Judge Stays Suit, Says Judicial Economy Outweighs Prejudice to Plaintiff

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A federal judge has granted Merck & Co. Inc.'s motion to stay proceedings in an Illinois Vioxx case pending its possible transfer to the federal MDL, finding that the interests of judicial economy outweigh the prejudice to the plaintiff. Romine v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., No. 06-931 (S.D. Ill.).

On Dec. 6, Judge David R. Herndon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois overruled various objections by Illinois resident Glenn Romine and ordered a stay in his lawsuit against Merck and two non-diverse pharmacies.

Romine alleges that he suffered …