Case Involving Doctor who Died After Taking Vioxx Sent Back to State Court

BOSTON - A federal judge in Massachusetts has granted a motion to remand a Vioxx wrongful death case when, after further examinations of records, it was determined that a non-diverse sales representative named in the case may have directly supplied the plaintiff's husband with Vioxx samples that allegedly caused his death. Isner v. Merck & Co. Inc., No. 05-10328 (D. Mass.).

Judge Douglas P. Woodlock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered the order May 23 after determining that the court lacked jurisdiction over the matter, which Merck had removed to federal court from the Middlesex …