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Features

Lessons from the First Vioxx Verdict Image

Lessons from the First Vioxx Verdict

Kevin Quinley

What do you get when you cross Court TV with the Food Channel? One answer: a recipe for a multi-million dollar jury verdict! Drug giant Merck will not see such blended TV programming, but it may have seen stars after getting hit with a $253 million jury award on Aug. 19, 2005. The first product liability trial against its Cox-2 inhibitor drug Vioxx in Angleton, TX, in August, 2005 produced a quarter-billion dollar award, $229 million of which was for punitive damages. Merck plans a vigorous appeal on multiple grounds. (Reportedly, grounds for appeal include: 1) letting in testimony from unqualified experts; 2) letting in testimony not based on reliable scientific evidence; 3) allowing irrelevant but prejudicial evidence in against Merck; and 4) letting in an undisclosed "surprise" witness against Merck.) Even pro-plaintiff observers concede that the award will likely drop to "only" $26 million due to recent Texas tort reform caps on punitive damages. (Merck fared better in its second and third Vioxx trials, which ended with a defense verdict and hung jury, respectively. Three Vioxx cases down -- only about 5998 to go!)

Features

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Litigation

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.

Life Insurance in a Divorce Setting Image

Life Insurance in a Divorce Setting

Richard Slavitt & Alona Magidova

In many -- if not most -- matrimonial actions, counsel or the court almost always automatically ensure that the dependent spouse is provided with life insurance, despite the fact that the statute authorizing life insurance to secure alimony is permissive and not mandatory. In many cases where there is a child support obligation or an equitable distribution obligation, the purpose of life insurance is clear: to secure these obligations, in the event the paying spouse dies prior to their fulfillment. Life insurance protects the supported spouse by providing a source of funds to assist with the support of the children (an obligation that survives the death of the spouse) and by assuring that the payment of equitable distribution is received (because the payment should not depend on the life or death of the obligor).

Witness Preparation Checklist for Deposition Image

Witness Preparation Checklist for Deposition

Elaine Lewis

My field is communications. My specialty is witness preparation. I am not a lawyer. Because I do not have to split my time between preparing a case and preparing a witness, I am free to focus exclusively on the problems and needs of witnesses. Over the years of preparing witnesses for both deposition and trial, I have made some interesting discoveries. For one thing, with proper preparation, there are very few witnesses who will remain bad ones. Almost all of them want to do the best job possible. They are highly motivated. The major reason for the problems and mistakes is lack of understanding of what is expected and lack of practice time to turn instructions into behavior.

The Progressive Lawyer Image

The Progressive Lawyer

Curtis J. Romanowski

The "Parenting Coordinator" or "Parent Coordinator" (PC) is a newly evolving professional role, which is now being implemented in an increasing number of states -- with or without the benefit of a specific Rule of Court or statutory authority -- as a means for dealing with high-conflict families involved in domestic relations proceedings before the courts. <b><i>Part One of a Two-Part Article.</i></b>

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Bit Parts

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Motion Pictures/DefamationThe U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut found that the 1970 film "A Man Called Horse" didn't defame the plaintiff,…

Features

<b>Decision of Note:</b> Station Cleared In Fan Death Over Spears Interview Image

<b>Decision of Note:</b> Station Cleared In Fan Death Over Spears Interview

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

The New York Appellate Division, Third Department, ordered summary dismissal of a suit over a fan who died after chasing a Britney Spears impersonator outside a radio station.

Features

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Courthouse Steps

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recently filed cases in entertainment law, straight from the steps of the Los Angeles Superior Court.

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Cameo Clips

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent cases in entertainment law.

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Arbitration Update

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent cases on the enforcement and requirement of arbitration disputes.

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