Ky. fen-phen plaintiffs may collect

FRANKFORT, Ky., April 8 (UPI) -- Lawyers say a Kentucky court's forfeiture order will make it easier to collect millions of dollars illegally diverted by lawyers in a massive fen-phen case.

A federal jury in Frankfort ruled Tuesday that disbarred attorneys Shirley Cunningham and William Gallion should return about $50 million they had obtained from a $200 million settlement.

The two former lawyers were convicted last week of fraud and conspiracy for cheating 440 clients in the 2001 settlement involving the diet drug combination linked to heart valve damage.

Angela Ford, who represents some of the plaintiffs, told The Courier-Journal newspaper in Louisville that the jurors' award was good news since she had already obtained a $42 million civil judgment against Gallion and Cunningham.

The newspaper said Wednesday that the pair faces sentencing July 27.