3rd Calif. Judge Replaced; New Judge Didn't Take Vioxx, But Takes Celebrex

LOS ANGELES - A fourth judge has been assigned to oversee the consolidated Vioxx proceedings in California, following an appellate court's removal of the judge originally assigned to the post and subsequent peremptory challenges against the two judges assigned to replace him. In Re: Vioxx Cases, JCCP No. 4247 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

According to a June 7 order entered in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Judge Victoria Chaney has been assigned to sit as coordination trial judge for numerous California state court Vioxx cases that have been consolidated for pretrial discovery.

Judge Chaney's assignment follows a …