October 2005

Upcoming Vioxx Consumer Claim Poses Additional Risk for Beleaguered Company

By Tim O'Brien

After Merck & Co.'s devastating loss in Texas in August in the first Vioxx case to go to a jury, the nation's eyes now turn to Atlantic City, where New Jersey's first case was set for trial on Sept. 12. There are about 5000 personal injury suits filed nationwide, about half in New Jersey, over the Merck painkiller that has been linked to increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Last month, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Carol Higbee, who is overseeing nearly 2500 Vioxx product-liability cases, rejected a Merck request to postpone the trial. The plaintiff's attorney, Christopher Seeger of Seeger-Weiss in Manhattan and Newark, told The Wall Street Journal that he was "absolutely thrilled" by the judge's action. "I just can't wait to get in a courtroom with this company," he said.

Subscribers: click here for the full story

Non-Subscribers: click here to subscribe

Pay per view ($7.00)