Kentucky Fen-Phen Lawyer Disbarred

A Kentucky attorney who worked on the class action lawsuit over the diet-drug fen-phen has been permanently disbarred for his role in the settlement, which landed two other lawyers in federal prison.

The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday revoked the law license of David Helmers of Lexington.

Helmers worked as an associate in William Gallion’s law firm during the 2001 settlement negotiations, which netted $200 million. The fen-phen case involved 440 clients who said they suffered heart and lung damage as a result of taking the drug.

Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr., one-time owners of champion racehorse Curlin, are serving federal sentences after being convicted of bilking their clients out of millions from the settlement. A third attorney was disbarred.