Plaintiffs Seek Centralization of N.J. Zostavax Injury Cases

TRENTON, N.J. — Plaintiffs in several Zostavax shingles vaccine cases pending in New Jersey state court have asked the state high court to create a multicounty litigation (MCL) docket for centralized management of the actions, arguing they involve common, recurrent issues of law and fact.

According to a May 9 Notice to the Bar, plaintiffs have submitted two applications for MCL to the New Jersey Supreme Court, in which they assert there is geographical disbursement of parties, a high degree of commonality of the injuries, and a likely interdependence among different claims.

Defendant Merck & Company Inc. sells its …