Eastern District of Louisiana Expected to be Site of Vioxx MDL, Sources Say

NEW ORLEANS - Sources at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana have told HarrisMartin Publishing that they expect to receive word later this week that all federal Vioxx claims will be transferred to the court for consolidated pre-trial proceedings.

According to the sources, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) could issue an order as early as Wednesday, transferring numerous Vioxx claims to the Louisiana federal court. Sources also indicated that the consolidated pre-trial docket, MDL 1657, will be overseen by Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who currently presides over the Propulsid Products Liability Litigation MDL proceedings. …