Judge Issues Rulings on In Limine Motions in Federal Vioxx Case

NEW ORLEANS - The judge overseeing the Vioxx MDL has issued rulings on numerous in limine motions filed by Merck and the plaintiff whose case will be the first ever to go before a federal jury. Plunkett v. Merck & Co. Inc., No. 05-4046 (E.D. La.).

Judge Eldon E. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued his hand-written rulings Nov. 21 on nearly three dozen in limine motions.

Judge Fallon denied the majority of Merck's motions, or said that he would reserve ruling until trial, which got underway on Nov. 28 in Houston. …