Georgia Plaintiff's Experts Link Stroke to Vioxx, Allege Failure to Warn

ATLANTA - Experts retained by plaintiff Richard Zellmer say the Georgia man had no known risk factors for stroke other than his prescription for the arthritis painkiller Vioxx (rofecoxib), and that Merck was at fault for failing to adequately warn patients. Zellmer v. Merck & Co., Inc., et al., No. 03-CV-2530-RWS (N.D. Ga.).

Zellmer is suing Vioxx-maker Merck & Co. for strict products liability, negligence, breach of warranties and fraud and misrepresentation. Merck removed the lawsuit from Fulton County (Ga.) state court to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia . On Nov. 17, 2003, U.S. District …