Judge Denies Merck Motion to Postpone Deposition of Dr. Steven Nissen

NEW ORLEANS - The judge overseeing the federal Vioxx MDL has denied Merck & Co. Inc.'s motion for a protective order regarding the trial preservation deposition of the Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Steven Nissen, stating that the deposition shall proceed as noticed despite Merck's lead trial counsel's inability to attend. In Re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (E.D. La.).

On Nov. 29, Judge Eldon E. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana ordered that Dr. Nissen's deposition shall proceed on Dec. 12 in Cleveland, thus coinciding with the ongoing MDL trial in New Orleans …