Texas Court Reverses Vioxx Verdict, Renders Judgment in Favor of Merck

SAN ANTONIO - HarrisMartin Publishing is reporting that a state appeals court in Texas today reversed a $7.75 million verdict awarded to the family of a man who died from a heart attack they said was caused by his short-term use of the withdrawn painkiller Vioxx. Merck & Co. Inc. v. Garza, No. 04-07-00234 (Texas Ct. App., 4th Ct. App.).

In a decision released moments ago, the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals rendered a take-nothing judgment in favor of Merck after determining that the plaintiffs failed to provide evidence that the heart attack was not caused by 71-year-old Leonel Garza's …