Sources: Judge Gives Merck Until Feb. 1 to Provide Deposition Dates for CEO

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The New Jersey judge overseeing the state's Vioxx litigation has given defendant Merck & Co. until Feb. 1 to designate two days over which Merck CEO Raymond V. Gilmartin may be deposed to determine what he knew about the drug's ability to cause side effects. In re: VIOXX Litigation, No. 619 (N.J. Super. Ct., Atlantic Cty.).

Sources told HarrisMartin Publishing that Judge Carol E. Higbee of the Atlantic County District Court issued an order Jan. 17 requiring Merck to choose two days for Gilmartin to give deposition testimony. According to Higbee's order, the deposition must take …