Distributor Defendants Challenge California Master Vioxx Complaint

LOS ANGELES - Defendants named for their role as Vioxx distributors have filed a brief in California state court, urging the court to throw out claims against them because they aren't pled specifically and fail to allege causes of action that are recoverable under California law. In Re Vioxx® Cases, JCCP No. 4247 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

In an Oct. 17 demurrer to the plaintiffs' master complaint, the distributor defendants urge the judge overseeing the state's coordinated Vioxx docket to sustain the demurrer without leave to amend a complaint they say fails to include requisite information about why …