Court Orders Vioxx-Related Injury Cases Centralized

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The New Jersey Supreme Court ordered that all of the state's present and future Vioxx-related injury suits be transferred and centralized in the Superior Court of Atlantic County. In re: Vioxx Litigation, Case No. 619 (N.J. Super. Ct., Atlantic Cty.).

The New Jersey high court assigned Superior Court Judge Carol E. Higbee to preside over the proceedings, which currently includes 16 cases filed in Atlantic, Hudson, Hunterdon and Middlesex Counties.

Plaintiffs filing suit against Merck & Co., the manufacturer of the arthritis drug, allegedly sustained injuries including but not limited to renal failure, heart attacks or …