Jury Finds Merck Failed to Warn of Vioxx Risks, Awards Plaintiff $51 Million

NEW ORLEANS - A federal jury has awarded $51 million in damages to a retired FBI agent who suffered a non-fatal heart attack at age 58 after taking Vioxx for 31 months. In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (E.D. La.).

The eight-man jury for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana reached the verdict Aug. 17 after approximately five hours of deliberation over two days. Judge Eldon E. Fallon presided over the trial, which began July 31.

The New Orleans jury found that Merck & Co. Inc. was negligent and had knowingly misrepresented or …