Appeals Court Removes Judge from Consolidated Vioxx Proceedings

LOS ANGELES - A state appeals court has granted a motion by Merck & Co. to remove a California trial court judge from the state's consolidated Vioxx proceedings after it was recently determined that he had once taken the withdrawn arthritis drug. Merck & Co., Inc. v. S.C.L.A., et al., No. B180613 (Calif. Ct. App., 2nd Dist.).

In an order released Feb. 3, the California Second District Court of Appeal ruled that the facts revealed in light of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter D. Lichtman's revelation that he took Vioxx mandate his disqualification from the docket.

'We have …