In a major setback to pharmaceutical companies, which face thousands of lawsuits in state courts from patients who allege that drugs have harmed them, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in favor of a Vermont woman whose arm had to be amputated after an improper injection of an anti-nausea medication, Robert Barnes reports. The woman convinced a Vermont jury that Wyeth could have strengthened its warnings about the dangers of Phenergan, which she was administered during treatment for a migraine. She won an award of almost $7 million. The Food and Drug Administration had changed its policy in 2006 …

Google says that paid posts with sponsors behind them not only need to be revealed but also must also bear "no follow" tags so as to not fool its spider, Rita Chang reports.

Yesterday, we reported on toy makers bringing back brands from yesteryear; today we have a story on retro packaging. (If marketers really want to satisfy our craving for nostalgia, they'll figure out a way to restore the Dow to 14,000.) General Mills has given Target a month-long exclusive on old-fashioned box designs for some of its best-selling cereals -- Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs and Trix, Emily Bryson York reports. The designs were taken from GM's archives and given minor tweaks, such as updated product shots. It's also offering deals on T-shirts with the old designs …

In an effort to bring in project fees, WPP's Ogilvy & Mather last week opened a recession consulting practice that offers advertisers a variety of marketing packages in workshops with prices ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, Suzanne Vranica reports. Sample program: "What are the brand and product priorities to maintain share in this recession?" Interpublic Group's Deutsch LA, meanwhile, is getting some extra mileage from a $60,000 research project it conducted last summer, dubbed "America's Wallet." The study, which initially was used to tweak ads for existing clients, looks at how consumer attitudes toward spending are changing during …

Marti Eulberg, who was installed as North American CEO of Fiat's high-end Maserati line in June, already is making a mark, impressing dealers with her enthusiasm and creative marketing ideas, such as offering the sound of a purring Maserati motor as a cellphone ring tone, Chris Woodyard reports. The bicoastal exec doesn't just market expensive cars; she sells the lifestyle. "When I get in my car, I smile. When I walk away from my car, I smile," she says. Happiness with a Maserati is contagious, she insists. "If I'm driving in Manhattan, I get a minimum of four or …

Spirit Airlines is charging a "passenger usage fee" of $4.90 each way, after discontinuing a similar fee in late July, Ina Paiva Cordel reports. "It's a booking fee to cover distribution costs," says Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson. Spirit recently reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation after months of discussions. The DOT fined Spirit $40,000 in late December for violations related to its rule on full-fare advertising. "We informed Spirit they can charge a fee at any place other than ticket counters only if the fee is included in the ticket price advertised," says …

Apple announced a refreshed desktop line today and a price cut of its new 24-inch MacPro by a few hundred dollars, and bloggers at the business news magazines wonder if it is living in a world of its own. The heds on Brian Caufield's post on the Forbes site read: "Why Apple is living in denial. The computer- and gizmo-maker fiddles with its Mac lineup as the world economy burns." But, Caufield points out, Apple's strategy of not panicking has worked so far. Rather than compete with $300 netbooks, for example, its $229 iPod Touch can …

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania region recently completed the order-taking portion of its annual sale and orders were up 3% over last year's total of 1.7 million boxes, reports Eyana Adah McMillan. This is in contrast to a national sales trend downwards. The Scouts are conducting cookie booth sales, taking packages of cookies directly to the public for purchase, says spokesman Chad Smith. Troops are selling cookies at dozens of churches and businesses, including Wal-Mart, West Manchester Mall and Sam's Club.