Next Federal Vioxx Plaintiff Drops Lawsuit after Judge Denies Continuance

NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans man has dropped his federal lawsuit that was to be tried June 12 as the second Vioxx MDL case to go to trial, saying the Plaintiff's Steering Committee refused to lend its support in preparing the case and the MDL judge denied a motion to further delay the trial date. In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (E.D. La.).

On April 5, Ellis Maximo Diaz moved to dismiss with prejudice his case against Merck & Co. Inc., Diaz, et al. v. Merck & Co. Inc., No. 05-1614, and Judge Eldon E. Fallon …