In a 21-page order, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Tuesday upheld the dismissal of dozens of products liability lawsuits initiated across the country against Bristol‐Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. over their blood-thinning medication Eliquis.

The order resolved a split among district courts in the circuit over the proper interpretation of federal forum defendant rules.

The issue arose out of the underlying multidistrict litigation that eventually made its way before U.S. District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York. Dozens of suits were brought, usually under state-law claims, claiming the drug companies did not properly warn consumers about the bleeding risks of Eliquis.