Category Archives: Vioxx

Merck Wins Vioxx Trial In New Jersey

Written On July 13, 2006 By Bob Kraft

July 13 (Bloomberg) — Merck & Co. won a trial over a grandmother’s claim that its painkiller Vioxx caused her heart attack, reducing pressure on the company to settle more than 12,000 of lawsuits about the drug.
A jury in state court in Atlantic City, New Jersey, rejected claims by Elaine Doherty, 68, who survived [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Jury Will Soon Be Out In New Jersey Vioxx Trial

Written On July 11, 2006 By Bob Kraft

The jury in the ongoing Vioxx trial in New Jersey has heard closing arguments from the defense, and will begin deliberations Wednesday. The plaintiff is Elaine Doherty. Here are excerpts from an Associated Press story:
Severely clogged arteries, obesity and other factors caused a 68-year-old grandmother’s heart attack — not her use of Vioxx, lawyers for [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Vioxx Timeline

Written On June 12, 2006 By Bob Kraft

National Public Radio has a very good timeline of the Vioxx trials and troubles. Here is a summary:
November 1998: Merck asks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of Vioxx, having tested the drug on 5,400 subjects in eight studies.
January 1999: Merck launches the Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research study (VIGOR). With more than [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Jury Chosen In Latest New Jersey Vioxx Trial

Written On June 2, 2006 By Bob Kraft

A jury was chosen today in Atlantic City for the seventh trial against Merck, the manufacturer of the arthritis drug Vioxx. Opening statements are to begin Monday.
This case involves plaintiff Elaine Doherty, 68, who claims Vioxx caused a heart attack and the resulting double heart-bypass surgery. Doherty had taken Vioxx for about two and a [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Merck Admits Huge Data Error In Vioxx Testing

Written On May 31, 2006 By Bob Kraft

According to an article in the New York Times, Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx has admitted a huge error in their primary testing. As it turns out, Merck’s testing does NOT prove that heart damage occurs only after using Vioxx for 18 months or more. Here are selected excerpts from the article:
In  an admission that [...]

Posted in Medical Malpractice, Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Is Merck’s Vioxx Trial Strategy Crumbling?

Written On April 26, 2006 By Bob Kraft

There is an excellent article at NewsInferno detailing reasons that Merck is going to be forced to change its strategy of trying every Vioxx case. The concluding paragraphs of the article:
Clearly, the time has come for Merck to abandon its “strategy” at least with respect to a global settlement of the more viable personal injury [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Merck To Appeal Latest Plaintiff Trial Victory

Written On April 25, 2006 By Bob Kraft

A heavily Merck-biased story appeared on a Newark, New Jersey business Web site today. New Jersey is the home of Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx.
The story basically says Merck intents to appeal the verdict in the Leonel Garza trial in South Texas, and gives reasons for the appeal. Merck is still saying they will try [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

New Jersey Vioxx Jury Awards Punitive Damages

Written On April 11, 2006 By Bob Kraft

As reported byReuters, a jury on Tuesday awarded $9 million in punitive damages to a New Jersey man who blamed Merck & Co. Inc.’s Vioxx for his heart attack. Exerpts:
The punitive damages come on top of $4.5 million in compensatory damages the jury awarded 77-year-old John McDarby last week after they found Vioxx was a [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Split Verdict In New Jersey Vioxx Case

Written On April 6, 2006 By Bob Kraft

According to an article on Bloomberg, the jury in the current New Jersey Vioxx case came in with a split verdict — $45 for one claimant, and $4.5 million for the other. Here are excerpts from the article:

Merck & Co. must pay at least $4.5 million to a 77-year-old man who claimed its painkiller Vioxx [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Closing Arguments In New Jersey Vioxx Trial

Written On April 3, 2006 By Bob Kraft

An article at MarketWatch summarized the defendant’s closing argument in the current Vioxx trial in New Jersey. Here are excerpts from the article:
In a closing statement after a monthlong trial in New Jersey state court here, Merck attorney Christy Jones said the two men had coronary artery disease, and one of them had diabetes, a [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Plaintiff Testimony Problems In Vioxx Trial?

Written On March 10, 2006 By Bob Kraft

As reported by the Associated Press today, one of the plaintiffs in the current New Jersey Vioxx trial acknowledged that medical records don’t support his claim that he took the drug for two years or more. Excerpts from the wire report:
Thomas Cona, 59, of Cherry Hill, also said he continued taking the drug for more [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

New Jersey Vioxx Trial Gets Underway

Written On March 7, 2006 By Bob Kraft

Here is a report from the Associated Press about the second Vioxx trial to be held in New Jersey:
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – A Merck & Co. marketing executive acknowledged Tuesday that the company was under pressure in 1998 to get its arthritis drug Vioxx on the market ahead of rival Pfizer’s drug Celebrex, with the [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

New Jersey Vioxx Trial Begins

Written On March 6, 2006 By Bob Kraft

As reported by the Associated Press today, the legal fight over Vioxx returned to New Jersey on Monday, with the lawyer for a man who blames his heart attack on the arthritis drug telling jurors that executives with manufacturer Merck & Co. knowingly concealed its risks from consumers. Mark Lanier, the attorney for Thomas Cona, [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx

Two Vioxx Cases In One Trial In New Jersey

Written On February 24, 2006 By Bob Kraft

As reported by the Associated Press, Judge Carol Higbee is sticking with her plan to try two Vioxx cases in the same trial, over objections from Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx. Judge Higbee said the similarities in the two cases make it more efficient to try both together.
Jury selection should begin Monday in the fifth [...]

Posted in Prescription Drug Claims, Vioxx