Court Stays Vioxx Case Despite Recent Rulings on Motions to Remand

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - An Illinois judge has stayed a Vioxx economic and personal injury case at the request of Merck & Co., despite recent rulings out of the same court that opted to rule on plaintiffs' motions to remand prior to considering similar motions to stay. Walker, et al. v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., No. 05-CV-360 (S.D. Ill.).

In granting the motion to stay, Judge David R. Herndon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois ruled June 22 that the interests of judicial economy outweigh any potential prejudice suffered by the plaintiffs …