Merck Moves to Strike Claims Asserted against Sales Reps

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Merck moved to strike a woman's claims against two of the company's Florida sales representatives March 22 on the ground that she never alleged that they breached their duty to warn her late husband's physician about the risks of Vioxx. Irvin v. Merck & Co., Inc. et al. No. 2003 CA 05251 AB (Fla. Cir. Ct., 15th Jud. Cir., Palm Beach Co.).

Merck is arguing that Evelyn Irvin's allegations against the sales representatives 'should be stricken as sham pleadings because...they are so patently false as to not raise a genuine issue of fact.'

Irvin claims that …