Vioxx Plaintiff Seeks Sanctions Against Merck, Attorney for Legislative Continuance

RIO GRANDE, Texas - A plaintiff in a Vioxx case that was continued after a Texas legislator was hired to represent defendant Merck & Co. has asked the court to sanction the defendant for unnecessarily delaying a Feb. 14 trial date. Garza v. Heart Clinic, P.A., et al., No. DC-03-84 (Texas Dist. Ct., Starr Cty, 229th Dist.).

In motions filed in February, Felicia Garza seeks sanctions against Merck and attorney Rene Oliveira, who was hired by the defendant exactly one month before Garza's case was expected to go to trial in Starr County District Court.

According to Garza, Oliveira's …