says it'll...