Texas Court Overturns $26.1M Plaintiff's Verdict in Vioxx Case

HOUSTON - A Texas appeals court has overturned a $26.1 million award to the wife of a man who died of a heart attack after ingesting Merck & Co. Inc.'s Vioxx, ruling that the plaintiff failed to show causation. Merck & Co., Inc. v. Carol A. Ernst, No. 14-06-00835-CV, Texas App., 14th Dist.).

The Fourteenth Court of Appeals panel, led by Chief Justice Adele Hedges, ruled that the plaintiff failed to prove that a blood clot caused her husband's death.

A 23rd District Court for Brazoria County jury found Merck liable for Robert Ernst's death, awarding his wife Carol $253.4 …