Jury Finds Merck Liable for Texas Man's Fatal Heart Attack

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas - A Texas state jury has awarded $32 million to the family of a 71-year-old man who suffered a fatal heart attack in 2001 after taking Vioxx for less than a month. Garza, et al. v. Evans, et al., No. DC-03-84 (Texas 229th Jud. Dist. Ct., Starr Cty.).

The April 21 verdict was reached by the 10-man, two-woman jury after about eight hours of deliberation over two days in the 229th Judicial District Court for Starr County.

The damages awarded to the family of Leonel Garza Sr. include $7 million in compensatory damages for mental anguish …