Merck, Plaintiffs Have Different Ideas About Future of Calif. Cases

LOS ANGELES - A report filed recently in the Los Angeles Superior Court indicates that plaintiffs and defendant Merck have opposing views on how the Vioxx claims now pending in the state's consolidated proceedings should continue toward resolution. In Re: VIOXX® CASES, JCCP No. 4247 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

According to the Nov. 10 report, about the only thing the two parties have so far agreed upon is that the hundreds of Vioxx cases currently pending in JCCP 4247 can be categorized into three groups according to alleged injury - other injuries (including hypertension, heart failure and renal …