California Jurors Find for Merck in State's First Vioxx Trial

LOS ANGELES - California jurors have cleared Merck & Co. Inc. of liability for an elderly man's non-fatal heart attack suffered in 2001 after he took Vioxx intermittently, and at varying doses, for 26 months. Vioxx® Cases, JCCP No. 4247 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

The Los Angeles County Superior Court jury of eight men and four women reached the verdict Aug. 2 after less than one day of deliberation. Judge Victoria G. Chaney presided over the trial, which began June 27.

The jury found that Merck was not negligent and that the company had adequately represented and warned …