New Jersey Judge Extends Stay of Order Requiring Merck to Produce Employee Files

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The judge overseeing the consolidated Vioxx litigation in New Jersey has extended the stay of an order entered last month in which defendant Merck was ordered to produce information from personnel files of current or former company employees. In Re: VIOXX LITIGATION, No. ATL-L-1567-03-MT (N.J. Super. Ct., Atlantic Cty.).

In an order entered Nov. 9, Judge Carol E. Higbee extended the stay by 14 days, while the state appeals court addresses Merck's motion for leave to appeal Judge Higbee's Oct. 14 decision requiring Merck to produce Vioxx-related information from the personnel files of any deponent who …